I'm so happy Kris won! He was my pick from day one. His win was really a big F U to the whole American Idol machine that overexposed Gokey and Lambert. Thank you America for thinking for yourselves! GO KRIS!

I just bought Adam Lambert's..No Boundaries on ITunes. I think it sounds better than he live performance. I also picked up Kris version but I think Adam's is better. I picked up other gems too...lol

Btw...Adam is beating Kris in album sales on ITunes. But Kris has more sales in singles.

I dont understand why people get all up in arms if someone doesnt win American Idol. As proven over the psat 8 or so years winning the show does NOT equal success. There have been many "losers" who go on to have amazing careers. If this Adam Lambert guy has the talent and the star quality then he will be fine in spite of not winning the show. I think people need to just relax and not take this so to heart

I dont understand why people get all up in arms if someone doesnt win American Idol. As proven over the psat 8 or so years winning the show does NOT equal success. There have been many "losers" who go on to have amazing careers. If this Adam Lambert guy has the talent and the star quality then he will be fine in spite of not winning the show. I think people need to just relax and not take this so to heart

Word. People are taking this entirely too personally.

IMO, Adam is an amazing performer, but when you buy CDs and listen to the radio, you are not watching a performance, you're listening to one, and his studio versions were all mediocre at best. Kris's studio versions were much better than his performances, and again IMO, in a singing competition, that's what matters most.

And plus, I can't stand Adam's voice. There's always this element of slime in there...like he's ready to launch into screech mode at any second. He ruined If I Can't Have You with that [!@#$%^&*].

Adam does NOT screech. He sings rock n roll, hard rock, metal. The rebel yell if you will. NOT screeching. Adam is probably better off not winning IDOL, so he can have a truly rock album. Chris Daughtry was better off not winning it, and Adam likely will be too. I am just glad Danny Gokey didn't win. From what I've read on the net and seen, he's an arrogant son of a bitch and is a bigot too.

Adam's studio versions were NOT mediocre. Everyone I've heard is awesome.

Edited May 23, 200916 yr by David_Vickers

Adam does NOT screech. He sings rock n roll, hard rock, metal. The rebel yell if you will. NOT screeching. Adam is probably better off not winning IDOL, so he can have a truly rock album. Chris Daughtry was better off not winning it, and Adam likely will be too. I am just glad Danny Gokey didn't win. From what I've read on the net and seen, he's an arrogant son of a bitch and is a bigot too.

Adam's studio versions were NOT mediocre. Everyone I've heard is awesome.

He does screech. But on his studio singles on Itunes he doesnt. Go get an Ipod and buy his singles on Itunes..David. He sounds better in the studio than live. His voice is more toned down.

Oh and I couldn't stand Danny Gokey that's why I voted for Kris in the semifinals. I've always like Kris anyways.

Edited May 24, 200916 yr by Ruxton Hills

Adam does NOT screech. He sings rock n roll, hard rock, metal. The rebel yell if you will. NOT screeching. Adam is probably better off not winning IDOL, so he can have a truly rock album.

Adam's studio versions were NOT mediocre. Everyone I've heard is awesome.

I disagree.

Oh man, I'm having a bad day. First, I ABC announces that All My Chilren is moving to LA. Now, Paula isn't returning to Idol!

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/08/04/paula-abdul-announces-leaving-american-idol/

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/simon-cowell-quits-american-idol-.html

Fox gets 'X-Factor,' Cowell quitting 'Idol'

TCA -- This is the last season Simon Cowell will judge "American Idol."

Sources confirm to Hollywood Reporter exclusively that Cowell will quit the top-rated show on television at the end of this season as part of his plan to focus on launching a new series, "The X-Factor." Fox has picked up "Factor" for the fall of 2011, when "Idol" is on hiatus.

Fox chairman Peter Rice and entertainment president Kevin Reilly are expected to announce the "Factor" pickup and Cowell's "Idol" departure today at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena.

The U.S. version of "X-Factor" will be a similar format to the UK version, with Cowell acting as judge and executive producer.

The "X-Factor" plan means Cowell will be off American television for more than a year.

In the FremantleMedia and Cowell-produced "X-Factor," a wide range of singing talent is split into groups and mentored by one of the show's four judges. The format of the U.S. version is expected to be similar.

Cowell arrived in Los Angeles yesterday for the start of Hollywood Week on

"American Idol" and to sign his deal with Fox. Negotiations were touch-and-go up to the last minute, with executives prepping for two different possible Q&As with critics. Cowell himself could make a surprise appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, though this could still change.

Fox is also planning to order three more seasons of "Idol," but that deal is not yet finished. Cowell's decision to walk away from his estimated $36 million-per-season "Idol" gig could have major consequences for the show, which has declined in the ratings in recent years. Given that Cowell was the most expensive part of producing "Idol," however, Fox could end up with a more profitable show, even if ratings drop due to losing its most popular judge.

Fox executives are also expected shoot down speculation that there's a current deal to bring Conan O'Brien to the network.

On Monday (January 11), Simon Cowell shocked "American Idol" fans by announcing that he was leaving the show at the completion of its ninth season, with plans to launch a U.S. version of "The X Factor" in fall 2011.

But, for those who follow "Idol" for a living — bloggers and industry experts — the news was pretty much anything but a shock. Rather, it was the culmination of months of rampant speculation, fueled by members of Cowell's family and his impending launch of "The X Factor." And, really, it's sort of become par for the course at this point.

"There have been a lot of hints about him leaving. His own brother [Tony] said on his podcast that Simon would be leaving, and there was a lot of chatter that was reported across the pond in England," blogger MJ Santilli, who runs the "Idol" site MJ's Big Blog told MTV News. "And we've been hearing for a month now that 'X Factor' would be coming to the States, so I wasn't shocked today. I wasn't sure how soon an announcement would be made. I just figured they'd wait until the season was over."

"For several seasons now, we've taken part in the 'Will Simon leave or won't he?' dance that precedes every 'Idol' season and follows every 'Idol' season. It always comes up, and he always seems a little ambivalent about it," Entertainment Weekly senior writer Michael Slezak said. "The show sort of trades in that. That said, I was a bit surprised by the announcement. ... Maybe not shocked, but if you would've asked me two weeks ago, I would've said they would've waited until the end of the season to do it. It kind of makes sense, though, because is there any better advertisement for the upcoming season? It's not just a cherry on top of the sundae; it's like an extra sundae on top of the sundae."

So while those who follow "Idol" closest are in agreement that Cowell's exit was pretty much inevitable, they are at odds about what it means for the show's upcoming season — and about where the show goes from here.

"I have no idea what to expect, but I'm definitely excited. I think [new host] Ellen [DeGeneres] will play an even bigger part in the show now," said blogger Rickey Yaneza, who runs Rickey.org. " 'Idol' will definitely continue on without him. The show is a bit of a Super Bowl moment in America already, so no matter who the judge is, as long as they keep the formula going — talented contestants and intelligent judges — it will be OK. It might be jarring for some viewers not to see Simon sitting there, but 'Idol' is the brand; it's not Simon Cowell."

"I think it might help the season, because people might tune in to see the last season of Simon, and maybe he'll stop phoning it in. For the past couple years, he's been bored out of his skull," Santilli said. "I know a lot of people are saying 'Bye, "Idol," nice knowing you,' but I'm not so sure. ... It's definitely a big crossroads for the show, though. I think the show is bigger than anyone on it, but they have to be careful with who they choose to replace him with, because they're going to need to find someone who can fill his role without actually trying to follow in his footsteps."

And one thing seems certain: "Idol" fans — even those who may have strayed from the show over the past few seasons — will return in droves for season nine. Whether they stay beyond that remains to be seen, but even if they flee en masse, you probably don't have to worry about "Idol" disappearing from our airwaves any time soon — even with Cowell's new project looming on the horizon.

"It's funny, because when people have been talking about 'X Factor,' they're like, 'Will it pull "Idol" off the air?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm sure Fox will want to pull the #1 show off the air,' " Slezak laughed. "It's impossible to sit here and say that losing Simon probably won't lead to a ratings decline for 'Idol,' but I don't think it will obliterate its audience. I mean, the show can lose a quarter of its audience and still be a massive hit. Plus, there's not an 'Idol' fan alive who hasn't uttered the words, 'Well, I'm not watching next season.' ... That's an annual rite of passage, and somehow, for eight straight seasons, the producers have managed to pull you back in. I would not underestimate the 'Idol' machine's ability to do it again, with or without Simon."

Source:

MTV

In the wake of Simon Cowell's surprising-but-not-that-surprising announcement that he'll be leaving "American Idol" at the end of the upcoming season nine, one of the first people associated with the show to comment was Ellen DeGeneres, who is beginning her stint as a judge on the show this season. "I got some news for you. So this just happened, Simon Cowell just announced that he's leaving 'Idol,' " she said during her show's taping on Monday (January 11). "This will be his last season. He announced he's leaving on my first day. I'm trying not to take it personally. But seriously, I am going to be very, very sad to see him go, because I think he's made the show what it is. He's a huge part of that show but he wanted a change. I wish him all the luck in the world hosting 'The Tonight Show.' "

On Monday, after months of rumors and speculation, Cowell confirmed he'll be leaving the "Idol" judges' panel to launch the American version of his other talent show, "The X Factor." In a press release, Fox announced that "The X Factor" will launch in the U.S. in the fall of 2011 with Cowell, creator of the show he launched in the U.K. in 2004, serving as both executive producer and a judge on the U.S. version.

Cowell announced his "Idol" departure at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"We did talk about me staying on both shows but when we looked at the practicalities of that, it was impossible," Cowell told the press. "In my opinion, it's like having a good player and a good football team. The two have to be OK together. I believe it's not my show, but it's still very close to me. We made sure when we did this, that I would be protected. I'm confident it will continue to be the #1 show. Everyone is committed to keeping it that way."

Cowell followed the announcement a short time later by tweeting, "I have had the best 8 or 9 years of my life doing this show."

Source:

MTV

I'd like to know what exactly does he mean by We made sure when we did this, that I would be protected.

‘Idol’ Creator Plans to Start New Business

ummmm....some of those picked to make the top 24 is absurd.

All the female singers sucked tonight!!

Jeez. Bowersox was the only one I really enjoyed. The girl who did "Feeling Good" was all right, but I loathe that song (thanks, Idol!) so too bad, boo. I love "Wicked Game," and that girl did pretty good.

But other than that? Just no. Too many Duffys and Adeles and Lilly Allens and ugh no thank you.