Season 8
Season eight features the return of Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe as permanent judges and Cat Deeley as host. Also returning is the selection of a Top 20 for the finals, in contrast to season 7's Top 11.
Episodes
1 Auditions 1 and 2: Atlanta and the Bay Area May 26, 2011 
2 New York and Salt Lake City Auditions Jun 1, 2011 
3 Los Angeles Auditions Jun 2, 2011 
4 Las Vegas Callbacks Jun 8, 2011 
5 Meet the Top 20 Jun 9, 2011 
6 Top 20 Perform Jun 15, 2011 
7 2 of 20 Voted Off Jun 16, 2011 
8 Top 18 Perform Jun 22, 2011 
9 4 of 20 Voted Off Jun 23, 2011 
10 Top 16 Perform Jun 29, 2011 
11 Two of 16 Voted Off Jun 30, 2011 
12 Top 14 Perform Jul 6, 2011 
13 Two of 14 Voted Off Jul 7, 2011 
14 Top 12 Perform Jul 13, 2011 
15 Two of 12 Voted Off Jul 14, 2011 
16 Top 10 Perform Jul 20, 2011 
17 Two of 10 Voted Off Jul 21, 2011 
18 Top 8 Perform Jul 27, 2011 
19 Two of 8 Voted Off Jul 28, 2011 
20 Top 6 Perform Aug 3, 2011 
21 Two of 6 Voted Off Aug 4, 2011 
22 Top 4 Perform Aug 10, 2011 
23 Finale: Winner Announced Aug 11, 2011