American Idol: Season 7 (2008)

SEASON:

Season 7
American Idol

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40%

TOMATOMETER

Critic Ratings: 5

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Audience Score

User Ratings: 4

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Episodes

1. Philadelphia Auditions
Air date: Jan 15, 2008

The seventh season begins with auditions in Philadelphia.

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2. Dallas Auditions
Air date: Jan 16, 2008

The early auditions continue in Dallas.

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3. San Diego Auditions
Air date: Jan 22, 2008

Auditions continue.

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4. Charleston Auditions
Air date: Jan 23, 2008

Auditions continue.

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5. Omaha Auditions
Air date: Jan 29, 2008

Auditions continue.

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6. Miami Auditions
Air date: Jan 30, 2008

Auditions continue.

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7. Atlanta Auditions
Air date: Feb 5, 2008

Auditions continue in Atlanta.

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8. Best of the Rest Auditions
Air date: Feb 6, 2008

Auditions continue.

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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.

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10. Top 24 Chosen
Air date: Feb 13, 2008

The Top 24 are chosen, including 12 females and 12 males.

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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.

Critic Reviews for American Idol Season 7

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (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

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

The show did make fun of a couple people, or at least let them make fun of themselves.

Apr 3, 2020 | Full Review…
Andy Dehnart

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.

[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
View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for American Idol: Season 7

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