| American Idol is an American singing | | | | Seacrest and in the media as "the two |
| competition. It is part of the Idol series, | | | | rockers", since their long hair and choice of |
| originating from the UK show Pop Idol, a | | | | rock songs made them stand out from |
| singing contest to determine the best singer | | | | conventional Idol standards. The presence of |
| in the UK. In recent years it has become one | | | | more rock-oriented contestants has continued |
| of the most highly publicized music | | | | with Chris Daughtry in Season 5, who was |
| competitions in the world, reaching the | | | | inspired to audition for the show by Bice. |
| status of a phenomenon. | | | | |
| | | | This season also implemented new rules for |
| Season 1 | | | | the final portion of the contest. Instead of |
| | | | competing in semi-final heats in which the |
| The first season of American Idol debuted | | | | top vote-getters are promoted to the final |
| without hype as a summer replacement show in | | | | round, 24 semi-finalists were named; 12 men |
| June 2002 on the Fox Broadcasting Company | | | | and 12 women, who competed separately, with 2 |
| after being rejected by numerous other | | | | of each gender being voted off each week |
| networks. The show's co-hosts were Ryan | | | | until 12 finalists were left. |
| Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman. Through word of | | | | |
| mouth generated by the appeal of its | | | | Season 5 |
| contestants and the presence of acid-tongued | | | | |
| British judge Simon Cowell, the show grew | | | | The fifth season of American Idol began on |
| into a phenomenon. An estimated fifty million | | | | January 17, 2006; this was the first season |
| people watched the Season 1 finale in | | | | of the series to be aired in high definition. |
| September 2002. Following such a success, the | | | | Auditions were in Austin, Boston, Chicago, |
| second season was moved to air the upcoming | | | | Denver and San Francisco, with Greensboro, |
| January. | | | | North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada included |
| | | | after the cancellation of the Memphis |
| Season 2 | | | | auditions due to Hurricane Katrina. The |
| | | | season used the same rules as Season 4. |
| In Season 2, Seacrest surfaced as the lone | | | | Contestants had to be between the ages of 16 |
| host. Dunkleman reportedly hated working on | | | | and 28 on 2005, being born on or between |
| the show and the studio was dissatisfied with | | | | August 16, 1976 and 1989. Chris Daughtry was |
| his performance. Kristin Holt was a special | | | | discovered during this season after being |
| correspondent. This time, Ruben Studdard | | | | voted in one of the most surprising |
| emerged as the winner with Clay Aiken as a | | | | eliminations. |
| very close runner-up. Out of 24 million votes | | | | |
| recorded, Studdard finished just 130,000 | | | | Finalist Bucky Covington also had prior |
| votes ahead of Aiken. | | | | troubles with the law. Coincidentally, |
| | | | Covington's crimes involved himself and his |
| Season 3 | | | | twin brother, Rocky. The two had allegedly |
| | | | switched spots in 1998 to confuse the police. |
| The third season of American Idol premiered | | | | However, this prior crime had no effect on |
| on January 19, 2004. The winner of this | | | | Covington's time on American Idol, and he was |
| season of American Idol was Fantasia Barrino, | | | | voted off on April 12. |
| later known professionally as simply | | | | |
| "Fantasia," and the runner-up was Diana | | | | Season 6 |
| Degarmo. This was also the season that Golden | | | | |
| Globe Award-winning and Acadamy Award-winning | | | | American Idol Season 6 began on Tuesday, |
| actress Jennifer Hudson was discovered. | | | | January 16, 2007. The premiere episode of the |
| | | | season drew a massive audience of 37.7 |
| Season 4 | | | | million viewers, peaking in the last half |
| | | | hour with more than 41 million viewers. It |
| The fourth season of American Idol premiered | | | | has been reported that the 2006 British The X |
| on January 18, 2005. It was the first season | | | | Factor winner Leona Lewis is scheduled to |
| in which the age limit was raised to 28, in | | | | perform on an early episode of American Idol |
| order to increase variety. All Season 4 | | | | Season 6, thanks to the connection with Simon |
| contestants had to be between the ages of 16 | | | | Cowell. |
| and 28 on August 4, 2004, born on or between | | | | |
| August 5, 1975 and August 4, 1988. Among | | | | Season 7 |
| those who benefited from this new rule were | | | | |
| Constantine Maroulis (born September 17, | | | | The seventh season of American Idol is |
| 1975) and Bo Bice (born November 1, 1975), | | | | expected to take place beginning in January |
| considered to be the eldest and somewhat most | | | | 2008, with auditions likely to be held |
| experienced of the season's Idol contestants. | | | | starting in July 2007. Few other details are |
| They were also constantly mentioned by | | | | known at this time. |