Elimination90 contestants go to Hollywood. 30 will go home. Those who make the final 60 move on the Las Vegas and will be asked to sing Beatles songs. 40 contestants left at the end of this round, before producers place the remaining twenty contestants, in two groups of ten, before the American public, for a semi-final sudden death round to find ten finalists - five girls and five boys - for the live shows in the finals. Additionally, the judges have been given wild card picks.
American Idol auditions continue in Hollywood on Wednesday, Feb. 16 (8:00-10:00) and Thursday, Feb. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM) with the hopefuls who received tickets to Hollywood from the judges. The contestants who make it through Hollywood will then head to Las Vegas for the first time ever to perform Beatles songs on the Cirque du Soleil LOVE stage Wednesday, Feb. 23 (8:00-10:00). The auditions will conclude on Thursday, Feb. 24 (8:00-10:00) when the judges reveal 20 semifinalists (10 guys and 10 girls).
The semifinalists compete on Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2 (8:00-9:30). The five male and five female contestants with the most votes will be the first to join this season’s finalists. The judges’ will also make their special “Wild Card” picks rounding out the finalists on Thursday, March 3 (8:00-9:00) to the final 12.
Schedule at-a-GlanceWednesday, Feb. 16 Hollywood Round, Part 1
Thursday, Feb. 17 Hollywood Round, Part 2
Wednesday, Feb. 23 Las Vegas Round
Thursday, Feb. 24 Top 20 Semifinalists Announced
Tuesday, March 1 Semifinalists Perform
Wednesday, March 2 Semifinalists Perform
Thursday, March 3 First Results Show and Finalists Announced
What’s New:New Band Director and no more band onstage. It will be screaming preteens instead. Oh joy! They will be 2-hour episodes on Wednesday until April 6 and then it drops to 90 minutes. Thursday shows will always be an hour. They lowered the age to 15 and raised the age to 29.
The top 12 contestants will have to complete various challenges, including contests to make the best music video, to promote themselves, and to work with a band and dancers for an awards show-style performance.
Theme weeks will also get a makeover. No more asking a country singer to sing an R&B song, or an R&B singer to do Led Zeppelin Every song will be customized to that contestant.
