American Idol

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Season 1
  • Network: ABC , FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 11, 2002
Season #: 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14

Critic Reviews

  1. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Jun 19, 2013
    60
    The Tuesday programs are involving for the musical numbers, but the Wednesday installments resort to the lamest tricks to drag out the announcement of who is gone. The contestants' awkward group performances add little to the process and play like the worst of Las Vegas. [4 Sep 2002]
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  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Caryn James
    Jun 19, 2013
    60
    Offering prefab middle-of-the-road stardom, "American Idol" is entertaining, but not for the reasons its producers like to pretend. The open secret that the show's creators and its fans choose to ignore is that the music and arrangements are trite, full of wannabe Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder wails. Originality is a losing strategy. But the series does have a stroke of commercial genius, as it shrewdly combines elements from a smattering of other series into one big marketable soup. It's "Survivor" with a soundtrack.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Jun 19, 2013
    60
    So much about the Fox series is unseemly, and I don't just mean the commercial-to-show ratio and the sponsor plugs, which have been downright obscene. "American Idol," a new hybrid of reality TV and beauty pageantry, represents some of the crudest aspects of both network TV and the pop-music industry. ... And yet, and yet. "American Idol" remains addictive TV. [4 Sep 2002]
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  5. San Diego Union-Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert P. Laurence
    Jun 19, 2013
    50
    "American Idol" boasts two new wrinkles. First, the performances are so tightly edited that each singer gets barely a minute onstage. ... The second innovation: The contest is rigged. [21 Jun 2002]
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  6. Salon
    Reviewed by: Carina Chocano
    Jun 19, 2013
    40
    An old-fashioned talent show with the new-fashioned feature of value-added public humiliation, 'American Idol' is a 'Gong Show' the Marquis de Sade would love.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best TV Season of 2002
9
#9 Most Discussed TV Season of 2002
7
#7 Most Shared TV Season of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 11 out of 31
  1. martinex
    Jan 18, 2015
    0
    The biggest waist of time on television. I've never bought a single album or song from any of the vapid lounge singers that this show hasThe biggest waist of time on television. I've never bought a single album or song from any of the vapid lounge singers that this show has produced. The fact that this show has given rise to Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell alone is reason enough to despise it. It's depressing to know that more people will vote on this show than voted in the last election. This show serves as a barometer to the state of our country.… Full Review »
  2. bishopjones
    Apr 2, 2018
    8
    American Idol is a reality show that I really enjoy. What really draws me to the show is just how real it is. The judges and contestants areAmerican Idol is a reality show that I really enjoy. What really draws me to the show is just how real it is. The judges and contestants are all unique with their own personality and it works so well. Most television shows today are chock full of bad acting and obvious scripture but what happens on this show really affects the lives of its cast. The judges have iconic personalities that are so distinguishable anyone who watches television knows who they are. Simon for instance has that notorious personality for being the brutally honest judge that's well known for hurting many feelings. Then there's the actual contestants. Watching someone rise from so little is a sight to behold and the emotion behind all of it makes the show truly worth watching. I recommend this show to anyone that watches reality television.… Full Review »
  3. BrazilReviwes
    Mar 13, 2018
    10
    Great Episode,Katy Perry it's incredible in TV,so Genious and Corage to stare the critic,i love it
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