ABC’s rebooted American Idol crowned its first winner on Monday night in an episode that was so bloated with guest appearances, and other pointless things to keep viewers on tenterhooks before getting to the good stuff.
Seriously, there was so much filler that it could have passed as a whole nother show entirely.
The two-hour live finale kicked off with Lionel Richie performing “All Night Long,” and it was still as impressive as it was in 1983.
The top 10 contestants joined him on the stage to throw their vocals into the ring for it, but they were overpowered at every turn by Lionel’s excellent vocals.
When we finally got to the first round of results, it was more than halfway through the show, which is problematic. Ryan Seacrest confirmed which of the three were going home.
As expected, Gabby Barrett secured the lowest amount of votes overnight and left the show in third place.
Something very unexpected happened after that. Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Maddie Poppe aka the final two confirmed that they were, indeed, dating.
It was a great twist in an otherwise polarizing finale, but things took a cheesy turn when they performed a duet of “Over the Rainbow” together.
There’s saying you’re in a relationship and then there’s throwing it at the audience like you’re selling it.
In the end, Maddie Poppe was crowned the winner. If you’ve been keeping up to speed with the show this season, you will likely be well aware that Maddie has been the most consistent throughout the whole process.
Her performances have been solid, and she has made every single moment of the process count. Out of all the top 10, she is the most marketable star.
The real test will be whether a lesser-viewed Idol can still propel contestants to stardom. Despite returning after a hiatus, the ratings have not been great.
But ABC has faith, and the show will be back for Season 17 in 2019.
The rest of the finale was filled with performances from celebrities such as Bebe Rexha, Nick Jonas, and even judges Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.
With the revived season officially in the can, it’s time to look ahead to the next season. The good news is that the judging panel will remain intact next season.
Despite some issues with the format, the judges have been very constructive.
Katy has been a real treat as a judge. Instead of trying to apologize to Taylor Swift live on air at every opportunity, she’s been helping these contestants realize their true potential.
Okay, what do you think of the winner?
Should someone else have it to the finale?
Hit the comments below!
