User:ATC/Opinion of ordering on 'Idol' and 'X Factor'

Opinion on the order of contestant(s) placements on American Idol

Judges: Randy Jackson (Season 1-16), Simon Cowell (Season 1-9), Paula Abdul (Season 1-9), Steven Tyler (Season 10-16), Jennifer Lopez (Season 10-11; 13-16), Mariah Carey (Season 12)
In-House Mentor: Jimmy Lovine (Season 1-7); Kara DioGuardi (Season 8-12)
Created by Simon Fuller
Developed by Simon Cowell (uncredited)
Executive produced by (Showrunner) Nigel Lythgoe
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest (Season 1-present)

Season 1

• Kelly Clarkson — Winner
• Tamyra Gray — Runner-up
• Justin Guarini — Top 3
• Nikki McKibbin — Top 4
• R. J. Helton — Top 5
• Christina Christian — Top 6
• Ryan Starr — Top 7
• A. J. Gil — Top 8
• Jim Verraros — Top 9
• EJay Day — Top 10

Season 2

• Clay Aiken — Winner
• Ruben Studdard — Runner-up
• Kimberley Locke — Top 3
• Trenyce — Top 4
• Josh Gracin — Top 5
• Carmen Rasmusen — Top 6
• Kimberly Caldwell — Top 7
• Rickey Smith — Top 8
• Corey Clark — Top 9
• Julia DeMato — Top 10
• Charles Grigsby — Top 11
• Vanessa Olivarez — Top 12

Season 3

• Fantasia Barrino — Winner
• Jennifer Hudson — Runner-up
• Diana DeGarmo — Top 3
• LaToya London — Top 4
• Jasmine Trias — Top 5
• George Huff — Top 6
• John Stevens — Top 7
• Jon Peter Lewis — Top 8
• Camile Velasco — Top 9
• Amy Adams — Top 10
• Matthew Rogers — Top 11
• Leah LaBelle — Top 12

Season 4

• Carrie Underwood — Winner
• Bo Bice — Runner-up
• Vonzell Solomon — Top 3
• Constantine Maroulis — Top 4
• Anthony Fedorov — Top 5
• Jessica Sierra — Top 6
• Scott Savol — Top 7
• Anwar Robinson — Top 8
• Nadia Turner — Top 9
• Nikko Smith — Top 10
• Mikalah Gordon — Top 11
• Lindsey Cardinale — Top 12

Season 5

• Chris Daughtry — Winner
• Katharine McPhee — Runner-up
• Taylor Hicks — Top 3
• Elliot Yamin — Top 4
• Paris Bennett — Top 5
• Kellie Pickler — Top 6
• Mandisa — Top 7
• Ace Young — Top 8
• Bucky Covington — Top 9
• Lisa Tucker — Top 10
• Melissa McGhee — Top 11
• Kevin Covais — Top 12

Season 6

• Jordin Sparks — Winner
• Melinda Doolittle — Runner-up
• Blake Lewis — Top 3
• LaKisha Jones — Top 4
• Phil Stacey — Top 5
• Chris Richardson — Top 6
• Gina Glocksen — Top 7
• Haley Scarnato — Top 8
• Chris Sligh — Top 9
• Sundance Head — Top 10
• Stephanie Edwards — Top 11
• Brandon Rogers — Top 12

Season 7

• David Cook — Winner
• David Archuleta — Runner-up
• Michael Johns — Top 3
• Carly Smithson — Top 4
• Brooke White — Top 5
• Ramiele Malubay — Top 6
• Chikezie Eze — Top 7
• Asia'h Epperson — Top 8
• Kristy Lee Cook — Top 9
• David Hennessy — Top 10
• Joanne Borgella — Top 11
• Syesha Mercado — Top 12

Season 8

• Adam Lambert — Winner
• Allison Iraheta — Runner-up
• Danny Gokey — Top 3
• Alexis Grace — Top 4
• Matt Giraud — Top 5
• Megan Joy Corkery — Top 6
• Ju'Not Joyner — Top 7
• Kristen McNamara — Top 8
• Felicia Barton — Top 9
• Lil Rounds — Top 10
• Kris Allen — Top 11
• Jasmine Murray & Scott MacIntyre — Top 13(s)

Season 9

• Shelby Dressel — Winner
• Crystal Bowersox — Runner-up
• Chris Golightly — Top 3
• Lee DeWyze — Top 4
• Siobhan Magnus — Top 5
• Casey James — Top 6
• Lilly Scott — Top 7
• Alex Lambert — Top 8
• Katie Stevens — Top 9
• Aaron Kelly — Top 10
• Didi Benami — Top 11
• Michael Lynche & Paige Miles — Top 13(s)

Season 10

• James Durbin — Winner
• Casey Abrams — Runner-up
• Pia Toscano — Top 3
• Haley Reinhart — Top 4
• Lauren Alaina — Top 5
• Scotty McCreery — Top 6
• Lauren Turner — Top 7
• Jacob Lusk — Top 8
• Robbie Rosen — Top 9
• Karen Rodriguez & Thia Megia — Top 11(s)
• Ashthon Jones & Naima Adedapo — Top 13(s)

Season 11

• Joshua Ledet — Winner
• Jessica Sanchez — Runner-up
• Phillip Phillips — Top 3
• Skylar Laine — Top 4
• Elise Testone — Top 5
• DeAndre Brackensick — Top 6
• Erika Van Pelt — Top 7
• Hollie Cavanagh — Top 8
• Jermaine Jones — Top 9
• Jen Hirsh — Top 10
• Colton Dixon — Top 11
• Eben Franckewitz — Top 12
• David Leathers, Jr. — Top 13

...

Season 14

• Clark Beckham — Winner
• Nick Fradiani — Runner-up
• Tyanna Jones — Top 3
• Jax Cole — Top 4
• Qaasim Middleton — Top 5

...

Season 16

• Gabby Barrett — Winner

The way the ordering of contestant(s) on American Idol is

Judges: Randy Jackson (Season 1-12), Simon Cowell (Season 1-9), Paula Abdul (Season 1-8), Kara DioGuardi (Season 8-9), Ellen DeGeneres (Season 9), Steven Tyler (Season 10-11), Jennifer Lopez (Season 10-11; Season 13-present), Mariah Carey (Season 12), Nicki Minaj (Season 12), Keith Urban (Season 12-present)
In-House Mentor: Jimmy Lovine (Season 10-present)
Created by Simon Fuller
Developed by Simon Cowell (uncredited)
Executive produced by (Showrunner) Nigel Lythgoe
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest (Season 1-present), Brian Dunkleman (Season 1)

Season 1

• Kelly Clarkson — Winner
• Justin Guarini — Runner-up
• Nikki McKibbin — Top 3
• Tamyra Gray — Top 4
• R. J. Helton — Top 5
• Christina Christian — Top 6
• Ryan Starr — Top 7
• A. J. Gil — Top 8
• Jim Verraros — Top 9
• EJay Day — Top 10

Season 2

• Ruben Studdard — Winner
• Clay Aiken — Runner-up
• Kimberley Locke — Top 3
• Josh Gracin — Top 4
• Trenyce — Top 5
• Carmen Rasmusen — Top 6
• Kimberly Caldwell — Top 7
• Rickey Smith — Top 8
• Corey Clark — Top 9
• Julia DeMato — Top 10
• Charles Grigsby — Top 11
• Vanessa Olivarez — Top 12

Season 3

• Fantasia Barrino — Winner
• Diana DeGarmo — Runner-up
• Jasmine Trias — Top 3
• LaToya London — Top 4
• George Huff — Top 5
• John Stevens — Top 6
• Jennifer Hudson — Top 7
• Jon Peter Lewis — Top 8
• Camile Velasco — Top 9
• Amy Adams — Top 10
• Matthew Rogers — Top 11
• Leah LaBelle — Top 12

Season 4

• Carrie Underwood — Winner
• Bo Bice — Runner-up
• Vonzell Solomon — Top 3
• Anthony Fedorov — Top 4
• Scott Savol — Top 5
• Constantine Maroulis — Top 6
• Anwar Robinson — Top 7
• Nadia Turner — Top 8
• Nikko Smith — Top 9
• Jessica Sierra — Top 10
• Mikalah Gordon — Top 11
• Lindsey Cardinale — Top 12

Season 5

• Taylor Hicks — Winner
• Katharine McPhee — Runner-up
• Elliot Yamin — Top 3
• Chris Daughtry — Top 4
• Paris Bennett — Top 5
• Kelli Pickler — Top 6
• Ace Young — Top 7
• Bucky Covington — Top 8
• Mandisa — Top 9
• Lisa Tucker — Top 10
• Kevin Covais — Top 11
• Melissa McGhee — Top 12

Season 6

• Jordin Sparks — Winner
• Blake Lewis — Runner-up
• Melinda Doolittle — Top 3
• LaKisha Jones — Top 4
• Phil Stacey — Top 6
• Chris Richardson — Top 6
• Sanjaya Malakar — Top 7
• Haley Scarnato — Top 8
• Gina Glocksen — Top 9
• Chris Sligh — Top 10
• Stephanie Edwards — Top 11
• Brandon Rogers — Top 12

Semi finales:

Top 16-13:

• Sundance Head

Season 7

• David Cook — Winner
• David Archuleta — Runner-up
• Syesha Mercado — Top 3
• Jason Castro — Top 4
• Brooke White — Top 5
• Carly Smithson — Top 6
• Kristy Lee Cook — Top 7
• Michael Johns — Top 8
• Ramiele Malubay — Top 9
• Chikezie Eze — Top 10
• Amanda Overmyer — Top 11
• David Hennessey — Top 12

Semi finales:

Top 16-13:

• Asia'h Epperson

Top 20-17:

• Alexandréa Lushington

Season 8

As Simon Cowell states below after Adam Lambert's Top 3 performance with "One" by U2:

"...[Adam] if you are not in finales next week it will be one of the biggest upsets we ever had on this show."

• Kris Allen — Winner
• Adam Lambert — Runner-up
• Danny Gokey — Top 3
• Allison Iraheta — Top 4
• Matt Giraud — Top 5
• Anoop Desai — Top 7
• Lil Rounds — Top 7
• Scott MacIntyre — Top 8
• Megan Joy Corkey — Top 9
• Michael Sarver — Top 10
• Alexis Grace — Top 11
• Jasmine Murray — Top 13
• Jorge Núñez — Top 13

Semi finales:

• Kristen McNamara — Group 3
• Ju'Not Joyner — Group 3
• Felicia Barton — Group 3

Hollywood week:

• Joanna Pacitti — Pacitti was initially accepted into the top 24. Pacitti previously had a record contract with 19 Entertainment, distributer of American Idol, but her album later depleted. The week before the top 24 was to be filmed, she stayed in the same hotel room as 19 Entertainment executive's: Michelle Young and Roger Widynowski, and she went up to them in the hotel and said that she loved them and thanked them stating: "I wouldn't be as far as I am now if it weren't for you guys". As a result of the privacy invasion, Pacatti was disqualified and replaced with Felicia Barton. Pacitti was considered to be one of the most talented performers on Idol, lastly seen during Hollywood Week trials. Before auditioning for American Idol she has also performed in music videos with Britney Spears.

Season 9

Top 12 finalists:
(Listed in alphabetical order:)

• Lee DeWyze — Winner
• Crystal Bowersox — Runner-up
• Casey James — Top 3
• Michael Lynche — Top 4
• Aaron Kelly — Top 5
• Siobhan Magnus — Top 6
• Tim Urban — Top 7
• Andrew Garcia — Top 9 (Part 2)
• Katie Stevens — Top 9
• Didi Benami — Top 10
• Paige Miles — Top 11
• Lacey Brown — Top 12

Semi-finales:

Top 16-13:
(Listed in alphabetical order:)

• Katelyn Epperly
• Todrick Hall
• Alex Lambert
• Lilly Scott

Top 20-17:
(Listed in alphabetical order:)

• Jermaine Sellers
• John Park
• Michelle Delamor
• Haeley Vaughn

Top 24-21:
(Listed in alphabetical order:)

• Tyler Grady
• Joe Muñoz
• Ashley Rodriguez
• Janell Wheeler

Hollywood week:

• Chris Golightly — Golightly was initially announced to the top 24, but immediately after his father broke a contract agreement by revealing to an article press that his son made it to the Top 24 before it was announced on national live television, at last minute, the showrunner of Idol, Nigel Lythgoe, telephoned Tim Urban, a former contestant during the Hollywood week trials to be a replacement for the top 24.

Season 10

• Scotty McCreery — Winner
• Lauren Alaina — Runner-up
• Haley Reinhart — Top 3
• James Durbin — Top 4
• Jacob Lusk — Top 5
• Casey Abrams — Top 6
• Stefano Langone — Top 7
• Paul McDonald — Top 8
• Pia Toscano — Top 9
• Naima Adedapo — Top 11
• Thia Megia — Top 11
• Karen Rodriguez — Top 12
• Ashton Jones — Top 13

Season 11

• Phillip Phillips — Winner
• Jessica Sanchez — Runner-up
• Joshua Ledet — Top 3
• Hollie Cavanagh — Top 4
• Skylar Laine — Top 5
• Elise Testone — Top 6
• Colton Dixon — Top 7
• DeAndre Brackensick — Top 8
• Hejun Han — Top 9
• Erika Van Pelt — Top 10
• Shannon Magrane — Top 11
• Jermaine Jones (Disqualified) — Top 12
• Jeremy Rosado — Top 13

...

Season 14

• Nick Fradiani — Winner
• Clark Beckham — Runner-up
• Jax Cole — Top 3
• Rayvon Owen — Top 4
• Tyanna Jones — Top 5
• Quentin Alexander — Top 6
• Joey Cook — Top 7
• Qaasim Middleton — Top 8
• Daniel Seavey — Top 9
• Adanna Duru & Maddie Walker — Top 11(s)
• Sarina-Joi Crowe — Top 12

The way the ordering on the US version of The X Factor is

Judges: Simon Cowell (Season 1-present), Paula Abdul (Season 1), Nicole Scherzinger (Season 1), L.A. Reid (Season 1-2), Britney Spears (season 2), Demi Lovato (season 2-3), Kelly Rowland (Season 3), Paulina Rubio (Season 3)
Created and executive produced by (Showrunner) Simon Cowell (uncredited due to law suit by American Idol creator Simon Fuller)
Hosted by Steve Jones (Season 1), Kim Kardashian (Season 2), Mario Lopez (Season 2-present)

Season 1

• Melanie Amaro — Winner
• Josh Krajcik — Top 2 Runner-up
• Chris Rene — Top 3 Runner-up
• Marcus Canty — Top 4 Semi-finalist
• Rachel Crow — Top 5
• Drew — Top 6
• Astro — Top 7
• LeRoy Bell — Top 8
• Lakoda Rayne — Top 9
• Stacy Francis — Top 10
• The Stereo Hogzz — Top 11
• InTENsity — Top 12

Season 2

• Tate Stevens — Winner
• Carly Rose Sonenclar — Top 2 Runner-up
• Fifth Harmony — Top 3 Runner-up
• Emblem3 — Top 4 Semi-finalist
• Diamond White — Top 5
• CeCe Frey — Top 6
• Vino Alan — Top 7
• Paige Thomas — Top 8
• Beatrice Miller — Top 9
• Arin Ray — Top 10
• Jennel Garcia — Top 11
• Jason Brock & David Correy — Top 13(s)

Season 3

• Alex & Sierra — Winner
• Jeff Gust — Top 2 Runner-up
• Carlito Oviera — Top 3 Runner-up
• Restless Road — Top 4 Semi-finalist
• Rion Paige — Top 5
• Ellona Santiago — Top 6
• Josh Levi — Top 7
• Lillie McCloud — Top 8
• Tim Olstad — Top 9
• Khaya Cohen — Top 10
• Rachel Potter — Top 11
• Sweet Suspense — Top 12
• Carlos Guevara — Top 13

Opinion on the order of contestant(s) placements and judging panel/host on US version of The X Factor

Judges: Simon Cowell (Season 1-3), L.A. Reid (Season 1-3), Kelly Rowland (Seasons 1 & 3), Demi Lavato (Season 2-3), Paula Abdul (Season 1), Britney Spears (Season 2)
Created and executive produced by (Showrunner) Simon Cowell
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest (Season 1-3)

Season 1

• Melanie Amaro — Winner
• Rachel Crow — Top 2 Runner-up
• Josh Krajcik — Top 3 Runner-up
• Stacy Francis — Top 4 Semi-finalist
• Astro — Top 5
• Drew — Top 6
• Marcus Canty — Top 7
• The Stereo Hogzz — Top 8
• Lakoda Rayne — Top 9
• Chris Rene — Top 10
• InTENsity — Top 11
• LeRoy Bell — Top 12

Season 2

• Fifth Harmony (formerly LYLAS and 1435) — Winner
• Carly Rose Sonenclar — Top 2 Runner-up
• Panda Ross — Top 3 Runner-up
• Tate Stevens — Top 4 Runner-up
• Emblem3 — Top 5 Runner-up
• Jessica Epinoza — Top 6 Semi-finalist
• Sister C — Top 7
• Diamond White — Top 8
• Vino Alan — Top 9
• Jennel Garcia — Top 10
• David Corey — Top 11
• Jason Brock — Top 12
• Beatrice Miller — Top 13

Season 3

• Colton Pack — Winner
• RoXxy Montana — Top 2 Runner-up
• Alex & Sierra — Top 3 Runner-up
• Ellona Santiago — Top 4 Runner-up
• Khaya Cohen — Top 5 Runner-up
• Lillie McCloud — Top 6 Semi-finalist
• Rachel Potter — Top 7
• Rion Paige — Top 8
• Carlos Guevara — Top 9
• Josh Levi — Top 10
• Sweet Suspense — Top 11
• Danie Geimer — Top 12
• Jeff Gutt — Top 13