If each epoch was a season...

[countrynineteen]

If each "epoch" of American Idol were a single season, which finalists would be in your cast? Try to make it a top 12 or 13, but 10 is okay too. And try to make it diverse and not just necessarily your favorites. There are people I'm not too wild about that I will include for the sake of diversity. And try to make it as realistic as possible (i.e. don't make your whole top 12 all female. There can be some gender imbalance if it makes sense).

 

Epoch 1 (Seasons 1, 2, 3)- Big Voice/Diva Era

Epoch 2 (Seasons 4, 5, 6)- Peak Years

Epoch 3 (Seasons 7, 8, 9)- WGWG/"Artistry" Era

Epoch 4 (Seasons 10, 11, 12)- Interscope/Iovine Era

Epoch 5 (Seasons 13, 14, 15)- Twilight Years on Fox

Epoch 6 (Seasons 16, 17, 18)- Reboot/ABC Era

 

Here is what I would choose:

 

Epoch 1: (Top 10)

Kelly Clarkson
Fantasia Barrino
Diana Degarmo

LaToya London
Jennifer Hudson

Justin Guarini

Clay Aiken
Ruben Studdard

Josh Gracin

George Huff

 

Epoch 2: (Top 12)

Bo Bice

Blake Lewis

Chris Daughtry

Carrie Underwood

Jordin Sparks

Melinda Doolittle

Elliott Yamin

Anwar Robinson

Taylor Hicks

Mandisa

Katharine McPhee

Vonzell Solomon

 

Epoch 3: (Top 13)

Crystal Bowersox

Allison Iraheta

Siobhan Magnus

Syesha Mercado

David Cook

David Archuleta

Kris Allen

Carly Smithson

Brooke White

Kristy Lee Cook

Adam Lambert

Lee Dewyze

Danny Gokey

 

Epoch 4: (Top 13)

Scotty McCreery

Phillip Phillips

James Durbin

Joshua Ledet

Colton Dixon

Casey Abrams

Candice Glover

Haley Reinhart

Elise Testone

Jessica Sanchez

Lauren Alaina

Naima Adedapo

Pia Toscano

 

Epoch 5: (Top 12)

Caleb Johnson

Clark Beckham

Trent Harmon

Dalton Rapattoni

Jena Irene

La'Porsha Renae

Sonika Vaid

Joey Cook

Quentin Alexander

Alex Preston

Sarina-Joi Crowe

Avalon Young

 

Epoch 6: (Top 12)

Maddie Poppe

Jurnee

Just Sam

Julia Gargano

Gabby Barrett

Catie Turner

Laine Hardy

Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon

Dennis Lorenzo

Francisco Martin

Uché

Dillon James

 

Let me know what you think! Feel free to make your own!

 

ETA: Nick is the only winner I don't have listed. I actually prefer him to some other winners, but this is how it ended up. *Shrug*

Edited August 7, 2020 by countrynineteen

[Bk1234]

The earliest season I’ve watched (as of right now) is Season 7, so I’ll start from Epoch 3... 

 

I tried to go for a mix of favorites and musical styles, so hopefully I made a diverse list... 

 

Epoch 3: (Top 13)

1. David Cook

2. Kris Allen

3. David Archuleta

4. Adam Lambert 

5. Crystal Bowersox

6. Syesha Mercado

7. Jason Castro

8. Allison Iraheta 

9. Brooke White
10. Matt Giraud 
11. Aaron Kelly

12. Siobhan Magnus 

13. Michael Johns

Epoch 4: (Top 13)

1. Scotty McCreery 

2. Phillip Phillips

3. Candice Glover 

4. Jessica Sanchez

5. Kree Harrison 

6. Haley Reinhart 

7. Joshua Ledet

8. Angie Miller

9. Hollie Cavanagh 

10. Janelle Arthur

11. Casey Abrams

12. Colton Dixon 

13. Pia Toscano 

Epoch 5: (Top 12)

1. Caleb Johnson 

2. Trent Harmon 

3. Jena Irene

4. Clark Beckham 

5. La’Porsha Renae

6. JAX

7. Dalton Rapattoni 

8. Jessica Meuse

9. MacKenzie Bourg 

10. Sam Woolf

11. Quentin Alexander

12. Emily Piriz

Epoch 6: (Top 13)

1. Maddie Poppe

2. Laine Hardy

3. Just Sam

4. Alejandro Aranda 

5. Gabby Barrett 

6. Madison VanDenburg 

7. Francisco Martin

8. Laci Kaye Booth 

9. Jonny West

10. Jurnee

11. Catie Turner 

12. Julia Gargano

13. Makayla Phillips 

[countrynineteen]

Nice list.