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Fox Will End 'American Idol' in 2016

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PopMatters is moving to WordPress. We will publish a few essays daily while we develop the new site. We hope the beta will be up sometime late next week.

The next season of American Idol will be its last.

Kelly Clarkson plays it safe, and spends too much time showing off her upper register, but Wrapped in Red is a warm and romantic addition to the Christmas pop zeitgeist.

On Frames, Lee DeWyze seeks artistic redemption after unfortunate career setbacks.

With American Idol’s latest season now in full swing, let’s take a look at what happened to last year’s top ten contestants.

See all the night’s performances in order from best to worst.

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Casey Abrams didn’t win American Idol during the show’s tenth-season run, but he revived the idea that the show could be more than simply a staging-ground for cookie-cutter, by-the-numbers pop drivel.

FOX’s American Idol, the current highest rated show on TV, will still hold a Thursday night spot when it returns in January, but the season starts off with the less-popular X Factor.

In Season 8, critics wondered how the public would respond to the new “judges save” rule, which gave the judges a one-time chance of vetoing what the people wanted.

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To cap off the night of giving in Season 6 of American Idol, no contestant was eliminated... that week.

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Season Five’s American Idol saw a record number of Billboard chart appearances, with 18 contestants from the show eventually receiving some sort of record contract. What are those contestants up to, now?

Season Four's American Idol saw the rise of Carrie Underwood -- the show's biggest star to date. A look back at Season Four’s most-loved contestants and what they are currently up to.

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A look back at Season Two’s most-loved contestants and what they are currently up to.

A look back at American Idol Season One’s most-loved contestants and what they're currently up to.

Here’s a look at what might be taking space in your CD collection or filling up your MP3 player this year.

You can throw money at a project in the hope of receiving short term notice, but once a singer like McCreery steps off the Idol reservation, giving him material this weak leaves him to swim with the sharks while having no real talent to defend himself with.

Part three of a primetime look at what the major networks will be offering us, with predictions on what will stick and what will flop.

Part two of a primetime look at what the major networks will be offering us, with predictions on what will stick and what will flop.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the first TV commercial, so we cast our glance back at the some of the most memorable ads of all time.

I've tried to appreciate the courage it takes for non-dancing D-lister's to perform outside their comfort zone. Really, I have.

Reality shows that promise the American Dream keep contestants lining up and audiences tuning in.

Continuing our look at the year’s most notable television events, here’s what happened in December 2010.

Continuing out look at the year’s most notable television events, here’s what happened in September 2010.

Continuing out look at the year’s most notable television events, here’s what happened in May 2010.

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