American idol

A spinoff from entertainment executive Simon Fuller's British reality television show Pop Idol, American Idol first debuted in the United States June 11, 2002 on Fox network. It is a reality television show whose primary purpose is to identify the music artist that most defines who will become a singing sensation, or "American Idol," by holding nationwide auditions to select contestants to appear on the show.

Contestants are restricted to ages 16-28, can't currently have a record deal or management agreements, and can't have formal training to sing in the past. Thousands of contestants show up at each audition, and must make it through two cuts by producers before auditioning for the show judges. Judges determine which contestants are invited to the competition during Hollywood Week. Of the thousands who audition, only forty or so make it through to Hollywood, and those numbers are reduced to 12 male and 12 female contestants for the semi-final rounds.

Seasons one through seven were judged by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson.  In season eight, a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, will be added to the show. The judges give critiques of the performances in the final rounds, but it is the American public who decides the winner by phoning in votes for the finalists.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “American idol”

• Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol?

  
  EON — Authority: 146
  Simon Cowell is already a very wealthy man given all of the television shows he produces. Simon Cowell likely realizes that American Idol will not be on top of the ratings universe forever. Cowell is rumored to be leaving FOX’s top rated show. He is planning some big projects in the future. One of these projects ...
  2 hours ago

• Kris Allen: The Return of KRIM! Plus, Kris Set to Start Tour in February

  
  mjsbigblog — Authority: 575
  More fun and hilarious hijinks from that awesome duo known as KRIM! MTV’s Jim Cantiello interviewed Kris Allen at the Z100 Jingle Ball last Friday, and they bonded over their love of board games and other seriously nerdy topics: Some hard news: Kris is set to tour in 2010, beginning in February through to ...
  4 hours ago

• Late-Night Liberty: Celebrity Gossip Edition

  
  Mother Talkers — Authority: 141
  Whats up? Well, heres a shocker. Elin Nordegren plans to take the kids and spend the holidays in her native Sweden without husband Tiger Woods, according to People magazine. As if you couldnt find anymore drama in this story, Nordegren is in talks with Puma -- Nikes competitor -- to work as their spokesmodel, ...
  4 hours ago

• Fox shifting ‘American Idol’ to 9 p.m. timeslot

  
  News Briefs — Authority: 694
  Fox is shifting the timeslot for its reality juggernaut American Idol one hour later to 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 27, the network confirms to EW. The lead-in for Idol will be a new series called Human Target, based on a graphic novel about a bodyguard and starring Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and Jackie Earle Haley.
  4 hours ago

• Adam Lambert – MTV Z100 Jingle Ball Outakes, and More

  
  mjsbigblog — Authority: 575
  MTV just posted some Idol outakes from last weekend’s Z100 Jingle Ball in New York City. And in the Adam Lambert edition, the glittery one tells Jim Cantiello how excited he is to meet Taylor Swift, whom Adam was about to introduce on the Madison Square Garden stage. The two also chat about the “Rock Your ...
  4 hours ago

• Rage Against the Machine hold event to fight homelessness ... and Simon Cowell

  
  Pop & Hiss — Authority: 702
  If Rage Against the Machine s live show on Wednesday is to be believed, the only societal plague as bad as homelessness is Simon Cowell . The "American Idol" host was the villain of a rare get-together for the Los Angeles rock group. The audio was broadcast live on BBC "Radio 5 Live." A camera crew was also ...
  5 hours ago

• adam lambert ew outtakes

  
  Oh No They Didn't! — Authority: 174
  Bonus setups from our photo shoot with American Idol fave! Plus: He talks about coming out, a possible tour, and his picks for entertainer and TV show of the year Lambert on his expectations going into American Idol I honestly didnt feel like I would get that far on the show. I thought, Im not as ...
  6 hours ago

• Adam Lambert on the Cover of EW’s 2009 Best & Worst Issue

  
  Randomize ME — Authority: 510
  Okay, he’s with a gazillion people there (LOL) on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, but hey, it’s still the cover peeps! And I like posting all his covers!The outtakes from that issue is online on the EW website, so check them out if you haven’t. And get in line to buy the latest EW issue [...]
  6 hours ago

• Adam Lambert And Kris Allen At Jingle Ball: The MTV News Outtakes!

  
  MTV Newsroom — Authority: 697
  Its been a great week to be an "American Idol" fan. Kris Allen rocked "The Late Show with David Letterman" in Christmas sweaters on Wednesday (December 16), Allison Iraheta ferociously tore through her single on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last night and Adam Lambert appeared on nearly every TV show on the air. (I ...
  6 hours ago

• American Idol and 24: Could you get by without them?

  
  The TV Guy — Authority: 614
  How will you feel if you don’t have access to Jack Bauer and “ 24 “? Or if you can’t hear Simon Cowell’s critiques on “American Idol”? Fox is putting those questions to viewers. A possible standoff looms between Fox and Time Warner Cable, and that affects the 850,000 customers of Bright House ...
  6 hours ago

• Katharine McPhee Performs on Walmart Soundstage January 1

  
  mjsbigblog — Authority: 575
  Katharine McPhee stops by Walmart  Soundcheck to promote her second album, Unbroken . She performs “Had It All,” “Lifetime,” and “Say Goodbye.”  Check out a sneak peek of her Soundcheck  interview after the jump. The full performances will be up on January 1 at Soundcheck HERE . Unbroken will be ...
  8 hours ago

• Carrie Underwood Self Cover Shoot: Behind the Scenes – VIDEO

  
  mjsbigblog — Authority: 575
  Carrie Underwood graces the cover of the January issue of Self Magazine. The website has links to Carrie’s take on your typical self-help type subjects, like skin care , healthy eating , staying fit , and making fashion choices .  Plus, there’s a photo gallery . After the jump, check out Carrie’s ...
  8 hours ago

• Carrie Underwood gets in touch with Self

  
  ShowHype - Top Television News, Videos, and Blogs — Authority: 172
  Carrie Underwood graces the cover of the latest Self, and the magazine has lots of Carrie-related goodies on its website, including tips for eating healthy, staying fit and making fashion choices. mjsbigblog found this 83 minutes ago on content.usatoday.com Find more top entertainment news, videos, and blogs ...
  8 hours ago

• Simon Cowell could leave American Idol as he exports the X Factor to U.S

  
  Western Journalism.com — Authority: 143
  Simon Cowell could be leaving US hit show American Idol at the end of the next series and launching an American version of The X Factor. American Idol would fall apart without Cowell Cowell, whose contract with the Idol show expires in May, has been in talks with broadcaster Fox since last summer. An ...
  9 hours ago

• Choreographer Shane Sparks Arrested for Child Molestation

  
  ShowHype - Top Television News, Videos, and Blogs — Authority: 172
  So, here’s a bit of unpleasant news from TMZ : Shane Sparks — a judge on the MTV show “America’s Best Dance Crew” — has been arrested and charged with 9 counts of child molestation. The LAPD took Sparks into custody at 8AM PT this morning on a ... mjsbigblog posted 47 minutes ago from mjsbigblog.com ...
  9 hours ago

• Shane Sparks Arrested for Child Molestation

  
  ShowHype - Top Television News, Videos, and Blogs — Authority: 172
  Shane Sparks Arrested for Child Molestation is a post from: American Idol Shane Sparks has been arrested and charged with 9 counts of child molestation! The LAPD took Sparks into custody at 8AM PT this morning on a felony warrant charging him with molestation. The alleged incident ... mjsbigblog found this 47 ...
  9 hours ago

• American Idol: Allison Irahetas Friday Ill Be Over U on Kimmel

  
  From Inside the Box — Authority: 691
  Allison Iraheta is hoping youre not over her.
  10 hours ago

• ‘American Idol’-Simon Cowell rumors: Is a U.S. version of ‘X-Factor’ on its way?

  
  PopWatch — Authority: 751
  The persistent rumors that Simon Cowell will jump ship from Idol after the 2010 season hit a fever pitch this week, thanks to a report in the London Times claiming that Cowell is preparing an American version of the hit British talent show series The X Factor. “The X Factor is due to begin filming
  10 hours ago

• Simon Cowell Hints Political Version of American Idol in U.K.

  
  Satellite TV Guru — Authority: 144
  Simon Cowell, American Idol and The X-Factor co-creator and judge, has his targets set on politics. Not for public office, but with a new reality show. In a recent interview, the English music executive and television producer said he was pondering the production of a “political X Factor” in the U.K. The ...
  10 hours ago

• Fox vs Time Warner Cable retrans dispute could get political

  
  MediaFile — Authority: 589
  (Photo: Reuters) Fox Networks went public today in what it said has been a fruitless nine-month-long carriage negotiations with Time Warner Cable, the No.2  U.S. cable company. It said there is the very real possibility that popular shows like American Idol and NFL Football could disappear from the air if ...
  10 hours ago

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