Nigel Lythgoe News

A record 122.4 million votes came in last night to support the final two on ‘American Idol '- the most votes in the history of the show. Remember last year when the world predicted that ‘American Idol' would never again achieve its previous glory? Remember when we thought that America just didn't care anymore about watching bad auditions and following no-name wannabes? Remember when the country decided that there wasn't another human on the planet that could criticize and humiliate quite like Simon Cowell?

A record-breaking 122.4 million votes were cast following last night's AMERICAN IDOL performance show - the highest number of votes in the show's history. This incredible show of support for finalists Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery brings the total votes cast during Season 10 to over 730 million - the most of any season - and the grand total of votes cast since Season One of IDOL to nearly 4.8 billion!

Last night on American Idol, the final two country youngsters, Lauren and Scotty, battled it out in the Nokia Theatre in the hopes of winning it all! Check out photos from the episode below!

It's finally here! In what is sure to be one of the most highly rated events on television this spring, the final two American Idol contestants battled one final time tonight to earn the title of America's favorite performer. And let's hope viewers were prepared for a whole lot of twang, because tonight's season ten finale of the show was nothing if not a little bit country.

'American Idol' creator Simon Fuller received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, honoring a 30-year career that includes managing the careers of sports stars David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray, as well as the most successful girl group of all time, the Spice Girls.

Last week on American Idol, Haley Reinhart was sent home just two steps short of winning the ultimate prize, leaving the two country youngsters in this week's season 10 season finale- Lauren and Scotty. This week the Season 10 contestants visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Idol creator Simon Fuller, who just received a star! Check out photos from the event below!

Last night on American Idol, Haley Reinhart was was sent home just two steps short of winning the ultimate prize, leaving the two country youngsters in the final battle next week- Lauren and Scotty.Check out photos from the episode below!

In just one week America will have crowned its next Idol. Months of Ford music videos, cheesy group mash-ups, slow country ballads, and Steven Tyler high notes have all lead to this moment, and though the final three contestants wowed me in last night's semi-finals, I'm not sure that Scotty, Lauren, and Haley are the finalists I would have predicted a few months ago- maybe not even a few weeks ago...

An astonishing 95 million votes were cast following last night's AMERICAN IDOL performance show - the third-highest number of votes in the show's history and the highest total ever for a non-finale episode. Tune in tonight, Thursday, May 19 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to find out who will compete in next week's season finale.

Summer's hottest dance series, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, returns for its eighth season with auditions from Atlanta and the Bay Area on a two-hour premiere Thursday, May 26 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

This week on American Idol, the Top 3 sang sang for their livesfor a spot in the finale, and got to visit their hometowns for some moral support. Check out photos from the episode below!

The ‘American Idol' semi-finals are here at last, and while I'm still mourning the loss of the King of the Scarf-tails, it's homecoming time for the remaining three contestants. That's right, after months of getting to know Scotty, Lauren, and Haley, this week we finally get to tag along as they were welcomed back to their hometowns in nothing less than superhero fashion- more of that to come tomorrow!

After last night's top 4 performance, there are few things that are clear in this competition. Steven Tyler relishes in the thought of a trendy feathered earring, and Lady Gaga must have a personal vendetta against pants. If there's one thing that's unclear, however, it's who the front runner is in this competition. I feel like this season is one of the few seasons where I can't pick a favorite based on talent alone. There's such a vast array of styles being offered, particularly in this top 4, that it's hard to compare them to one another.

In what seems like eons since the American Idol contestants have had an interesting theme to play with, tonight they got a chance to sing songs from the extensive catalogue of Leiber and Stoller. And while tonight's theme selection has probably left most viewers scratching their heads, us theatre folk of course know that they're the guys who wrote hits like 'Hound Dog,' On Broadway,' 'Love Potion #9,' and 'Stand By Me.' Thank you, Smokey Joes Café!

Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Scotty McCreery and Haley Reinhart are this season's AMERICAN IDOL Top 4 finalists. Jacob Lusk was eliminated on tonight's show after he received the fewest of America's 60 million votes. On Wednesday's performance show, the Top 5 performed two songs from 'now and then,' and Lusk, 23, from Compton, CA, sang 'No Air' and 'Love Hurts.' Tonight's episode also featured performances by IDOL judge and global superstar Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull, as well as country music sensation Lady Antebellum.

This week on American Idol, the Top 5 sang songs from Now and Then,but Jcob Lush Failed to impress. Check out photos from the episode below!

Just three weeks from now the American public will have dubbed their new idol, who will be one of five personalities that we've come to know and love- a scarf-tail lovin' rocker; a young, country heartthrob; a sassy, growling diva; a cutesy, southern powerhouse; and the guy who should play Effie in a gender-switched version of DREAMGIRLS. But who will it be?

This week on American Idol, the Top 5 sang songs from Now and Then. Check out photos from the episode below!

It's getting down to the nitty gritty in Idol-land, with the season ten finale three mere weeks away. Three weeks! Where has the tie gone? While the bunch that's left certainly isn't the top five that I would have picked out, it's very difficult not to feel totally invested in their fates considering that I've been writing about their every move since January. I just love these kids!

This week on American Idol, the Top 6 sang songs by musica legend Carole King, and the previously saved Casey ABrams got eliminated for the second time. Check out photos from the episode below!