Could American Idol‘s farewell season wind up having the deepest, most exciting pool of finalists in recent memory?
While Week One of the audition episodes made such a scenario seem possible, this week’s Reality Check season premiere features a sobering reminder from my cohost Melinda Doolittle: Great singers can sometimes disappear without explanation during Hollywood Week.
Nevertheless, Melinda and I choose our early standouts — and also use our imaginary veto power to take Golden Tickets away from a pair of teenagers.
We also dish two uncomfortable audition incidents we wish had never made it on air — and yep, one of ’em involves Kim Kardashian.
Press PLAY below for the full Reality Check experience, then share your thoughts in the comments!
FIRST TO COMMENT!!! Yay!! You go Michael and Melinda!
What a great RC. Michael and Melinda are the absolute best pairing. LOVED your return. And I do hope Idol doesn’t phook up this last season.
Yay, Reality Check!
Yes! It’s back!
I kind of wish for this season they had nudged the age requirement a year or two, since they don’t have the “come back next year” out. It is what it is, though. Night two was SO much stronger than night one.
YAWN! Glad this is the final season…another show way past it’s prime.
why bother commenting?
Because I felt like it.
Because it’s a bloated trainwreck version of a show that used to be great, which makes it fun to talk about.
I wouldn’t use the word bloated. Last season a lot of things just didn’t happen due to time cuts and it made it a lot harder to connect to the contestants. This season will be done by early April.
Thank the gods for small miracles…Won’t miss this sinking ship. I can think of a few others that should follow suit.
REALITY CHECK!!! I don’t have the words to say how exciting it is to see this!!!!!
#JLoholdmybaby #runassassin #singHeffa
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Great first week for RC.
Please do not mention that this is the final year, until the finale. It is all too painful, especially with a shortened season and with so many capable singers shown, only one week in. Never the less, thanks for one more year.
Disappointment is what ruled week one for me. I didn’t see anyone particularly original or interesting. Because the show is so desperate for a female winner, I have the feeling Olivia is going to be shoved down our throats the way Jax was last season.
Not gonna lie, I was kind of expecting a shoutout to kris allen in this episode of reality check… I thought michael was a fan?! And he held that baby before JLo did!
Some of the talent did make me excited for this season though, I hope it goes out on a high note!
Um, you should NOT be talking about “The Bachelor” #GIANTWASTEOFTIME #VOMIT
I have a feeling this season’s going to be good though. Lots of crazies.
Yes, but how else were they going to incorporate the Sherlock clips then?
You say that you don’t want them to pick personalities over singers, but personality and creative songwriting is what sells in the real world, not raw singing talent. Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, etc. Of course there is the occasional star that can really sing like Adele, but even she has quite a bit of the x-factor as well that is responsible for her success.
ewwww, swift, minaj, gaga. all of them are nasty. they may have made it big, but I don’t personally know anyone who likes any of those three. Adele is ok, but she is getting way to big a head.
I am going to miss you guys so much. Please find something new to discuss for 12 min a week after Idol is over.
Who ruled? Whoever decided this was the FINAL year!!!
FOX! Well, maybe they didn’t necessarily decide this is Idol’s final year. They just decided it’s the last year the show will be on their network.
I so agree with Melinda. Every second Kanye was on was totally wasted, IMO. He may be a first-rate success for some inexplicable reason, but he’s a third-rate talent tops.
Yeah!!! American Idol and Reality Check are back! Great comments. Makes American Idol more enjoyable. Thank you.
One last run of Reality Check (sigh)
Happy to see you both back! I love your banter and wit.
Thank you, Jason!
Love love love that you two are back – but this was way too short! So much more to talk about, but I’ll take what I can get! However, if you wanted to add a Bachelor check, I’d watch that, too. What fun is a train wreck without someone to watch the crazies with?!
Thursday was definitely the best episode of the week, but I kinda wish you guys had also given a shout out to Lindita… she was goooooooood.
Please don’t make me watch The Bachelor…(actually, I totally would if that meant Michael and Melinda forever). Reality Check is better than Idol!
Melissa was nice; West just stopped in to show us all again that he’s talent free.
Sonika Vaid was definitely my favorite.
La’Porsha oh heck to the nooooo.
Trent hope not.
Olivia and Tristen yes
What about Dalton?
Lee Jean
Shonika
You need to talk a bit more about singers. Only a few were mentioned. Something should be said about the original Phantom. The kid will likely polarize. Either way, he was original and should have been mentioned.
Maybe now Michael and Melinda will seriously consider a Reality check for The Voice.
Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing…..so happy to have you both back! :-)
Just caught up with the link in tonight’s schedule. Reality Check has been one of my favorite things about January! And thank you for one last “lock them doors.”
Always great to hear Melinda sing, however briefly!
Welcome back marie! And wasn’t that fabulous? Love Melinda.
#whataboutthechildren – So glad you guys are back!
Michael and Melinda! Have missed you! Could listen to the 2 of you talk about anything. :) So…The Voice and America’s Got Talent? HA! Like I said, anything….just find SOMETHING to sub in for AI.
Agreed!
“If La’Porsha is still living I’m not doing another run again”. LOL Melinda!
Welcome back, Michael and Melinda. LOVE “Reality Check”.
Baby Lock them Doors and settle in for the last season of American Idol.
Agreed with everything other than I am a total 180 when it comes to the girl who sings ONLY runs and why, why, why did you make my eyes have to witness even 20 seconds of the Bachelor! Scarred for life!!