An Idol Tracker's journey ends

Forgive me for interrupting regularly scheduled Idol news with some personal business, but I have an announcement to make to Idol Tracker readers. Tuesday will be my last day with the L.A. Times and thus my stint as the L.A. Times' Idol Tracker comes to an end.

It has been an amazing three years covering the most important spectacle in the history of the world.  Three years ago, when we started the Show Tracker blog, I volunteered to write the occasional review of the occasional episode of "Idol," never imagining my life would disappear down the "Idol" rabbit hole.  But then I came face to face with the incredible stories of these young people, these warriors of song, who every year risked the worst fate any of us can imagine -- public humiliation before tens of millions -- all for a shot at their dreams.  I also got to meet the incredibly talented group of people who put the show together and on so many occasions was allowed to peek backstage at what goes into creating a goliath like "Idol."

So many memories from three years on the "Idol" beat.  Come with me now on a little stroll down Memory Boulevard, as we visit an Idol Tracker's greatest days, with a few of the pictures and videos I've snapped over the years.  Ah, yes, I remember it well ....

'Idol' stage manager's tale of the fall

Tuesday the Idoldome was rocked by a pair of disasters; not only did one of the two "Idol" orbs come off its moorings, but in a separate incident, "American Idol's" beloved Ringmaster / Stage Manager / Den Mother / Idoltracker BFF Debbie Williams fell from the top of the stairs and injured herself, badly cutting her leg. Although the show amazingly went on, the accident sent the production scrambling to pull things together at the last minute and left us for the rest of the week with a heart-shaped hole where the woman who studio audiences have come to love as the soul of "Idol" usually reigns.

In an e-mail to Idoltracker, Debbie described the terrifying incident and its aftermath:

"It was simple ... in dress I follow Ryan everywhere to teach him "blocking." We were at the top of the stairs for the cold open and then he came down the steps. I always give a "clear/retract" on the headset so they know Ryan has set foot on the stage and they can go with the stair retraction. I never gave it ... because I was still on the stairs ... but "retract" it did ... which left me with a backwards elevator coming at me at full speed and pushing me under the ceiling of the 2nd story to our stage. I couldn't keep up with it and felt if I didn't jump off, I'd be crushed ... so I jumped to the railing ... and slipped until I was only holding on by one hand (it was evident to me at that moment...I would be falling)........so moments later I fell, but swung like a pendulum and hit the stairs with my left leg....then I crashed to the stage......but I was limp........sooooooo, didn't break a bone ... did not break or fracture anything. Just made an ugly, to the bone gash, that took 50 stitches. Am I lucky or what? And that is the whole truth. The first person to me was Spencer, my 2nd Stage manager and Ryan. I will be eternally grateful to the Gods and Goddesses watching over me.  And of course to Ryan and Spence for comforting me....and Cedars for taking care of me...and our resident Idol Doc..Doctor Nassery!"

All of Idol Nation wish Debbie a very speedy recovery and hope to see her back on the big stage very, very soon!

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo credit: Courtesy of Debbie Williams