Reality Show, American Idol Season 10 | featured news

He was a little bit country; she was a little bit country. Scotty McCreery, the 17-year-old from Garner, N.C., won, but the real competition wasn’t between him and fellow Southerner Lauren Alaina, 16, of Rossville, Ga. All along, the contest was between “American Idol” past and “American Idol” present. It turned out that even after 10 seasons, with fewer frills and a different cast of judges, the ratings soared. “American Idol” is indestructible.

Despite strained vocal cords, the teenager came up big. But will her clutch performance be enough to beat Scotty McCreery?

"American Idol" is drawing to a close for its 10th season, and you don't even care, do you?

Haley Reinhart put on a brave face during her American Idol elimination last night, but what happened next? Did the third-place finisher melt into tears backstage?

'American Idol' axes rocker James Durbin, leaving 3 finalists to vie for 'Idol' title

Apologies for not filing a rating story earlier, it was a pretty big busy morning in TV news today. With the final ratings for last night in, here are the biggest highlights:
NBC's The Office (3.5/10 in 18-49) was down 17% from last week's episode, which marked the departure of star Steve Carell.

Stefano Langone isn't closer to becoming an "American Idol." The smooth 21-year-old singer from Kent, Wash., received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox talent contest Thursday, despite impressing the judges with his voice - and dance moves - on Ne-Yo's "Closer."...

Any changes are unlikely to take effect this season, which has already seen the early exit of four female finalists, including presumed front-runner Pia Toscano.

Paul McDonald kept grinning despite being gouged on "American Idol." The smiley singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tenn., was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox talent contest Thursday after kicking off Wednesday's film-themed performances with Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" from "Risky Business." Jennifer Lopez requested the 26-year-old sing Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" as his swan song, and he happily obliged.

Jennifer Lopez isn't sure "American Idol" viewers will be calling in for finalist Haley Reinhart. Lopez said the bluesy 20-year-old college student from Wheeling, Ill., didn't dial up her best performance with Blondie's "Call Me" from "American Gigolo" on the Fox talent competition's evening of film tunes Wednesday. The show's lone female judge was reluctant to criticize Reinhart because every eliminated finalist has been a woman this season.