Oh, you want to open that can of worms? There are over 50 international versions of Idol, from Sweden to India to the Philippines. But if you ask specifically about the American version, we stick to 22. (Unless you count the 2012 “US vs. UK” special, which I don’t, because it was a fever dream.)
So, next time you’re at a party and someone says “I miss the good old days of Idol,” you can casually drop: “Yeah, season 3 was peak. But we’re on season 22 now, which means we’re legally obligated to watch until season 30.” That’s not a real law, but it should be.
