Home > American Idol > Season 7 « TV Series Page American Idol: Season 7 (2008) SEASON: Season 7 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 Season 9 Season 10 Season 11 Season 12 Season 13 Season 14 Season 15 + WANT TO SEE Episode List Season 7 American Idol Critics Consensus No consensus yet. Not enough ratings to calculate a score. TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 4 No Score Yet Audience Score User Ratings: 0 NEW More Info × Close ADD YOUR RATING Share on Facebook Post Want to See Add Rating My Rating × Want to See Post Share on Facebook Episodes 1 Philadelphia Auditions Air date: Jan 15, 2008 The seventh season begins with auditions in Philadelphia. More 2 Dallas Auditions Air date: Jan 16, 2008 The early auditions continue in Dallas. More 3 San Diego Auditions Air date: Jan 22, 2008 Auditions continue. More 4 Charleston Auditions Air date: Jan 23, 2008 Auditions continue. More 5 Omaha Auditions Air date: Jan 29, 2008 Auditions continue. More 6 Miami Auditions Air date: Jan 30, 2008 Auditions continue. More 7 Atlanta Auditions Air date: Feb 5, 2008 Auditions continue in Atlanta. More 8 Best of the Rest Auditions Air date: Feb 6, 2008 Auditions continue. More 9 Hollywood Round Air date: Feb 12, 2008 Contestants endure a grueling rehearsal and audition schedule during the Hollywood round as they try to make the Top 24. More 10 Top 24 Chosen Air date: Feb 13, 2008 The Top 24 are chosen, including 12 females and 12 males. More Show More Episodes Tv Season Info The battle of the Davids (hard-rockin' Cook vs. teen heartthrob Archuleta) was the highlight of a scandal-ridden Season 7. The contestants in 2008 spanned the usual array of styles. Among them: sweet, folksy Brooke White, country girl Kristy Lee Cook, tattooed Irish-born rocker Carly Smithson, soulful Australian Michael Johns and laid-back, dreadlocked Jason Castro. But Cook and Archuleta stole the spotlight early on. In the first year contestants were allowed to play musical instruments, both men showcased their abilities, with Cook on guitar and Archuleta on piano. Cook stood out with his song choices and the renditions he chose on tunes such as "Billie Jean" and "Eleanor Rigby." But the boyish grin and consistently strong vocals of 17-year-old Archuleta had his popularity skyrocketing, especially with younger viewers. In fact, neither performer ever landed in the dreaded "bottom three," which made for a nail-biting finale. Archuleta was the media favorite, but Cook garnered 12 million more votes from viewers. The theme weeks in Season 7 challenged the vocalists to perform songs from the 1980s, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey and the Lennon-McCartney catalog. But they tackled even bigger obstacles with the PR scandals that erupted: from one contestant's lap-dancer past to inappropriate Internet photos and videos, and a controlling stage dad, the "Idol" spin doctors stayed hard at work. Even the judges weren't safe, as questions swirled around Paula Abdul's scattered behavior and her critique of two songs performed by Castro after he only sang one. Genre: Television Network: FOX Premiere Date: Jan 15, 2008 Exec. Producers: Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Ken Warwick Cast Ryan Seacrest Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson Brooke White David Archuleta David Cook (XXII) David Hernandez Amanda Overmyer Carly Smithson Kristy Lee Cook Michael Johns Syesha Mercado Chikezie Eze Jason Castro Ramiele Malubay Mariah Carey Blake Lewis Amanda Overmyer Bono Brooke White Carly Smithson Miley Cyrus Chikezie Eze Chris Daughtry David Archuleta Fergie David Cook (XXII) John Legend David Hernandez Annie Lennox Jason Castro Eli Manning Peyton Manning Kristy Lee Cook Michael Johns Brad Pitt Snoop Dogg Ramiele Malubay Syesha Mercado Carrie Underwood Dolly Parton Reese Witherspoon Graham Nash Kellie Pickler Andrew Lloyd Webber Kimberley Locke Andrew Lloyd Webber Dolly Parton Jordin Sparks Neil Diamond Jimmy Kimmel Chris Brown (II) Natasha Bedingfield Kiefer Sutherland Bryan Adams Elliott Yamin Donna Summer Robin Williams Bo Bice Celine Dion Forest Whitaker Seal George Michael (II) Billy Crystal Ruben Studdard Dane Cook Vanessa Hudgens Jennifer Connelly Fantasia Barrino Jack Black Robert Downey Jr. Amy Adams Gladys Knight Mike Myers Gloria Estefan Ben Stiller Hillary Clinton Carrie Underwood Barack Obama Jordin Sparks John McCain Gordon Brown David Beckham Victoria Beckham Maria Shriver Jim Carrey Alicia Keys Julianne Moore Adam Sandler David Spade Dwayne Johnson Phil McGraw Felicity Huffman George Lopez Kylie Minogue Kobe Bryant Eddie Izzard Emma Bunton Cheryl Hines Kyra Sedgwick Michael Kors Minnie Driver Ricki Lake Rob Schneider Jimmy Johnson Roselyn Sanchez Selma Blair Toby Keith Whoopi Goldberg Sarah Silverman Mary Murphy Michael Chiklis Sheila E. John Cena Triple H Chris Jericho Teri Hatcher Charlie Wilson Show More Cast Episodes 1 Philadelphia Auditions Air date: Jan 15, 2008 The seventh season begins with auditions in Philadelphia. More 2 Dallas Auditions Air date: Jan 16, 2008 The early auditions continue in Dallas. More 3 San Diego Auditions Air date: Jan 22, 2008 Auditions continue. More 4 Charleston Auditions Air date: Jan 23, 2008 Auditions continue. More 5 Omaha Auditions Air date: Jan 29, 2008 Auditions continue. More 6 Miami Auditions Air date: Jan 30, 2008 Auditions continue. More 7 Atlanta Auditions Air date: Feb 5, 2008 Auditions continue in Atlanta. More 8 Best of the Rest Auditions Air date: Feb 6, 2008 Auditions continue. More 9 Hollywood Round Air date: Feb 12, 2008 Contestants endure a grueling rehearsal and audition schedule during the Hollywood round as they try to make the Top 24. More 10 Top 24 Chosen Air date: Feb 13, 2008 The Top 24 are chosen, including 12 females and 12 males. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for American Idol Season 7 All Critics (4) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (2) This megahit can still draw the big names, create an "Event," and make the pundits swallow their words. Mar 26, 2019 | Full Review… Verne Gay Newsday Top Critic There is nothing about [David] Cook's vocals that set them apart from any of the other struggling, wannabe pop stars clamoring to be heard these days; he doesn't have a snide snarl or a gravelly rasp, he just has a clean, well-mannered voice. Mar 21, 2019 | Rating: 3.9/10 | Full Review… Spence D. IGN Movies [American Idol] no longer carried that palpable sense that winning meant something important -- it was just another singing competition. Case in point, the talent pool in Season 7 was remarkably weak. Mar 20, 2019 | Full Review… Andrew Gruttadaro The Ringer I don't disagree that maybe it was one of the strongest seasons, talent-wise, but that plus all the bells and whistles didn't necessarily make it more compelling. Maybe it was that with extra-polished singers come extra-polished personalties. Mar 19, 2019 | Rating: A- | Full Review… Claire Zulkey AV Club Top Critic View All Critic Reviews (4) Audience Reviews for American Idol: Season 7 Jan 30, 2014 Very Good back then! Shane B See all Audience reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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