Leadoff Performances

[back to top] Leadoff Performances

Click on a column header to sort by that column.
# Episode / Theme Slot Performance Approval Rating σ Result
201
80's
1/12
I Love Rock and Roll0003I Love Rock and Roll
45
 
25 2Safe
202
Competitors' Picks
1/10
Family Tree0003Family Tree
70
 
18 2Safe
203
Country / Rock
1/12
Barracuda0003Barracuda
76
 
18 2Safe
204
America's Requests
1/12
Sweater Weather0003Sweater Weather
46
 
18 2Safe
205
Breakups and Makeups
1/12
You Give Love A Bad Name0003You Give Love A Bad Name
41
 
19 2Safe
206
Randy's / Judges' / Hometown Choice
1/9
Never Tear Us Apart0003Never Tear Us Apart
37
 
18 2Safe
207
Finale
1/6
Dog Days Are Over0003Dog Days Are Over
47
 
19 7Eliminated
208
Open
1/12
I Wanna Rock0003I Wanna Rock
32
 
22 2Safe
209
Open
1/12
Love Runs Out0003Love Runs Out
39
 
20 7Eliminated
210
Motown
1/8
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)0003How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
15
 
10 2Safe
211
Motown
1/8
Rockin Robin0003Rockin' Robin
61
 
20 2Safe
212
Audition Songs
1/12
Love Runs Out0003Love Runs Out
32
 
16 7Eliminated
213
Get The Party Started
1/12
Burn0003Burn
30
 
14 2Safe
214
Songs from the Cinema
1/11
Love You I Do0003Love You I Do
45
 
16 7Eliminated
215
1980s
1/9
You Make My Dreams0003You Make My Dreams
13
 
12 4Bottom Group
216
Kelly Clarkson
1/9
Catch My Breath0003Catch My Breath
39
 
15 2Safe
217
Billboard Hits
1/8
Poker Face0003Poker Face
44
 
23 2Safe
218
American Classics
1/14
Why Do Fools Fall In Love?0003Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
33
 
19 2Safe
219
Arena Anthems
1/12
Are You Gonna Be My Girl0003Are You Gonna Be My Girl
37
 
22 2Safe
Judges Hometown / What I Am
1/8
Living For The City0003Living For The City
37
 
21 2Safe
221
Scott's / Judges' / Hometown Choice
1/12
Want To Want Me0003Want To Want Me
31
 
22 7Eliminated
222
Finale
1/6
Georgia On My Mind0003Georgia On My Mind
87
 
19 7Eliminated
223
Open
1/12
Mamma Knows Best0003Mamma Knows Best
46
 
19 7Eliminated
224
Open
1/12
Work Hard Play Harder0003Work Hard, Play Harder
44
 
23 7Eliminated
225
Favorite Performance
1/10
Master Blaster Jammin0003Master Blaster (Jammin')
21
 
17 7Eliminated

[back to top] Summary

Say you're a contestant on American Idol, and you're standing backstage a few hours before show time when the producers walk up to you and say, "Congratulations, Fred, you're singing first tonight!" Assuming your name is really Fred, your response should be to (choose one):

  1. Thank them profusely for the coveted honor of leading off the show.
  2. Throw up on their shoes.
  3. Hide in the wardrobe room and don't come out until the second commercial break.

Well, we can rule out A. As we and our friends at USA Today noted, the leadoff spot hasn't been terribly friendly to contestants over the years. Just 15 (of 282) first singers have have turned in a five-star performance, while 87 have been sent home (including 54 of 190 finalists, the highest ratio of any slot by far.) Through AI6, four of the six leadoff singers in a Final 3 episode have been voted off, and five of six in the Finales (where so far only Ruben Studdard has sung first and lived to tell about it.)

The challenges of performing first are obvious. Many late-arriving viewers miss the performance entirely, and those who do see it have upwards of an hour to forget about it before the voting begins. Plus, singing in front of a "cold" audience is rarely a treat; that's why opening acts were invented. Certainly the producers are aware of this too, so if they were ever intent on getting rid of a contestant – and we are not saying we suspect them of anything (cough-cough) – the leadoff spot is the obvious place to put him or her.

So if you ever find yourself opening the show on Idol, do whatever it takes to make it as memorable of a performance as you can. And don't forget to apologize to the producers afterwards for their shoes.

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