American Idol- Season One
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American Idol’s success story began on June 11, 2002. Season 1 featured 25 episodes, culminating in the September 4, 2002 finale and spawned the most successful American Idol singer to date, Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson.
Show Personnel
The first season of American Idol was jointly hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman (who departed after season 1). The celebrity judging panel was made up of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson. Cowell was co-creator of the show, which was based on the popular UK Pop Idol program. Cowell’s fellow creator was former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller.
Auditions
Season 1 auditions were held in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, and Seattle. The show held open casting calls in these cities and from the thousands of pop star hopefuls who turned up, contestants were picked to audition for the judging panel. In season 1, the judges picked 30 contestants from these auditions to progress to round 2, held in Hollywood.
The audition episodes are considered by some to be their favorite part of the show, watching the lengths to which people are willing to go for a shot at stardom – not to mention some singers who are in serious denial. Derek Stilling from the New York audition was a season 1 so-bad-he’s-good favorite.
The Top Ten
Once in Hollywood, the top thirty were divided into three groups. The top three contestants from each group advanced to the next round. The last place in the top ten went to a wild card contestant, nominated by the judges and picked by public vote.
The top 10 contestants on season 1, in order of elimation, were:
- Kelly Clarkson
- Nikki McKibben
- Ryan Starr
- Justin Guarini
- R.J. Helton
- EJay Day
- Jim Verranos
- Christina Christian
- A.J. Gil
- Tamyra Gray
Theme Weeks
The competitions each week centered on a musical theme. The themes for the season , in order of appearance, were:
- Motown
- 1960s
- 1970s
- Big Band
- Burt Bacharach
- 1980s/1999s
- Contestant/Judge’s Choice
Season 1 of American Idol was the only season in which two members of the top 10 were voted off in the same week, when EJay Day and Jim Verranos were eliminated in the first round of voting.
The order of elimation leading up to the top 2 was:
- EJay Day
- Jim Verranos
- A.J. Gil
- Ryan Starr
- Christina Christian
- R.J. Helton
- Tamyra Gray
- Nikki McKibben
The finale episode of season 1 was broadcast September 4, 2002. Contestants Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini competed for the top spot and 58% of the public vote went to Clarkson, making her the very first American Idol.
Where Are They Now?
Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson is unquestionably American Idol’s most successful winner to date. The song written for the American Idol winner, A Moment Like This, which she performed on the last show, set a Billboard Charts Record when it was released as a single in October 2002 by going from 58 to the number 1 spot.
In 2003, she placed second in the World Idol competition. Also in 2003, Clarkson’s first album, Thankful, was released on RCA Records. It debuted at number 1 and went on to become double platinum before the end of the year. The first single from that album, Miss Independent, earned Clarkson a 2004 Grammy nomination.
Clarkson was unhappy with her management, which was supplied by Idol co-creator Simon Fuller, for failing to increase her success outside of the US. Clarkson dumped Fuller in 2004, starting the rumors of a rift between Clarkson and American Idol. She released her second album, the pointedly titled Breakaway, in November 2004. That album went platinum five times over and won her two Grammy awards.
Trouble between American Idol and Clarkson grew when she famously failed to thank them in her Grammy acceptance speech.
Other Contestants
Runner-up Justin Guarini was also signed to Simon Fuller’s 19 Management, along with Fuller’s 19 Records. His first single had disappointing sales of less than 150,000 copies and he was subsequently dropped by the label.
Tamyra Gray was signed to J Record, but was then dropped for being “difficult.” She has gone on to appear in a Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams.
Nikki McKibben and Ryan Starr appeared together on Battle of the Reality Stars in the Bravo Network. Starr was also on VH1’s The Surreal Life, while McKibben took part in E!’s Kill Reality show.
From Justin to Kelly
In 2003, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini starred in the musical film From Justin to Kelly. The film was ridiculed in the press and did poorly at the box office.
American Idol Links
- American Idol Official Site
- DialIdol
- American Idol Rumors – fan site dedicated to all the American Idol gossip you can handle.
Related Links
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