Did you know that American Idol once ended so late that it delayed the local news by 14 minutes? A station in Texas had to cut to a 45-second weather report because the finale ran long. The anchor looked like he wanted to cry. And here’s a weird twist: the average episode over its history has overrun by about 6.7 minutes—that’s enough time to watch the entire music video for “I Will Always Love You” twice.
So if you’re hosting an Idol-watching party, tell your guests to bring snacks that last until 10:07 PM. They’ll thank you when you don’t fudge the end time.
How to know for sure (without selling your soul to Google)
The absolute easiest way is to check your local TV listing. But if you’re like me and you lose the remote under the couch cushions, here’s a pro tip: look at the official ABC schedule on their website. They list the exact end time, sometimes down to the second. Or, you can just ask Alexa, who will probably reply with a passive-aggressive “I thought you were watching that show.”
What Time Is The ‘American Idol’ Season 23 Finale? How To Watch The Top 3
Another secret: watch the last 15 minutes on streaming. Hulu and ABC’s app usually have the episode up by 11 PM, so you can skip the awkward goodbye speeches. But then you miss the glorious moment when Ryan accidentally calls someone by the wrong name. Your call.
