• 'American Idol's Clay Aiken & Ruben Studdard appear on NBC's 'Today' show

  May 26, 2003
  The Associated Press reports that "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken took the "Today" show by storm on Monday morning, wowing a crowd of screaming fans who braved a downpour for a glimpse of their favorites. "It's like a monsoon. Poor Clay is worried about his hair," the always perky Katie Couric joked as she tousled Aiken's slightly less spikier than usual 'do.

• 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken sign with BMG

  May 25, 2003
  According to People Magazine (link for subscribers only), American Idol winner Ruben Studdard has been signed to music industry legend Clive Davis' J Records, part of the Bertelsmann Music Group ("BMG"). Ruben will be spending Memorial Day weekend working on his new CD, which, according to Clive Davis, will combine pop, R&B and hip-hop-influences, and may include a collaboration with rapper Fat Joe.

• 'American Idol' vote count controversy continues

  May 25, 2003
  We thought we were kidding when we suggested that Fox use Jimmy Carter to oversee the next American Idol elections. Now, as Fox changes its story daily, it's actually starting to look like a good idea.

• Did Clay Aiken know 'American Idol' winner in advance?

  May 23, 2003
  Did he or didn't he?

• 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest to host new daytime show

  May 22, 2003
  Be honest ... do you tune into American Idol to see Clay, Ruben, Kelly, Frenchie, Simon ... or to see host Ryan Seacrest? In an apparent new update on a story that we first reported on a couple of months back, Fox apparently hopes that some people really do tune in to see Ryan. E! Online reports that Fox's Twentieth Television production arm has cast Ryan in a new daytime show that will begin airing in January 2004.

• FOX correction: Ruben Studdard won 'American Idol' by about 130,000 votes, not by 1,335 or 13,000

  May 22, 2003
  First host Ryan Seacrest said over 24,000,000 votes were cast and Ruben Studdard defeated Clay Aiken by only 13,000 votes. Then later in the broadcast he apparently tried to correct himself and say Ruben actually won by 1.335 votes with 50.28% of the vote. At this point the more analytical viewers at home probably did the 50.28% of 24,000,000 math themselves and figured out that would actually come up to a difference of about 130,000 votes.

• Ratings: 'American Idol' finale averages 33+ million viewers, tops 40+ million at the end

  May 22, 2003
  Zap2It.com reports that the 2002-03 May Sweeps period ended Wednesday night on a very high note for FOX, as the finale of "American Idol" blew away its competition. The first hour of "Idol," featuring the mother of all recapping and foot-dragging, averaged 16.9/27 at 8PM. At 9PM, "American Idol" grew to a 20.3/29, with nearly 40 million people watching the final half-hour as Ruben Studdard was named the winner over Clay Aiken.

• Ruben Studdard crowned 'American Idol,' but Clay Aiken still tops the Amazon CD Sales List

  May 22, 2003
  Ruben Studdard might have been crowned the winner during last evening's "American Idol" season finale, but so far Clay Aiken is proving to be the champion in the category that the show promoters really care about -- record sales.

• Ruben Studdard becomes second 'American Idol' winner by razor-thin margin

  May 22, 2003
  The votes are in for the second installment of American Idol, and American has made its choice. By only 1,350 votes out of over 24 million votes cast, Ruben Studdard, the plus-sized "teddy bear of love," defeated Dixie crooner Clay Aiken to win the second American Idol competition.

• Clay Aiken CD ranked #1 in Amazon CD Sales Rank, Ruben Studdard at #40 and climbing

  May 20, 2003
  Although Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard are still battling for the title of the next "American Idol," that hasn't stopped them from already beginning a record sales competition.

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