Season 11 poster
40 episodes

American Idol - Season 11

First aired Jan 18, 2012Season 11

Browse all 40 episodes in this season, including available images, air dates, runtimes, ratings and episode summaries from TMDB.

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Community reviews for American Idol, shown here with its season details.

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10.0

American idol, a season and series juggernaut, one of the most incredible and unique competitions to ever spark the world with the possibility of an unknown person becoming a mega star. Randy, Paula and Simon, iconic names on their own, but even more when you combine them together. Randy Jackson was a music mogul, an individual who played for Mariah Carey, and a legend in his own right. Paula Abdul music icon from the 80s, one of the biggest selling artist and amazing choreographers ever to step foot on a stage. And then Simon Cowell, the ruthless, aggressive and honest individual that America fell in love with. And has went on to become one of the Biggest Music executive directors in the world. I’m going to captivate all seasons in this one review, so this is going to be a long one, so enjoy. Season one, what an incredible journey, a show that you did not think was going to last let alone become such a mega hit that it became. But more importantly, you had to have the right winner. With America voting did we get the right winner? America selected the quiet yet powerful vocals of Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson went on to solidify the show as a mega superpower. When she became a Grammy award-winning artist, television actress, movie actress, and she is now has a syndicated talk show. Kelly Clarkson went on to sell millions of albums, worldwide and even placed, second place in Idol against all the other idol competitions around the world. Season two was the biggest controversial season we saw to date trying to follow up with the success of the first season, we awarded Ruben Studdard, the winner of American idol with a bunch of controversy, whether or not Clay Aiken should’ve been the one to go onto the show. Either way, both men came out of the successful and not only did the two men come out successful. Kimberly called well became in Household, hosting and becoming an actress. Season three delivered Fantasia Barrino, one of the most underrated incredible voices in the world. Her voice is so unique and iconic. She went onto also become a Grammy award winner and best selling R&B artist. She also stemmed Jennifer Hudson and Oscar winning and Grammy winning artist as well from that season who plays seventh place. This showed American idol was not just focused on the winner, but the people from the top 12 also had an opportunity to become super successful. From the season alone we also got Deanna Degarmo who went to become a Broadway legend.. Season four, we got the greatest and legendary country singer in Carrie Underwood. She brought the fire and tore that season apart. She was a young lady who did not know anything and never had been on a plane. To go on and become a multi time, Grammy award winning artist and mega power, and now she sits at the table as one of the judges for American idol. Season five became the new controversy, after season two and season three brought us severe controversy season five hit us even harder. Taylor Hicks took home the title of American Idol during this season, and ended up failing as a credible winner. Not being able to hold up to the four before him. All four artists before him either are Grammy winners or Grammy nominated artist. Taylor could not live up to those expectations and standards. His fourth finisher Chris Daughtry went to be a Grammy award-winning rockstar. Which is the person everyone thought was going to win this show. Catherine McVie became an actress and Elliott Yamin pulled out a great singing career as well. we also got the Grammy award winning Christian artist Mandisa, and we got country artist of Bucky Covington and country superstar Kellie Pickler. Season five may have had the wrong winner, but it had the most incredible group of top 12. Season six, we got NFL football players, daughter Jordon Sparks as the winner youngest winner at that time. She went on to become also a Grammy nominated artist, keeping the trend alive that success can come from the show. We also got the boxing talents of Blake Lewis, and a few other individuals who stemmed from the show, but didn’t make it to the superstardom level. Season seven we started to the show out with one of the most incredible finale battles. We’ve seen in a long time David versus David , two different individuals. One rocker and one gospel singer. The older David, David Cook came out on top as he prevailed the rocker of the season. He went on to sell multiple albums, but still never reached the stardom of five of his predecessors. He still had a very successful career, but it was never a megastar career. During our season, eight journey, American idol decided to spice things up by adding a fourth judge. Kara Diaguardi and she brought a lot of controversy between Simon and herself. After seven years of being the three they are now the four. Kris Allen captured the title of season eight, with one of the most controversial wins of all time. Front runner and expected winner. Adam Lambert went on to become a star in his own right, but was believed to be the actual winner of the show. But America was not ready for an LGBT winner. Especially someone who was completely open about their sexuality. Now American Idol served a little differently than it normally did you may have got a few people to have minor success after the show. But by this time, if you weren’t the winner, you barely got any success afterwards and that didn’t even mean if you got success. Unfortunately, he may have won the competition but he did just as bad as the previous winner from season five. We move onto season nine still with the same set of judges, Lee Dewyze wins the title in the most forgettable, unsuccessful, and unpopular season ever. America was not fond of the singer, songwriter, crooner season, that transpired from dispatch. The only thing we got from this was gospel singer Colton Dixon, which to be honest with you, he might’ve actually came from a different season, they also attempted to spice things up just a little more, by replacing longtime judge Paula Abdul with Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen did not work out, she hated everything about judging people, and quit the show immediately after. Season 10, we return to a three judges panel. With Ellen DeGeneres quitting and American idol not renewing Kara‘s contract, and then Simon Cowell exiting the show. We were left up in the air with the judges panel. They brought on Steven Tyler from Aerosmith and Latin legend, Jennifer Lopez. This season saw the winner of Scotty McCreery, who went on to become a country superstar, but not only that he also was the first in a long time where the runner-up went on to be a country superstar in Lauren Alaina. America and American idol were back on top. We moved into season 11 with the same judges Randy, Jennifer,Steven and what a group they turned out to be, funny and hilarious and great judges. We saw the coronation of Philip Phillips, who went on to have one of the greatest singles of all time. And even had it as the Olympics theme song for that year. Philip had struggled afterwards to captivate and connect with the audience. Which put him in the same boat as Taylor, David, Kris and Lee. But the American Idol team was helpful. We moved on to season 12 this season saw the departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as judges. And brought in Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. Unfortunately, for this season, Nikki and Mariah could not get along. The fighting, the continued arguments and bantering back-and-forth, took away from the contestants, and took away from their singing, and what the competition in the show was all about, and it turned into a dramatic all out mess. This season we got the winner of Candice Glover, who went on to do nothing, she became one of those forgotten winners, and one of the most failed American Idol winner of all time at this moment. She did release an album, but it failed on the charts. And it was because I believe the focus was off of these individuals and more on the dramatics of the judges. So nobody grew to love them like you did the previous winners. So we went on to season 14 of American Idol. At this time, American Idol did not invite Nick or Mariah back, and Randy Jackson decided to part ways. The company brought back Jennifer Lopez to join Keith Urban and then brought on Harry Connick Junior, these three became the saving Grace of at least the judges panel. But it was too late for the show. The show kept these judges for the next three seasons. This season we saw the winner Caleb Johnson who took Candice‘s spot as the worst American Idol winner of all time. His failed rocker vibe and music did not captivate or grab anyone’s attention. His album flocked American idol continue to go. Season 14, we got the winner of NickFradiani personally he is one of my favorite winners, because his music is incredible and underrated. But to the general public, he didn’t sell as bad as the other two but he’s definitely in the bottom five. He did continue to go on to perform in local venues and push forward the best he could. But now it was a stain on the American idol winners, and I believe it stems from that toxic judges panel. We moved onto season 15, the end of American idol. They brought back the winners and some fan favorites, had a huge celebration for all the years the show was on there. The judges all came back and everybody celebrated. As the winner, Trent Harmon took on the final title of American idol. And even though, it is the end, it did not give him the push. He thought he was going to get. And he once again with the American idol winners became a failed champion. American idol stayed gone for over a year, and the general public did miss the show, so Walt Disney purchases the show and brings it back with a more positive and energetic flare. They brought it back with the worst voting system, date. The judges had more power than America, so they got to choose majority of who they’re putting in, when America is the one that should be choosing because we are the ones that buy the albums. I said since day one, this was going to be a failure, if they do not change it back to single elimination instead of group elimination. But American idol decided it was going to do its own thing and push on. Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan became the new judges of American Idol season 16 through 22 I’m gonna combine the seasons together for the most part, but I’m going to still give them their due and their credibility. Season 16 we saw the winner of Maddie Poppee who also was the wrong winner, because Gabby Barrett who worked third place in the show went on to be a country superstar and was the front runner the entire time. We finally got some thing from one of those shows, but it wasn’t the winner. Unfortunately, the winner went on to be a failed winner again. Season 17 we saw Laine Hardy someone from previous season come back and capture the title. The Elvis look-alike young country megastar was going to be born, but American idol sat on his album debut, and sat on his music. To the point lane, then became a failed winner and gotten legal trouble, he’s making a return today as we speak. But it may be too late for the young country artist. Season 18 the pandemic season, the season that took place with everybody filming from their living room or their bedrooms. We watched as American idol still tried to keep this show relevant with everybody submitting their videos, the judges were on zoom, the contestants were on zoom and we continued to watch this show as just Sam, a young woman with financial issues captured the title. She had a beautiful voice and an incredible presence for someone who was never on the stage. Yet, American Idol dropped the ball with her completely, and she became the worst winner of all time. We moved onto season 19 when Chayce Beckham, captured the title, he went on to also be a failed winner and not successful in the world of music. He did have one song that slowly climb the charts, but never quite got anywhere. He was brought back many times on the show, but that was the only time you seen or heard of him. Yet, just Sam was still left off the show. And never took the stage. Season 20 we got the winner of Noah Thompson, the wrong winner of American idol hands-down no questions asked. He captured the title of the show because he was extremely attractive. There was no way that America actually voted him in as the best singer, except they chose him based on his looks. And where did it get us another failed winner American idol is tarnished, I don’t see the show producing a mega star ever again. We have went through so much and yet we’ve gotten nowhere. But American idol continue to push forward with season 21, that’s when America finally saw firsthand. We claimed wrong winners in the past, but this was hands-down the wrong winner. Iam Tongi American idol’s first Hawaiian winner, went on to accomplish nothing. No music, no album and definitely no concerts. He was awarded the win on this show simply because of the passing of his parent, there is no way that this man beat half of the people that he was going up against. Unfortunately, the winners are final and they claim America’s vote. But this is the first time I questioned 100% whether or not, the show was rigged. They think they were going to get success from this person, no, they are not thinking, marketing wise, American idol went for a sympathetic run instead. Season 22 another controversy strikes American Idol as Katy Perry the judge is called out for bullying a woman for having a baby and sex under age. Even though that is not what happened, we’re in a world of cancel culture. We’re in a world where people blow up social media and change things. So this will be the last season for Katie Perry as a judge. we went on to Crown the winner of Abi Carter, American idol, normally by this time has pushed their artist to be close to having an album, to get music out there and to captivate the world. But we have yet to see anything or hear anything from this young lady and it just looks like we’re gonna follow the same train of another failed winner. Season 23 Carrie Underwood American idol. All they need is one mega star to come forward to reconnect the crowd and the audience and build up the history of these legendary winners from the past. Because we have not seen a single successful winner since season 10 and before season six. American Idol has more failed winners than they do champions.

Episodes

Auditions No. 1: Savannah still

Episode 1

Auditions No. 1: Savannah

NR
Jan 18, 201285 min

Television's No. 1 series returns for its highly anticipated 11th season with brand new contestants, a superstar judging panel and the best and worst of auditions. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler traveled across the country to Charleston & Savannah where the good, the bad and the outrageous auditioned for their shot at stardom. This season promises to deliver the most talented group of singers yet and as always, it's up to the viewers to root and vote for their favorite contestants, ultimately crowning the next American Idol.

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Episode 2

Auditions No. 2: Pittsburgh

NR
Jan 19, 201285 min

The auditions continue on the second part of three-night season premiere of American Idolas the judges continue their quest to find the next singing superstar from Pittsburgh, PA.

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Episode 3

Auditions No. 3: San Diego

NR
Jan 22, 201285 min

The auditions continue on a special, extended primetime broadcast of American Idolas the judges continue their quest to find the next singing superstar from San Diego, CA.

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Episode 4

Auditions No. 4: Aspen

NR
Jan 25, 201285 min

More auditions are featured on American Idol as the judges try to find the next singing superstar. Don't miss the auditions that everyone will be talking about the next day from Aspen, CO.

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Episode 5

Auditions No. 5: Galveston

NR
Jan 26, 201285 min

The auditions continue on American Idol as the judges travel to Galveston, TX to search for the next singing superstar. Don't miss another round of good, bad and outrageous auditions.

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Episode 6

Auditions No. 6: Portland

NR
Feb 1, 201285 min

The auditions continue on the new season of American Idol, as the judges travel to Portland, OR in search for the next singing superstar.

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Episode 7

Auditions No. 7: St. Louis

NR
Feb 2, 201285 min

In an American Idol exclusive, Madonna will world preview the video for her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Plus, more auditions – this time from St. Louis, MO – as the judges resume their search to find the next singing superstar.

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Episode 8

Hollywood Round, Part 1

NR
Feb 8, 201285 min

The Hollywood Round begins as Randy, Jennifer and Steven narrow down the auditioncontestants to see who may get a semifinal spot.

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Episode 9

Hollywood Round, Part 2

NR
Feb 9, 201285 min

The Hollywood Round continues as Randy, Jennifer and Steven narrow down the contestants after listening to the Group Round Performances.

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Episode 10

Hollywood Round, Part 3

NR
Feb 15, 201285 min

Contestants try one last time to impress the judges, singing for their lives to prove who deserves to make it to the semi final round. For some, it's the end of the road, but for the first group of semifinalists whose names will be revealed tonight, the next part of the journey is about to begin

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Episode 11

Performance Challenge

NR
Feb 16, 201285 min

A performance round is held in Las Vegas.

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Episode 12

Final Judgment, Part 1

NR
Feb 22, 201285 min

The contestants must bring it and sing it in one final performance opportunity to win over the judges, who then reveal the first group of semifinalists.

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Episode 13

Final Judgment, Part 2

NR
Feb 23, 201285 min

The judges unveil the remaining semifinalists.

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Episode 14

Semifinalist Boys Perform

NR
Feb 28, 201285 min

The male semifinalists perform. Viewer voting begins.

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Episode 15

Semifinalist Girls Perform

NR
Feb 29, 201285 min

The female semifinalists perform.

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Episode 16

Finalists Chosen

NR
Mar 1, 201285 min

Finalists are revealed. Also: The judges add their wild-card choices to the final group.

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Episode 17

13 Finalists Compete

NR
Mar 7, 201285 min

Season 11's finalists perform songs by Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston. Mary J. Blige is the mentor.

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Episode 18

1 of 13 Voted Off

NR
Mar 8, 201285 min

One finalist is eliminated in a results episode. The performers are Mary J. Blige and Lauren Alaina.

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Episode 19

11 Finalists Compete

NR
Mar 14, 201285 min

Season 11's finalists must bring it and sing it in a performance edition.

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Episode 20

1 of 11 Voted Off

NR
Mar 15, 201285 min

One singer is cut from the competition in a results episode. Daughtry perform.

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Episode 21

10 Finalists Compete

NR
Mar 21, 201285 min

The finalists perform.

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Episode 22

1 of 10 Voted off

NR
Mar 22, 201285 min

One singer is voted off in a results installment. Guest performers are Lana Del Rey and Haley Reinhart.

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Episode 23

9 Finalists Compete

NR
Mar 28, 201285 min

The finalists perform songs by their own idols.

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Episode 24

1 of 9 Voted Off

NR
Mar 29, 201285 min

A finalist is eliminated in a results episode. Performing: Nicki Minaj and Scotty McCreery.

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Episode 25

8 Finalists Compete

NR
Apr 4, 201285 min

The finalists perform songs from the 1980s.

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Episode 26

1 of 8 Voted Off

NR
Apr 5, 201285 min

One finalist is eliminated in a results edition. Guest performers are the Wanted and Kellie Pickler. Also: the premiere of the Jennifer Lopez music video "Dance Again".

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Episode 27

7 Finalists Compete

NR
Apr 11, 201285 min

The singers perform.

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Episode 28

1 of 7 Voted Off

NR
Apr 12, 201285 min

One singer is eliminated in a results installment. Performing: Jennifer Hudson; Ne-Yo; James Durbin.

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Episode 29

7 Finalists Compete

NR
Apr 18, 201285 min

The singers perform a current song and a classic soul tune.

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Episode 30

1 of 7 Voted Off

NR
Apr 19, 201285 min

One singer is eliminated in a results episode. The performers are LMFAO and Kris Allen.

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Episode 31

6 Finalists Compete

NR
Apr 25, 201285 min

The singers perform in a Queen-theme episode. Appearing: Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

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Episode 32

1 of 6 Voted Off

NR
Apr 26, 201285 min

One singer is eliminated. Performing: Katy Perry; the Queen Extravaganza (the official touring Queen tribute group); and Stefano Langone.

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Episode 33

5 Finalists Compete

NR
May 2, 201285 min

The singers perform. The theme is British music.

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Episode 34

1 of 5 Voted Off

NR
May 3, 201285 min

One singer is eliminated. Performing: Carrie Underwood and Coldplay.

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Episode 35

4 Finalists Compete

NR
May 9, 201285 min

The singers perform. The theme is "California Dreamin'.

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Episode 36

1 of 4 Voted Off

NR
May 10, 201285 min

A finalist is eliminated in a results show. Jennifer Lopez and David Cook perform.

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Episode 37

Finalists Compete

NR
May 16, 201285 min

The final three singers each perform three songs—a judges' choice, Jimmy Iovine's choice and their own choice. They also return to their hometowns to visit family, friends and fans.

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Episode 38

Finalists Results

NR
May 17, 201285 min

A singer is eliminated in a results show. Lisa Marie Presley and Adam Lambert perform.

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Episode 39

Final Performance Round

NR
May 22, 201285 min

The two finalists perform in Part 1 of the two-part Season 11 finale. Jason Derulo and Scotty McCreery perform. From the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

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Episode 40

Grand Finale

NR
May 23, 201285 min

The winning singer is revealed in the conclusion of the two-part Season 11 finale. Guest performers include Rihanna, Aerosmith, Neil Diamond and Chaka Khan, John Fogerty, Jennifer Holliday, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks and Reba McEntire. Also: a reunion of the Top 12 contestants.