Best American Idol Blogs

American Idol is a cultural phenomenon that shows no signs of fading. People talk about the show on TV, the radio, around water coolers and increasingly, in the Internet blogoshphere. The blogs range from funny to informative to serious, and there are hundreds of them. Here are a few of the best:

Rickey's American Idol Blog (www.rickey.org) Rickey has one of the most popular Idol blogs on the Internet. He provides almost real-time commentary and makes no attempt to be unbiased or neutral in his assessments of the contestants. He is first and foremost a fan of music an the show. You won't find any academic criticisms at Rickey's Blog. His blog also features screenshots, and he is often the first blog or website to provide links to video and audio files from the show's weekly performances.

Judge Jru's American Idol Blog (http://judgejru.blogspot.com/) Judge Jru has been providing Idol commentary since season one. The blog has hopped around from server to server, so it can be easy to lose. Slightly irreverent with no new information, it is still a fun read. There is an archive of all posts and commentaries from each season.

Foxes on Idol (www.foxesonidol.com) Not technically a blog, Foxes on Idol still has some of the most in-depth Idol anaylsis anywhere on the web. Each episode features a full recap with judges comments and a separate article in which Foxes on Idols own critics takes on the contestants. There are also features on past Idol stars, news stories and chart analysis. Foxes on Idol has been a big name on the web since Season One and all of the articles are archived. The site is linked with Reality News Online. The site is heavy on ads, though, and pop ups are a problem.

Idol Blogging (www.bestamericanidolblog.blogspot.com) New this season, this blog offers an in-depth reaction to each and every Idol episode, usually within an hour of episode's end. The blog also provides news and updates for past Idols, commentary on the news and links to other Idol sites and blogs.

Idol Blog Live (http://www.slimtainment.com/idolblog) One of the most popular American Idol blogs, the posts have been quoted by various news outlets, including MTV. There are frequent comments and the tag board stays busy, allowing fans to debate the merits of different American Idol finalists.The site is also tracking and providing commentary on prediction site Dial Idol results.