American Idol aired its very last audition show ever on Thursday night (1/22). For me, the reality that the iconic singing competition will be leaving the airways this spring has not sunk in. I watched tonight’s emotional signoff trying not to think about next year at this time. How weird will this summer be without tracking the audition tour as it crosses the country? Damn.
The last city judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. visited was San Francisco. Thursday’s show began and ended in the City by The Bay. After the last audition, the lights shut off. “Well, y’all, this is it,” said Harry.
“It’s crazy,” said Keith. “But what a way to end. I’m gonna miss this show. I’m gonna miss being on it. I’m going to miss it being on…it’s just been part of the landscape, really, for 15 years.”
Jennifer adds: “I think what I’ll miss is the feeling of a Scotty McCreery or a Phillip Phillips walking in the room, and we go, ‘I think we just discovered someone really special. ” Clips of all the winning moments flash on the screen as she speaks.
“The fact that it’s going off the air,” said one hopeful standing in line to audition, “is heartbreaking.”
“I remember being at the very first finale, when Kelly Clarkson won,” said Harry. “Now that I’ve been a judge for three years, it has left an undeniably wonderful mark on my heart.”
Same, Harry. Same…
Check out the tribute to American Idol auditions here. Shots of favorite contestants are sprinkled throughout the 90 second clip.
