[ TV t a t t l e . c o m ] 19-22 May ~ finales

Friday, May 22
What we learned from "Idol" Season 8
According to Rolling Stone's list, we learned that three judges are enough, that Quentin Tarantino needs to be a more frequent guest on the show, that covering Michael Jackson is hard, that Danny Gokey killed a cat, that no TV show is above parading around a girl in a bikini, that the finale is a painful reminder of how bad the Top 12 and that the contestant who tries to change her name mid-show cycle isn't always a winner.
Report: It wasn't close -- Kris Allen blew out Adam in the final vote
Did Christians punish Adam for being allegedly gay? Was being Jewish a factor?
Simon responds to ex's attack // KISS invites Adam out on tour
Audition cities announced: Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, L.A., Atlanta
More "Idol" fixes: Release vote totals, solve time problems, fix judges' save
Did texting tip the balance? // iTunes reveals "Idol" rankings

Thursay, May 21
Why Kris won, Adam lost: Blame the judges, tweens and Kris' uniqueness?
Was it the gay factor, Christianity or the tweens? Ramin Setoodeh -- who thinks Kris was the more unique artist -- says they all played a factor, but the hype surrounding Adam probably did him in the most: "Just like it's now bad karma to be the front runner in the Oscar race (as Frost/Nixon can tell you) or the presidential election (as Hillary Clinton can tell you), it also doesn't help if you're the foregone winner of Idol long before the season is over. And here is where the judges didn't help Adam's case. Week after week, they didn't just praise him; they declared him The. Greatest. Singer. Ever. In. All. Of. History. Yes, he's a rock god, but when there's a preconceived notion that you've got the Idol crown in the bag, it makes your fans lazy and you lose votes. Kris Allen, on the other hand, consistently delivered solid performances and received mildly positive reviews from the judges. His fans felt like they had to fight harder to keep him in the contest."
27.7 million watched -- 13% less than last year, the least-watched since 2002
It's official: We are a nation of weenies! // A red vs. blue state proxy war?
Kris' victory gives "Idol" back some of its desperately needed credibility
Being polarizing is OK at first, but it ultimately hurt Adam // Music mattered
Kris' advantage: The underdog, the "journey," the anti-Kate Perry vote
Kris has more curbside appeal: Americans don't mind boring
Adam seemed distant and withholding, while Kris was open and earnest
Finale became a tribute to Adam and 1982, his birth year
Culture wars didn't matter: It was a choice between glam rocker vs. mellow guy
Kris came out of nowhere to embody "Idol" dream // Quit putting down tween voters!
Kris' victory proves tween girls are the fuel of the "Idol" mothership
"Idol's" 10 greatest contestants of all time: Adam is No. 5
Triumph of soft rock // Traditional and safe won // Check out Kris' 1st cover
Simon Cowell: Kris is not the best singer -- "How awful was (Kara's) song?
2-hour finale was godawful // How surreal was Steve Martin?
Kris: "Holy crap" // Listen to Kris with Seacrest // will.i.am self-censored song
Adam happy for Kris // "The blogs have a lot of opinions, don't they?"
Adam's hairdresser speaks // Kara DioGuardi talks about her bikini body


nj.com [Sepinwall] - CW cancels "Reaper," "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Game" and "Privileged"
There's still a possibility that "Reaper" could live on in syndication on CW's Sunday nights. oh boo hiss. I had thought Privileged was not even being considered, then I just read that Privileged was going to come back, and I was glad.

boston.com - "So You Think You Can Dance" is great reality TV, despite its awful title
"SYTYCD" is the real thing compared to its "Dancing with the Stars" counterpart.
The truth is, once we get to the finals of this reality contest, everyone can dance - better than many "American Idol" contestants can sing, better than many "Project Runway" contestants can sew, better than any "Survivor" contestants can do anything. That's the main reason this "Idol" spinoff is TV's most satisfying reality competition, the one that manages the most potent mix of entertainment and bona fide artistry.
"Dancing With the Stars" is pure Velveeta, a cheery Vegas show awash in sequins and lamé. "So You Think You Can Dance" is the real competition. These dancers aren't learning how to hold their arms or trying to extend careers in reality TV; they're all trained, at least to some extent, with admirable technique and commitment to the craft. The choreography, complex and demanding, ranges from standard ballroom fare - the quickstep, the Viennese waltz - to hip-hop and modern dance.
The dances are often stories. Last season, we saw a hip-hop number about a workaholic and his suffering wife, a modern routine that had its dancers leaping on a mattress, another that made use of a freestanding doorframe and a swinging door. They're always provocative; one of last summer's winning routines was a pas de deux with barely clothed dancers. On "Dancing With the Stars," sexy is defined by the size of a bikini top. On "SYTYCD," the movement itself is erotic. How it has managed to air, consistently, on a network show remains one of TV's great and happy mysteries.


Wednesday, May 20
Reports of "Idol's" death as a phenomenon were greatly exaggerated
Before Season 8 began, there was talk that "American Idol" was long in the tooth, that it wouldn't be able to maintain being TV's biggest sensation. "But here we are just a few months later," says Richard Rushfield, "and, on the eve of the coronation of the winner — judging by the coverage in any newspaper, magazine or TV morning show, as well as the chatter on friends’ Twitter feeds and Facebook status updates — reports of 'American Idol's' death have clearly been greatly exaggerated, if not made out of whole cloth. Therefore, the most remarkable thing about Season 8 of “American Idol” is that America continues to talk about the show."
Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour attacked outside "Idol"
Reminder: "Idol" will go over its timeslot // "Idol's" lowest-rated finale
Despite 8.4% drop in viewership, "Idol" execs aren't worried
Will Danny Gokey fans influence final vote? // Even if Adam loses, he still wins
Kris and Adam: We "don't get naked together" // Why Kris will win
Why did Simon talk to Kris like a little boy? // Will Kara's song decide "Idol"?
Lambert stole the show // Lego Adam // Adam is a shoe-in to win
Meet "Idol's" fashion guru // Story behind Kara's song // Kara does PETA ad
Behind the scenes and outside the "Idol" finale


Tuesday, May 19
"V" won't keep Elizabeth Mitchell [Juliet] away from "Lost" [ausiellofiles.ew.com/ Lost scoop: Juliet mystery (sort of) solved
She won't be a series regular on "Lost" anymore, but Mitchell is expected to appear in several episodes despite being a part of the new "V" series.
Multiple sources confirm that the actress is expected to appear in an unspecified number of episodes next season, so it's entirely possible Juliet survived Jughead and her absence will be explained in another way. (Check out Doc Jensen's column this Wednesday for a comprehensive Juliet theorypalooza.)

"Glee" is a miracle of a TV show -- other networks will be jealous [sfgate]
The high school musical drama from "Nip/Tuck's" Ryan Murphy appears to be the fall's best new show, says Tim Goodman. "True, that last accolade is getting a bit ahead of ourselves - and cheating, because we've yet to see what the networks will come up with for next season. But 'Glee' is a great tease; the show manages to be funny, dramatic, and sentimental (without lapsing toward saccharine) while also being that rarest of commodities on television: a musical." *
Dull adults get too much screentime // What took so long to knock off "HSM"?
Blissfully unoriginal in a witty, imaginative way // Ryan Murphy gets "Fresh Air"
Jane Lynch talks high school // Will "Glee" keep Lynch away from "Party Down"?
Fox wanted"Glee" gets to avoid the fall crush // Where's the heart?

*Goodman: "Glee" is a "comedy musical" that deftly combines this country's fascination with amateur singers & dancers ("Idol" & "Dancing With the Stars" are ratings powerhouses) with dead-on satire and an uplifting sweetness. You could call "Glee" something of a miracle for being able to manage the near impossible in balancing these strange tonal shifts. You can also call it the front-runner for next season's best fall show.
You can see exactly what got Murphy's mind going here - taking some of the most worn-out tropes (losers banding together in the face of adversity, petty clique rivalries, the quarterback who wants to sing, the stage brat with the great voice but an ego that makes her an outcast, every teacher gimmick you've ever seen) and tweaking them. That's easier to say than do, but he pulls it off beautifully. Murphy is winking at the earnestness and the cliche, but he manages to make you believe, to get swept up in it.