'Idol' Flashback! Our First Impressions of 14 Series Standouts

KELLY CLARKSON (Season 1)

Are we really going to remember Jazmin or Kelly after tonight? Oh, wait. Kelly actually made the cut. How is it possible that the utterly forgettable (even Simon admitted he couldn't remember her) ''R-E-S-P-E-C-T'' singer got a spot in the finals before Angela, whose rendition of ''Run to You'' would have made Whitney proud? Still, Justin must have been relieved since she is no competition for him. —Jessica Shaw, June 27, 2002

RUBEN STUDDARD (Season 2)

Ultimately, Randy and Paula were right too, when they gave a standing ovation to, literally, the two biggest talents: Ruben, representin' his flava from Birmingham with an old Carpenters standard, and Kimberley Locke, the Tennessee native who put law school on hold so she could sing ''Over the Rainbow'' for Simon, or at least pick a fight with him. There's no question that these two gave the best performances of the season, and — proving that real pop stars do have curves, or at least bulk — they should definitely make it to the final round. —Michael Small, Feb. 12, 2003

CLAY AIKEN (Season 2)

Even so, Simon was right about the lack of excitement from the first five performers — and he correctly noted the image problems of contestants like Clay Aiken, who's a swell singer but doesn't look like an idol, even after he streaked his hair and got rid of the granny glasses. —Michael Small, Feb. 12, 2003

FANTASIA BARRINO (Season 3)

The girls, bless 'em, provided more color. As a devoted Trenyce fan, I can't wait to see what Bethany, Laquita, and Fantasia have up their sleeves. —Nicholas Fonseca, Jan. 21, 2004

JENNIFER HUDSON (Season 3)

I worry that Jen might get lost in the mix, which is a shame because I've had my eye on her since the very first episodes, when they kept showing a glimpse of her and her teammates practicing choreography in their hotel room and she later asked Simon why he didn't like her spacesuit, er, outfit. Loved, loved, loved her performance of ''Imagine'' last night, and love, love, love that she reminds me of Angie Stone. That is NEVER a bad thing, Jennifer — and just between us, I voted for you last night. —Nicholas Fonseca, Feb. 11, 2004

CARRIE UNDERWOOD (Season 4)

Anyway, at least the first two episodes of AI: 4 gave us a peek at a few candidates who might produce the ''Vibeology''s of the future. I didn't fall for anyone like I did for Frenchie Davis, but that girl who's apparently never left her farm, Carrie Underwood, she's like Reese Witherspoon channeling Xtina! Which kinda gives me chills — in a good way, I think. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 19, 2005

BO BICE (Season 4)

Semifinalists Bo Bice, Jared Yates, Jessica Sierra, and Vonzell Solomon need to learn from last year's talented finalist LaToya London. A big voice needs to be accompanied by a big personality — unless, of course, you'd be satisfied with coming in fourth. —Michael Slezak, Feb. 17, 2005

KELLIE PICKLER AND TAYLOR HICKS (Season 5)

The Contestant I Should Be Emotionally Connecting With but Can't Award Dozens of EW.com readers have been posting about Kellie Pickler ever since the plucky blonde delivered a tart ''Since U Been Gone'' during her Greensboro audition. Call me a cynic, but it made me feel funny hearing her spill her hard-luck tale of being abandoned by her mom, and missing her imprisoned dad, before I'd heard a single note pass her lips. And tonight, as her ''Hopelessly Devoted'' wobbled like Jell-O, I suspect some of her fan support did the same...

Unlikeliest Sex Symbols Gray-haired Taylor Hicks, who delivered a wicked ''First Cut Is the Deepest,'' may look like he's about to seize when he sings, but I've got a notion he'll end up inspiring his fair share of Google image searchers. —Michael Slezak, Feb. 8, 2006

CHRIS DAUGHTRY (Season 5)

Slightly more promising was Daughtry, the raspy-voiced 25-year-old who's handsome in spite of the unfortunate topiary that doubles as his facial hair. Paula was right (!) when she said she heard talent but saw nerves during his too-forced rendition of ''The Letter,'' but at least the guy didn't settle for the karaoke-level mimicry fancied by most Idol wannabes. I'm still not certain why Simon wanted to put the kibosh on Daughtry's Hollywood dreams, but after hearing his wife's tearful anecdote about how the guy put his singing career on hold to marry her and help raise her two kids, I'm happy Paula and Randy gave him the thumbs-up. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 19, 2006

KATHARINE McPHEE (Season 5)

Even the folks who left the biggest impressions tonight did so mostly because they reminded me of superior counterparts from the Greensboro, N.C., tryouts....I'm sorry, but the only way I could possibly envision Katharine McPhee's melismatic ''God Bless the Child'' taking her to the final 12 would be to extinguish the smoldering memory of Paris Bennett's ''Take Five,'' which I heard only 24 hours ago — and let me tell you, that just ain't happening, people. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 26, 2006

JORDIN SPARKS (Season 6)

While Simon was dead-on in his assessment that spiky-haired beat-boxer Blake Lewis may have brought a little too much confidence to his audition, the guy's rendition of ''Crazy'' was skillful enough that he'd probably have a hit with it if he released it to radio tomorrow. I'm not sure I can say the same for precocious Jordin Sparks (who maybe should've waited a few years for her emotional maturity to catch up with her outsize voice), but [she] ought to be fun to watch during Hollywood week. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 18, 2007

DAVID COOK (Season 7)

At least we got a look at a pair of legitimate Top 24 prospects tonight, via Samantha Sidley and David Cook. David's personality occasionally seemed limited to the red highlights in his bangs and his argyle sweater vest, but he changed up Bon Jovi's lamebrained ''Livin' on a Prayer'' with such languid beauty that I'm itching to hear what he'll do if he advances to Idol's big stage. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 29, 2008

DAVID ARCHULETA (Season 7)

David Archuleta (reportedly a Star Search winner at age 12) could be poised to play the role of season 7's sexually nonthreatening heartthrob, though his choice of John Mayer's ''Waiting on the World to Change'' (once covered by Sanjaya Malakar) and his general perkiness made me a little uneasy. —Michael Slezak, Jan. 22, 2008