American Idol is a televised talent show in which amateur singers compete for a recording contract and the title of American Idol. The show premiered in 2002.
Auditions
The singers are chosen by auditions in several cities throughout the United States. After over one hundred thousand contestants [1][2] audition in several locations throughout the U.S., a group is chosen by the panel of judges to continue in the competition. These singers will appear on the television show.
Voting
The televised portion of the show runs for approximately 14 weeks. Each week viewers are given the opportunity to phone in their vote for their favorite singer during a (typically) 2-hour period following the conclusion of each show. The results are announced the following night, and each week the singer with the least number of votes leaves the show. The group of singers decreases each week, until finally the one singer who remains wins the title of American Idol.
Judges
The original panel of three judges consisted of music producer Randy Jackson, singer Paula Abdul, and music publisher Simon Cowell.[3] This panel of judges remained unchanged through the first seven seasons of the show. Afterward, the judging team underwent numerous changes.
| Season(s) | Judges |
|---|---|
| 1-7 | Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson |
| 8 | Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi |
| 9 | Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres |
| 10-11 | Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler |
| 12 | Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban |
| 13-15 | Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Harry Connick, Jr. |
Host
Ryan Seacrest has been the host of the show since its inception. He was joined in the first season by co-host Brian Dunkleman, but has remained as the solo host from season 2 onward.
Notable Winners
The first winner of American Idol was Kelly Clarkson. One of the most successful winners is Carrie Underwood, the winner of season 4, who has sung popular faith-based songs including "Jesus take the Wheel" and won awards including the Dove Award, Academy of Country Music Award, and Grammy Awards.
Miscellany
The show is produced in the United States and shown on Fox Broadcasting. The producers of American Idol adapted the format and style of the show from similar successful shows in the U.K. called Pop Idol and X-Factor.
"The charity initiative Idol Gives Back raised $64 million in 2008 for groups including Children's Health Fund and Malaria No More." [4]
List of Winners
The winners to date:
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | Kelly Clarkson |
| Season 2 | Ruben Studdard |
| Season 3 | Fantasia Barrino |
| Season 4 | Carrie Underwood |
| Season 5 | Taylor Hicks |
| Season 6 | Jordin Sparks |
| Season 7 | David Cook |
| Season 8 | Kris Allen |
| Season 9 | Lee DeWyze |
| Season 10 | Scott McCreery |
| Season 11 | Phillip Phillips |
| Season 12 | Candice Glover |
| Season 13 | Caleb Johnson |
| Season 14 | TBD |
Cancellation
On May 11, 2015, Fox Broadcasting announced that American Idol's fifteenth season, beginning in January 2016, would be its last. [5]
See also
External links
References
- ↑ http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/05/simon-cowell-de.html
- ↑ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20061220/American_Idol_season6_20061220/20061220/
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/P3QW.html
- ↑ Pop culture sings an `American Idol' tune, Lynn Elber, Associated Press, March 8, 2009
- ↑ https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/05/11/american-idol-finishing-after-15-seasons/