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American Idol

2002 – 2016Show15 seasons567 episodesTV-PG

Reality
55
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb4.3Metacritic634.2Rotten Tomatoes–58%

A nostalgic, hopeful reality series about show business and pop culture.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for brutality, big ideas or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

15 seasons · 567 episodes · best: S22E14 "714 (Shania Twain Mentors the Top 10 on Songs From Their Year of Birth)" 9.2

Episodes

4.5
5.0
5.2
5.0
4.9
4.7
4.7
5.7
4.8
5.6
5.2
4.4
5.1
5.4
6.6
7.6
8.0
7.8
8.1
8.4
8.2
8.5
7.7
7.4

Story

Dream big.

Each year, hopeful singers from all over the country audition to be part of one of the biggest shows in American television history. Who will become the new American Idol?

Feels like

  • Reality Competition
  • Vocal Talent Showcase
  • Pop Culture Phenomenon
  • Judges' Commentary
  • Backstage Drama
  • Musical Performance
  • Mass Appeal Entertainment
  • Early 2000s Nostalgia
  • Audience Voting Mechanics
  • Star-Making Machine

Cast

24 of 220 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Bruce Gowers, Louis J. Horvitz, Ken Warwick
Written by
Simon Fuller
Produced by
Simon Jones, Simon Lythgoe, Toby Gorman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 11, 2002 · April 7, 2016 · Ended

First aired
June 11, 2002
Last aired
April 7, 2016
Status
Ended
Length
15 seasons · 567 episodes
Age rating
TV-PG
Genres
Reality
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
1 country

Tropes

Jive Turkey, Cuteness Proximity, Turn of the Millennium +9

  • Jive Turkey
  • Cuteness Proximity
  • Turn of the Millennium
  • The Ace
  • Precision F-Strike
  • Vote Early, Vote Often
  • Large Ham
  • Gone Horribly Right
  • Heterosexual Life-Partners
  • Talent Show
  • Don't Think, Feel
  • Two Girls to a Team

12 of 106 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream American Idol?"

Questions about American Idol

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream American Idol?

HuluYouTube TV

In the United States, American Idol streams on Hulu and YouTube TV.

Is American Idol worth watching?

55
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 55 (IMDb 4.3 and Metacritic 63). Critics rate it higher (63 out of 100) than audiences (48). Season 12 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 4.4 against 8.5 for the best season.

Which season of American Idol is best?

Season 22, with an IMDb average of 8.5. Season 12 is the weakest at 4.4. The highest-rated episode is 714 (Shania Twain Mentors the Top 10 on Songs From Their Year of Birth) (season 22, episode 14) at 9.2, and the lowest is Episode #12.33 (season 12, episode 33) at 3.1.

Is American Idol okay for kids?

TV-PG

Yes: it's rated TV-PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch American Idol?

803 h

About 803 hours: 567 episodes in 15 seasons of about 85 minutes each, aired from 2002 to 2016.

Can I half-watch American Idol?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 2 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Will I feel good after watching American Idol?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting series: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for hopefulness and 6 for wholesome.