Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Over the next five days, I’ll take a look back at 2011, American Idol style.

Today, my picks for five highlights among Idol and its imitators in the year that’s about to conclude.

Coming up later this week, the worst of Idol (Tuesday), the top albums of 2010 (Wednesday), the top Idol songs of 2010 (Thursday) and the best Idol videos of 2010.

Now, for the highlights.

1. Expected to flounder, Idol flourishes instead, without Simon

Remember, it was just a year ago when we were all wondering if American Idol would live to see a Season 11.  Ratings nose-dived in Season Nine.  The albums from the finalists were among the worst performing ever.  And Simon Cowell was leaving.  How could Idol survive? Well, new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez helped pique viewer interest in the early going.  Producer Nigel Lythgoe returned and made some needed tweaks, like eliminating themes that forced too many singers out of their comfort zone.  Most of all, the show found a talented, diverse and thoroughly likeable cast of finalists — probably the show’s best since Season Seven.  They deserve most of the credit for putting the show back on solid footing.

2. The original Idol returns with a flourish

Kelly Clarkson released her fifth studio album, “Stronger,” on Oct. 24.  And, suddenly, the original Idol was everywhere.  Performing on Dancing with the Stars.  Performing on The X Factor.  Performing at the American Music Awards.  Appearing in a Toyota commerical.  Chosen as a VH1 Diva.  Again.  The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.  And if  it hasn’t reached mega-hit status yet, it’s performing quite well, thank you, hanging in at number 44 after eight weeks on the chart.  “Mr. Know it All,” the lead single, has been number one on the adult pop chart for the last two weeks.   The second single, “What Doesn’t Kill You (aka Stronger)” was just released, and the album is chock full of potential followups.  Oh, and let’s not forget Kelly’s spin on the country charts.  Her “Don’t You Want to Stay” duet with Jason Aldean hit number one and earned a Grammy nomination.  To consider how special Kelly’s accomplishments are, just ask yourself this:  How many other former Idol contestants have been successful two albums into their career, let alone five?

3.  Scotty McCreery’s debut album

When he returned to guide Idol for Season 10, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe proclaimed that the winner this year would break big on the music charts.  Not exactly the safest bet considering the collective yawn that greated the so-so debut albums from the past two winners — Lee DeWyze and Kris Allen.  Well, a deep-voiced country singer named Scotty McCreery took the Idol crown.  Then he released “Clear As Day” in early October.  Presto, it landed at number one on the Billboard 200, the first debut from an Idol winner to do that since Ruben Studdard’s first album.  And it has kept right on selling.  Eleven weeks after its release, “Clear As Day” is still number nine on the Billboard 200.  It has yet to drop below number two on the country album chart.  It was certified gold (500,000 copies sold) on Nov. 23.  And it has achieved those sales marks without the benefit of a smash single to fuel sales.  It’s without doubt the most successful Idol debut since David Cook’s self-titled album after season seven.

4.  A not-too-bad after all rival to Idol

The commercials looked oh-so gimmicky.  Blind auditions?  Really?   And another singing competition starting in the midst of the Idol finals?   What in the world are you thinking, NBC?  Then a funny thing happened.  The Voice found four judges as good as anyone on Idol.  Those blind auditions were entertaining.  Not to mention refreshing because of the absence of no-talent crazies willing to do anything to get on TV.  The show moved at a rapid-fire pace.  Voting results were revealed on the screen when contestants were eliminated.   And, best of all, the show uncovered some real talent, including a final four far better than we’d later get from Simon Cowell’s Idol-knockoff.  Not everything worked; the duets in a boxing ring were particularly hokey.  And the first albums from winner Javier Colon and runner-up Dia Frampton have gotten a lukewarm reception.  But the show was the best of the newcomers in 2011 and will be back with the same cast of judges in early February.

5.  A results show worth watching

Lots of Idol results shows are a snooze-fest.  But the third results show of Season 10 would prove an exception.  For starters, a spot on the Idol summer tour was guaranteed to all of that night’s survivors.  Jennifer Hudson was making a triumphant return to the Idol stage where Simon Cowell once told her she’d never make it as a singer.  Hulk Hogan showed up as a surprise for James Durbin.  Steve Wonder turned out as a birthday surprise for Steven Tyler.  And that was before Steven proved himself totally worthless as a judge.  But the biggest surprise was yet to come.  The low vote-getter that night: Casey Abrams, one of the show’s favorites.  Stunned, he launched into his save-me song.  He’d barely began with the judges brought the performance to a halt.   “This is crazy wrong,” Steven said. “We’ve made a decision to keep you on.”  At which point Casey nearly collapsed before approaching the judges’ stand to make sure he’d heard right.  He ran into the crowd to hug his mom. Later, Casey admitted he needed help leaving the stage, the recipient of the judges’ only save.