"American Idol" kicked off with a clip of Adam Lambert singing "Mad World" during the 2009 season, then live to host Ryan Lambert, who introduced Adam, live, to sing the song again, bathed in blue light. Nice.

( The run-down of the rest of the show, including who was eliminated. )

OK, I did it again. I wrote the recap right after the show last week and forgot to post it until tonight. But since I took the time to do it, here it is.

( The Top 8 become the Top 6. )

I actually had this ready to go last Friday but neglected to post it. Too much going on!

( The Top 10 become the Top 8. )

My life has been a bit topsy-turvy these days. Here, at last, are the combined recaps for last week's "American Idol" performances and results.

( Who would make the Top 10? )

I didn't do recaps for Hollywood Week because it was too difficult on top of my very busy schedule to do a more nontraditional recap. However, I'm back in the game this week, with recaps for both nights, combined.

( The first 12 contestants get a chance to show what they can do. )

The final audition episode of "American Idol," Season 15, aired Thursday night, with emotions high amongst contestants and the judges. These were, after all, the last open auditions of the show's run.

( The last auditions of the show's run. )

In the final week of Season 15 "American Idol" auditions, previous finalists showed up to help: Lee DeWyze, Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, and Ruben Studdard. They helped with the thankless task of prescreening auditioners to determine who would sing for the judges.

( Auditions, best and the worst, from all the cities. )

Season 15 of "American Idol" continued with auditions in Philadelphia, where I live. Clay Aiken, runner-up in Season 2, helped to screen the would-be contestants.

( How did my city do? )

Last night, auditions for Season 15 of "American Idol" moved to Little Rock and San Francisco, although they were mixed up together throughout the show so that I'm not exactly sure who auditioned where. There were plenty of talented contestants, though fewer joke contestants than in previous years. Previous "Idol" winners Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze ( Read more... )

Season 15 will mark the last hurrah of "American Idol." I will attempt one last time to do recaps, although I apologize in advance if they are sometimes a bit late. Putting a 5-year-old to bed during the middle of the show means I will be time-shifting my watching more often ( Read more... )