Stories from Television Without Pity

  1. American Idol - Hometown Heroes

    Television Without Pity &bull May 17, 2012

    In front of moodily-lit mug shots of the final three on the projection screen behind him, Ryan runs down their hometowns: Leesburg, GA for Phil; Chula Vista, CA for Jessica; and Westlake, LA for Josh. Then he walks over to where the… Full Story »

  2. American Idol - Who Judges the Judges?

    Television Without Pity &bull May 11, 2012

    Because tonight, one finalist's triumphant top-three homecoming parade will be snatched away, the pre-credits sequence starts with an Instagrammed montage of past finalists' hometown events, segueing into how much all of the final four want just that. Of course they do, because after one of them wins, he… Full Story »

  3. American Idol - Exit Laine

    Television Without Pity &bull May 4, 2012

    Tonight's pre-credits opening is photo-themed, segueing from one of the finalists' endlessly redundant photo shoots to onscreen text about how a photograph captures a moment, and the top five's moment is now -- but! Maybe get a better camera, then. After the credits and the entrances, Ryan tells us that Coldplay and Carrie Underwood are performing tonight, and then directs our attention to the top five, looking rather sheepish as they already sit on the front row of the couch-bleachers. Ryan wastes less time than usual, calling Joshua to center stage. After clips of his performances and gushing praise from… Full Story »

  4. American Idol - Oldies and the Old Country

    Television Without Pity &bull May 3, 2012

    The judges enter, followed by Ryan, who claims that if we're looking for "two hours of incredible live music by the biggest rising stars in the business," we've come to the right place. Clearly he thinks I'm watching this in… Full Story »

  5. American Idol - Released

    Television Without Pity &bull Apr 27, 2012

    One thing I'll say about the overedited production package that precedes the results shows: they always make the previous night's show look a lot more exciting than it was. The judges come out via the aisles again, Jennifer wearing Morticia… Full Story »


  6. The Voice - Already Gone

    Television Without Pity &bull Apr 25, 2012

    Carson's on stage with the six people in danger of being eliminated tonight. When he says that it's Tuesday night and it can only mean one thing, he holds up one finger, like he's a toddler who just learned how to… Full Story »

  7. American Idol - Saved By the Judges

    Television Without Pity &bull Apr 13, 2012

    After the credits and the entrance of the judges and Ryan and a gratuitous shot of Jane Lynch in the audience, Ryan takes a while calming down the audience to say that tonight, one finalist may go home, but there will be performances from Jason Durbin, as well as Jennifer… Full Story »

  8. American Idol - Contagion

    Television Without Pity &bull Feb 10, 2012

    Welcoming us to the second round of Hollywood Week, Ryan tells us that dreams came crashing down last night. Well, and one human being, too, but we'll get to that after the credits. Speaking of that, there's the whole replay from last night of Symone Black staggering clean off the stage, only not at all cleanly, and we rejoin that… Full Story »

  9. American Idol - Over the Edge

    Television Without Pity &bull Feb 9, 2012

    In case you're new to this season, Ryan reminds us that thousands auditioned, but only a few made it through to this, the Hollywood stage of the competition. The editing in the preview is too fast to follow, but it's looking… Full Story »

  10. American Idol - That's Some Bad Hat, Haley

    Television Without Pity &bull May 20, 2011

    Oh, and that's another thing I've never been able to figure out about this show. I think that "semifinals" refers to the Top 12 or whatever, and "finals" to the Top Two, but this year they've been saying "finale" and… Full Story »

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