Jordan Dorsey

American Idol (season 10)

American Idol
Season 10
Broadcast from	January 19, 2011
Judges	Randy Jackson Jennifer Lopez Steven Tyler
Host(s)	Ryan Seacrest
Broadcaster	Fox
Finals venue	Nokia Theatre Los Angeles
Chronology
◄ 2011

The tenth season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011, on Fox. The show underwent a number of changes from season nine, which include the reduction of the judging panel to its original number of just three judges (two of whom are new), a returning executive producer, a new music director as well as multiple format changes. For the first time, Idol will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays as opposed to the previous schedule of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Nigel Lythgoe returned to the senior production team as executive producer for the series. American singer Steven Tyler and American singer-actress Jennifer Lopez joined the judging panel as replacements for Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi who all left at the end of season nine. Ray Chew replaced Rickey Minor as the show's musical director and leader of the Idol's live band.

Interscope Records, which is part of Universal Music Group, replaced Sony Music Entertainment as Idol's official partner record label. Interscope's Chairman Jimmy Iovine, a songwriter and producer, was made in-house mentor to work with the contestants on a weekly basis. He is supported by associated producers: Rodney Jerkins, Alex da Kid, Tricky Stewart, Don Was and Timbaland who all help contestants tailor their song choices to their chosen genre of performance, as well as work in producing arrangements for the contestants and offering original material to be performed.

This is the first season in which 15 year-olds may audition. Other changes include online voting, extra rounds such as the Las Vegas and a final solo round, and a return of the judges' wild card choice. More contestants made it to Hollywood in season 10 than in previous seasons. This is also the first season where 11 contestants will go on the summer tour instead of 10.

Changes for season ten

Simon Cowell, a judge from the start of the show, announced on January 11, 2010, that he would not be returning as a judge for this season in order to focus on launching the American version of his hit British singing competition The X Factor. Ellen DeGeneres officially announced her departure on July 29, 2010, after judging for only one season, because she felt the show was not the "right fit" for her. Kara DioGuardi then announced on September 3, 2010, that she would also not return this season due to her pursuing new projects. On September 22, 2010, it was announced that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler would join the judging panel.

There were a number of other major changes in season ten, from the judges to the format of the show itself. Nigel Lythgoe returned as the executive producer, and Ray Chew has been hired as the show's new musical director, replacing Rickey Minor, who left the show along with vocal coach Dorian Holley to become the musical director of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Peisha McPhee, mother of season 5's runner-up Katharine McPhee, joined as one of the vocal coaches. In this season, online voting was also offered for the first time for fans with Facebook account and up to 50 votes may be cast.

New rounds and challenges

"Theme weeks will also get a makeover. We’re not going to ask a country singer to sing an R&B song, or an R&B singer to do Led Zeppelin, ... If the theme is ’80s or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, every song will be customized to that contestant... What's most important, is that the song suit the finalist's voice."

– Ron Fair

Then beginning in November 2010, returning producer, Nigel Lythgoe, revealed that there would be other significant format changes. New challenges include "contests [having] to make the best music video, to promote themselves, and to work with a band and dancers for an awards show-style performance." Entertainment Weekly reported that the challenges would replace the traditional semi-finals portion of the competition meaning that finalists would go on to compete in the top-twelve for the live shows. However it was later revealed that the music video challenge was only ever an idea but there were no plans to make it part of season ten of Idol. The Hollywood round would narrow the contestants down to sixty potential finalists. Those who made the final sixty were then taken to Las Vegas where they were asked to sing songs from The Beatles. It was originally planned that 20 contestants would be left by the end of this phase of competition, and these remaining contestants would perform in two groups of ten in a semi-final sudden death round to find via public votes the ten finalists – five girls and five boys – for the live shows in the finals. Nigel Lythgoe however later revealed that the Top 20 would be extended to a Top 24. Additionally, the judges were given wild card picks.

Partnership with Universal Music

At the end of season nine, Sony Music Entertainment's affiliation to Idol also ended. The partnership was superseded by a new deal with Universal Music Group, meaning that the winner will now be signed to Interscope Records. Interscope's sister labels, A&M Records and Geffen Records, will also be involved in promoting and distributing the albums of the show's finalists. Chairman of the Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group, Jimmy Iovine, will work directly with contestants as the in-house mentor. Additionally, Billboard revealed that a team of Universal Music-associated producers and songwriters, such as Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Timbaland and Alex da Kid, will work alongside the contestants. It was reported that the new creative team would allow contestants to take on original material and arrangements, not just cover versions, when singing live. The Hollywood Reporter also indicated that other changes for season ten will include online voting and finalists releasing music as the season progresses, rather than waiting for the summer to record an album. Despite previous reports that Idol producers had axed the weekly music theme, in-house mentor Fair, confirmed that the themes would remain.

Regional auditions

The judges sit in this order from left to right: Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson

This is the first season in which the contestant age minimum was reduced to 15 years old. The maximum age however still remains 28.

Auditions were held in the following cities:

Note 1: Actual number not announced on the show but this number is based on the number of names listed on americanidol.com website and may not be the actual total.

In addition to the above cities, for the first time contestants were allowed to audition online via Myspace / Facebook / Twitter. To audition, they were required to upload a 40-second audition clip of them singing a pre-approved song. The internet auditioners were called back to the Los Angeles auditions to audition in front of the judges.

Hollywood week

The Hollywood week phase of the competition was held in the Pasadena Civic Center. There were a record-number 327 contestants in the first round, which lasted over two days, exceeding season 2's record of 234. The contestants emerged in groups of ten and each performed individually a cappella. After the whole group had finished their performances, those who failed were cut immediately. 168 advanced to the next round, where the contestants performed in groups; out of the 168, only 100 advanced to the next round. In the next round, the contestants performed solo, accompanied by a band or an instrument. The contestants were then separated into four rooms, with two of the four rooms containing eliminated contestants and the other two containing contestants who made it into the next round. Only 61 of the 100 remaining advanced.

This year, due to the large number of contestants, two more rounds were added. The 61 remaining contestants proceeded to Las Vegas where they performed songs from The Beatles as duos and trios in the Love theatre at The Mirage for this newly added 'Las Vegas' round. After that, 40 advanced to the final "Sing For Your Life" round back in Los Angeles. In that round, each contestant performed a song of their own choosing at Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose aircraft hangar. The Top 24 were then selected from the remaining 40 for the semifinals. This episode was notable for the emotional breakdown of judge Jennifer Lopez after telling contestant Chris Medina that he had been eliminated.

Semi-finalists

The twenty-four semi-finalists were revealed in two stages. The first five were revealed on February 23, 2011, and the remaining 19 were revealed on the following night's episode. The following are semi-finalists who failed to reach the finals.

Females Contestant Age Date of Birth Hometown Audition Location Julie Zorrilla 20 November 3, 1990 Bogotá, Colombia San Francisco, California Kendra Chantelle 22 September 27, 1988 Loudon, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Lauren Turner 24 May 8, 1986 Covington, Louisiana New Orleans Rachel Zevita 23 October 20, 1987 New York City Jersey City, New Jersey Ta-Tynisa Wilson 20 June 19, 1990 Aurora, Illinois Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Males Contestant Age Date of Birth Hometown Audition Location Brett Loewenstern 17 December 13, 1993 Boca Raton, Florida New Orleans, Louisiana Clint Jun Gamboa 26 June 9, 1984 Long Beach, California San Francisco, California Jordan Dorsey 21 April 23, 1989 Laplace, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Jovany Barreto 23 September 3, 1987 Harvey, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Robbie Rosen 17 December 27, 1993 Merrick, New York Jersey City, New Jersey Tim Halperin 23 May 27, 1987 Fort Worth, Texas Los Angeles, California

Semi-finals

The semifinal round began on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. This year, the producers use a new format. Below are the two semi-final groups (males and females) with contestants listed in their performance order. The top five males and top five females, along with the three wild card choices by the judges advanced to the finals. There were twenty-four semifinalists, twelve females and males. The males started the semifinal round, and the females continued on following night's episode, the contestants perform songs of their choice (there was no particular theme).

Males

Females

Finalists

Still Participating:

• Casey Abrams (born February 12, 1991 in Austin, Texas) is from Idyllwild, California and 20 years old at the time of show. Auditioned in Austin, Texas with Ray Charles' "I Don't Need No Doctor". He impressed the judges with his performance of "Georgia on My Mind" in Hollywood week. He also performed Ella Fitzgerald's "Lullaby of Birdland", The Temptations' "Get Ready" with the group "Night Owls" in the Hollywood rounds, "A Hard Day's Night" with Chris Medina in the Las Vegas's Beatles round, and Kansas Joe McCoy's "Why Don't You Do Right?" for his final solo. He played the double bass and melodica on the show. He suffers from ulcerative colitis which resulted in him missing the Top 13 result show.

• Naima Adedapo (born October 5, 1984 in Maywood, Illinois) is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and 26 years old at the time of the show. Auditioned in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Donny Hathaway's version of "For All We Know". She was doing janitorial duties at the Summerfest in Milwaukee before she auditioned on Idol. She performed Beatles' The Long and Winding Road together with Jacob Lusk and Haley Reinhart during the Las Vegas round, and Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" for her final solo. Adedapo was chosen by the judges to join the competition during the Wild Card round.

• Lauren Alaina (born November 8, 1994) is from Rossville, Georgia and 16 years old at the time of the show. She auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with Faith Hill's "Like We Never Loved At All" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" which she also reprised for the Hollywood rounds. She also performed "Unchained Melody" twice, once for the first solo in the Hollywoods round and again for the final solo. She also performed Soul Brothers Six's Some Kind of Wonderful in a girl group which was notable for getting Steven Tyler to sit on the chair while they performed around him. She performed "Hello, Goodbye" for the Las Vegas' Beatles round with Scotty McCreery and Denise Jackson.

• James Durbin (born January 6, 1989) is from Santa Cruz, California and 22 years old at the time of the show. Auditioned in San Francisco, California with Muddy Waters's "You Shook Me" and Aerosmith's "Dream On". He performed The Beatles' "Oh! Darling" for his solo in the Hollywood round , Queen's "Somebody to Love" with the group "Deep Vees" in the group round and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" for his final solo. He was the lead singer with a band The Hollywood Scars prior to Idol. He has Tourette and Asperger's syndrome.

• Stefano Langone (born February 27, 1989) is from Kent, Washington and a 22 year-old during the show. Auditioned in San Francisco, California with Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". He performed Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" in the Hollywood week, "Get Back" for the Las Vegas round with James Durbin, and his own composition "Come Home" for his final solo. He survived a near-fatal car accident in 2009 being hit by a drunk driver. Langone was chosen by the judges as one of the Wild Cards to join the Top 13 finalists.

• Jacob Lusk (born June 23, 1987) is from Compton, California and 23 years old during the show. Auditioned in Los Angeles, California. Randy considered his performance of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" during the Hollywood rounds the best ever seen on Idol. He also performed The Temptations' "Get Ready" with Naima Adedapo in the group "Ebony, Ivory, and Every", and Leon Russell's "A Song for You" for his final solo.

• Scotty McCreery (born October 9, 1993) in from Garner, North Carolina and was 16 years old when he auditioned. He auditioned in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Josh Turner's "Your Man" and Travis Tritt's "Put Some Drive In Your Country". He reprised "Your Man" in the Hollywood rounds but forgot the words to Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance". He also performed "Get Ready" with the group "The Guaps" and became involved in the drama when the Clint Jun Gamboa ousted young Jacee Badeaux from his group. For his final solo he performed Josh Turner's "Long Black Train".

• Paul McDonald (born August 24, 1984) in Auburn, Alabama is from Huntsville, Alabama and 26 years old during the show. Auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with Rod Stewart's "Maggie May". Prior to Idol, he was the lead singer of the band Hightide Blues formed in 2005 and renamed The Grand Magnolias in 2010. He performed Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" and his own composition "American Dreams" for his final solo.

• Thia Megia (born January 30, 1995) is from Mountain House, California and was 15 years old when she auditioned. She auditioned in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Adele's "Chasing Pavements". She previously competed on season 4 of America's Got Talent, making it to the quarterfinals. She performed "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in the Hollywood rounds, "Here Comes the Sun" for the Las Vegas round with Melinda Ademi, and Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up" for her final solo. She is the youngest contestant to date to reach final stages.

• Haley Reinhart (born September 9, 1990) is from Wheeling, Illinois and 20 years old during the show. Auditioned in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with The Beatles' "Oh! Darling". She originally auditioned for the previous season, but did not make it to Hollywood during that season. She performed Corinne Bailey Rae's "Breathless", and Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" in the Hollywood rounds, but she forgot her words in the group round.

• Pia Toscano (born October 14, 1988) is from Howard Beach, New York and 22 years old during the show. Auditioned in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was a make-up artist. She sang the national anthem at a Mets game. Pia Toscano and Karen Rodriguez get together to duet The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" on Las Vegas, they also went to New York's LaGuardia Arts School together. She also performed Bruno Mars's "Grenade" for the group round in Hollywood and Alicia Keys's "Doesn't Mean Anything" for her final solo.

Eliminated:

• Karen Rodriguez (born March 22, 1989 in Miami, Florida) is from New York City and 21 years old at the time of show. She turned 22 years old couple of days after she got voted off. She was one of the MySpace auditioners and then auditioned in front of the judges in Los Angeles, California with Whitney Houston's "You Give Good Love". She performed Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love", Bruno Mars's "Just the Way You Are" with Jovany Baretto in the group "Spanglish" for the Hollywood rounds, and Selena's "No me queda más" in the final round. She had previously appeared in the fifth season of a Puerto Rican talent show Objetivo Fama. Rodriguez was eliminated on March 17th, 2011.

• Ashthon Jones (born February 27, 1986) is from Goodlettsville, Tennessee and 24 years old when she auditioned and turned 25 at the time of show. She auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee. She sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls, Blu Cantrell's Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!) with the group "The Hits" in the Holllywood rounds and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" for her final solo. Jones was chosen by the judges as one of the Wild Card finalists. She was voted off on March 10, 2011.

Finals

This is the first season in which there are 12 weeks of the finals, instead of 11 as in the previous seasons, with one of the 13 finalists eliminated each week. In Season 8 there were 13 finalists but 2 were eliminated in the first week, the final rounds thereby only lasted 11 weeks. This is the third season in which a Wild Card contestant, Ashthon Jones, was eliminated in the first round of the finals, with the first two seasons being season three (Leah LaBelle) and season eight (Jasmine Murray). The top 13 performance show was pre-recorded, but the subsequent performance shows of the finals are broadcast live. American Idol (season 7) winner David Cook recorded the Simple Minds song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" as the send-off song played when a contestant is eliminated.

Top 13 - Their Personal Idols

Top 12 - Year They Were Born

Top 11 (First Week) - Motown

Top 11 (Second Week) - Elton John

Elimination chart

Legend

Top 24

Wild Card

Top 13

Winner

Safe

Safe First

Safe Last

Eliminated

Wild Card Choice

Judges' Save

Results show performances

Week	Performer(s)	Title	Hot 100 reaction	Digital reaction	Performance type
Top 24	Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull	"On the Floor"	5 (+4) New Peak	219,000, (+29%)	music video premiere
Top 13	Adam Lambert	"Aftermath"	failed to chart		live performance
	Diddy Dirty-Money and Skylar Grey	"Coming Home"	11 (+11) New Peak	TBA	live performance
Top 12	Lee DeWyze	"Beautiful Like You"	failed to chart	12,000 (+8,068%)	live performance
	The Black Eyed Peas	"Just Can't Get Enough"	5 (+17) New Peak	198,000, (+143%)	pre-recorded performance
Top 11 Week 1	Jennifer Hudson	"Where You At"	TBA	TBA	live performance
	Sugarland	"Stuck Like Glue"	TBA	TBA	pre-recorded performance
Top 11 Week 2	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 9	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 8	Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean	"Don't You Wanna Stay"	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 7	David Cook	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 6	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 5	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 4	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Top 3	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
Finale	Lady Gaga	"Judas"/"Born This Way"	TBA	TBA	live performance

Post-Idol alumni

Eliminated contestant Chris Medina released a single called "What Are Words" on February 25, 2011, the day after his elimination. The song is about his fiance who suffered a brain injury as the result of a car wreck. The song debuted at #22 on the Heatseekers Songs chart, and then reached #83 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since sold 61,000 copies He performed the ballad on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on February 28, 2011 and on Good Morning America on March 4, 2011.

On March 3, 2011, it was announced that eliminated contestant Carson Higgins had joined the cast of the Los Angeles production of the Paul Storiale play The Columbine Project. The play is inspired by the tragic events at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, and will be performed at the Avery Schreiber Theatre in North Hollywood beginning April 22, 2011.

U.S. Nielsen ratings

References

External links

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_(season_10)