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The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010, on Fox.^[2] Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi have all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres has permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge.^[1] Idol Gives Back will also return this season and will be held on April 21, 2010, during the top seven results show.^[3] The top 24 semi-finals format used in the fourth through seventh seasons will also return this season.^[4] This will be Simon Cowell's last season judging on American Idol.^[5]

Judges

After the season began, Paula Abdul did not return as the fourth judge on the panel, having announced in the beginning of August 2009 that she was leaving the show due to unresolved contract negotiations.^[6] Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth were brought in to star as guest judges during the auditions phase.^{[7][8][9][10]}

After making the decision to utilize guest judges in Abdul's absence, Fox chairman Peter Rice stated that they would find a permanent fourth judge before the season premiere in January 2010,^[11] leading the confirmation on September 9, 2009 by Ellen DeGeneres that she would be joining the show as the new permanent fourth judge for the rounds held at CBS Television City for Hollywood Week and thereafter, onto the live shows.^[12]

In addition, Simon Cowell announced shortly before the ninth season began that it would be his last season on American Idol. Cowell will be leaving the show to begin preparations for an American version of his talent show The X-Factor.^[13]

Early process

Regional auditions

Auditions were held in the following cities:^[14]

During this stage guest judges filled in the fourth judging seat.^{[7][15][16][17]}

"Pants on the Ground"

During the Atlanta auditions, 62-year-old activist Larry Platt appeared and performed his original song, "Pants on the Ground." The song is in reference to people wearing the hip-hop style of clothing including pants that sag. Platt was ineligible to continue, due to being well over the show's age limit of 28 years old. His performance has since become a viral hit, and several celebrities performed the song in the days that followed the original airing of his audition in Atlanta.

Hollywood week

Held at the Kodak Theatre for the second straight year, the first day of Hollywood Week featured the 181 contestants (although there were 172 contestants that actually took the stage according to American Idol website^[21]) from the auditions round singing solo with the option of playing an instrument.^[22] Ninety-six contestants advanced. The next round required the contestants to split up into groups and perform. Seventy-one advanced to the final round of Hollywood requiring a solo performance. Forty-six made it to the final round where the judges take contestants one by one and tell them if they made the final twenty-four.

Ellen DeGeneres made her first appearance as a judge (replacing Paula Abdul) at this time.

Semi-finalists

The first seven were revealed on February 16, 2010 (during the second hour on the episode), and the rest were revealed on the following night's episode.^[23]

Semi-finals

The semi-final format used through seasons 4 - 7 has been revived for this season. Starting with 12 women and 12 men, the women and men perform on weekly separate shows and on the result shows, the bottom 2 women and the bottom 2 men are eliminated from the competition. The semi-finals take place over three weeks until there are six women and six men forming the top 12.

Top 24 – Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Top 20 – Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Note: The females were scheduled to go first, but medical issues with Crystal Bowersox, who was hospitalized on March 2 with complications from diabetes, required a switch.^[26]

Top 16 – Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Finals

Top 12 – The Rolling Stones

Elimination chart

Results night performances

Group song

• Top 24: "American Boy" by Estelle
• Top 20: "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas
• Top 16: "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé
• Top 12: The top 12 did not perform a group routine.

Other performances

Kris Allen's rendition of "Let It Be" was made available on iTunes for download, with all proceeds going to Haiti charities.

Controversies

Chris Golightly

Chris Golightly was originally selected as semi-finalist. According to reports, Chris was disqualified February 17, 2010, after already being told he was in the top 24, over an old contract. The contract had expired by the time the top 24 began to tape, but they disqualified him because he was under contract at the time of the tryouts, in violation of Idol rules. He was later replaced by Tim Urban at the last minute of the last part of Hollywood Week.^[30]

US Nielsen ratings

References

External links

• Official website
• American Idol (Season 9) at the Internet Movie Database
• American Idol (Season 9) at TV.com