LOS ANGELES (AP) — May isa pang pagkakataon ang American Idol, na nakadiskubre kina Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood at Jennifer Hudson, na magpasikat ng isa pang bituin bago ito magtapos sa TV at music history sa susunod na linggo.
“It’s going to be a rather spectacular show,” pangako ng executive producer na si Nigel Lythgoe, katuwang ang mga dating nagwagi at kalahok at may “other surprises” sa two-hour finale.
“It’s about the American idols, about reminding people of 15 seasons,” aniya, gayundin ang pagbibigay ng spotlight sa final winner.
Ang maglalaban-laban ay sina MacKenzie Bourg, 23, ng Lafayette, Louisiana; Trent Harmon, 24, ng Amory, Mississippi; La’Porsha Renae, 22, ng McComb, Mississippi; at Dalton Rapattoni, 19, ng Dallas.
Si Clarkson, ang inaugural “Idol” ay nakatakdang magtanghal, gayundin si Underwood at ang iba pang nagwagi na kinabibilangan nina Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks at Scotty McCreery. Ang ilan sa mga naging contestant na makikiisa ay sina Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin at LaToya London.
“It isn’t about big stars coming on and singing their record. American Idol was never about that. It was about the young stars we created,” ani Lythgoe.
Hindi naman naiwasang matawa ni Lythgoe nang mapag-usapan ang mga diva sina Mariah Carey at Nicki Minaj na minsang naging hurado at matatandaang nagkaroon ng kaunting tensiyon noong 2013.
“I’ve invited them back to the finale to sing ‘That’s what friends are for,’” natatawang pahayag ni Lythgoe.
Tutulong din ang mga kasalukuyang hurado na sina Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez at Keith Urban na mapabongga ang show.
Ang season seven contestant na si David Hernandez ay nalulungkot sa pagtatapos ng Idol.
“I only really associate great memories with being on that show,” pahayag ni Hernandez. While some others are reluctant to credit their careers to “Idol,” he gladly admits it — and so, he points out, does one of the show’s biggest graduates.
“Even to this day, when Carrie Underwood accepts her Grammys and other awards, she says, ‘Thank you, ‘American Idol,’ this wouldn’t be possible,’” dagdag ni Hernandez. “I’m so thankful just to have fans in the Philippines or in Europe who say, ‘I remember you on that show. I bought your album.’”
Sinabi naman ng season six winner na si Sparks na naging malaking bahagi ng kanyang buhay ang show.
“It fulfilled so many dreams and encouraged so many people, even if they aren’t singers. There are people who watch the show and are touched by it. I’m sad that it’s going to be gone because of that, because of the lives that it touched,” ayon kay Sparks.