American Idol
From The TV IV
| American Idol | |
 | |
| Premiere | June 11, 2002 |
| Finale | |
| Airs | Wednesdays at 8PM (2 hours) Thursdays at 8PM (results show) |
| Creator | Simon Fuller |
| Host | Ryan Seacrest |
| Network | FOX |
| Style | 60-minute competitive reality |
| Company | Fremantle Media North America 19 Television |
| Episodes | 386 (through season 10) |
| Seasons | 11 |
| Status | Currently airing season 11 |
| Origin | USA |
American Idol is a popular musical-based talent competition, airing on FOX, and has been the highest rated program in the United States for four years in a row, routinely surpassing juggernauts CSI and Desperate Housewives with ratings of up to 30 million viewers. The show is a season-long talent search for America's best singer, to become the next "American Idol". The process involves an elimination format of several semi-finals, then a final twelve, tested with various themed nights, ranging from different genres such as Motown, Country and Soul to specific popular artists or even decades. Each week, the contestant with the lowest number of votes is eliminated, until there is only one singer remaining.
Due to its huge popularity, American Idol has seen more than its fair share of controversies and dissent, but despite a handful of negative publicity, both media and viewer attention are unwavering. Over the years, the show has gained the support of many well-known stars, with numerous appearances onstage and as mentors to the contestants. The winners of American Idol usually receive the biggest amount of success out of all reality show winners, with the original winner, Kelly Clarkson, receiving worldwide renown as a singer.
The judges panel stayed consistent for the first seven years, featuring Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, with a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi added in the eighth season. However, after the show's eighth season, Abdul decided not to renew her contract, leading to her being replaced by Ellen DeGeneres. The judging panel of Cowell, DeGeneres, DioGuardi and Jackson only lasted for one year, after which Cowell, DeGeneres and DioGuardi all left, leaving only Jackson as a veteran judge. No replacements have been officially announced yet, though Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has reportedly signed on to replace Cowell, and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez is reportedly in talks to sign on as well.
The series is based on the UK version, Pop Idol.
- For more information on the Idol franchise worldwide, please refer to the Idol franchise page.
Contents |
Cast
| Person | Duration | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosts | ||||||||||||
| Ryan Seacrest | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| Brian Dunkleman | 1 | |||||||||||
| Judges | ||||||||||||
| Simon Cowell | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |||
| Paula Abdul | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||||
| Randy Jackson | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| Kara DioGuardi | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||
| Ellen DeGeneres | 9 | |||||||||||
| Steven Tyler | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||
| Jennifer Lopez | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||
Seasons
| Season | Premiere | Finale | # |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOX | |||
| Season One | June 11, 2002 | September 23, 2002 | 25 + 1 |
| Season Two | January 21, 2003 | May 25, 2003 | 38 + 1 |
| Season Three | January 19, 2004 | May 24, 2004 | 42 + 1 |
| Season Four | January 18, 2005 | May 25, 2005 | 42 + 1 |
| Season Five | January 17, 2006 | May 24, 2006 | 41 |
| Season Six | January 16, 2007 | May 23, 2007 | 41 |
| Season Seven | January 15, 2008 | May 21, 2008 | 42 |
| Season Eight | January 13, 2009 | May 20, 2009 | 40 |
| Season Nine | January 12, 2010 | May 26, 2010 | 43 |
| Season Ten | January 19, 2011 | May 26, 2011 | 42 |
| Season Eleven | January 18, 2012 | May 23, 2012 | 40 |
In-Depth
- At a Glance: Additional information about the series
DVD Releases
| Title | Release Date | # | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Episodes | |||
| Season 6 Finale Performance Show: The Top 2 | May 13, 2008 | 2 | purchase |
| Segment Collection | |||
| The Search for a Superstar | October 15, 2002 | 1 | purchase |
| The Best of American Idol: Seasons 1-4 | November 22, 2005 | 1 | purchase |
| The Worst of American Idol: Seasons 1-4 | November 22, 2005 | 1 | purchase |
| The Best & Worst of American Idol: Seasons 1-4 | November 22, 2005 | 3 | purchase |
External Sites
- Official website for American Idol
- American Idol at BuddyTV
- American Idol Episodes, TV Listings, News, Photos and More at TVGuide.com
