Are we done yet?

( Episode 22 - Ryan Seacrest and the Top 11 Redux )

Previously, Ryan Seacrest went to some auditions, made it through Hollywood Week with Extra! Bonus! Vegas Day, and got us through the semifinals and the first round with the finalists. Now let's look at the next four episodes in which Ryan takes us from 12 hopefuls all the way down to, um, 11 hopefuls.

( Episode 18 - Ryan Seacrest and the Top 12 )

The season 10 hopefuls drop from 24 down to 12. Ryan Seacrest is on the scene to walk us through it. Ryan?

( Episode 13 - Ryan Seacrest and the Top 12 Guys )

When we last saw our intrepid field agent Ryan Seacrest, he was darting around the country, comforting America's youth as their dreams were crushed, dancing with their mothers and bantering with their fathers. Let's see what our plucky young star does next!

( Episode 8 - Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood Week: Sudden Death Round )

So American Idol's back. And they changed some judges or something? I dunno, I wasn't really paying attention and nobody was really speculating that much.

Kidding.

( Ryan Gets New Coworkers )

Things Ryan Seacrest said today:

after discussing how apples are more efficient than caffeine in keeping you alert and energized in the morning ( Read more... )

It was 8 years ago today American Idol premiered and Ryan and Simon -- love 'em or hate 'em -- took their first step in becoming the pop cultural icons they are now.

Simon expected the show to get pulled off the air within 3 or 4 weeks. He was very, very wrong.

And now: pic spam of the guys from their very first episode. ( wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee )

So, Simon Cowell's American Idol finale happened.

( spoilers on every aspect of tonight's ep except the singing and the winning, because those parts are pretty irrelevant to me )