American Idol fans have had questions about how the contestants will be eliminated in the weeks preceding the finale. It’s a little tricky this season without a results show. Some fans even speculated there would be a Top 3 finale, which would certainly be an American Idol first. A vaguely worded FOX press release, teased that next Wednesday, it would be announced “which finalists make it to the Top Three and are heading to the finale.” What does it all mean?
We finally have the definitive answer. It WILL be a Top 2 competing in the finale. Idol mentor, Scott Borchetta, cleared up the mystery in an interview with Billboard right after Wednesday’s show:
Next week we’ll go from four to three and on Tuesday, May 12, from three to two. The winner will be announced May 13. Big Machine recording contract on May 14.”
In short, there will be TWO eliminations during finale week. One contestant will be eliminated on final night, May 12. Yeah. That’s something now. But how else to do it? It’s a one hour show. I’m guessing it will be like this week. The first round is an elimination round. And it will suck and leave a pall on the rest of the hour. But THIS is American Idol 14. Sigh.
On a side note, when asked how he felt about the Top 4, Scott answered, “Three of the four were in my top five.” Well. Alrighty, then. Scott also explained why the Idols studio recordings are allowed to chart on Billboard. For years, the producers suppressed the numbers:
How come the Idols have been allowed to appear on the Billboard charts during the season, a series first? “We’ve got to compete in the real world. That’s the mission of bringing us into this program. That’s why I took everybody to Nashville. They got to meet with publicity, creative, marketing, promotion and A&R. How much more real can I make it for you?” And finally, does he feel challenged to create a superstar like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood? “We didn’t come here to lose.”
Well. He sort of answered the question. Also: Good luck with that superstar thing.
