• 'American Idol' alumni to perform Christmas special on Fox to support new CD

  October 17, 2003
  Is it to help sell the new American Idol Christmas CD? Or is it to build anticipation for the third season of Idol, which will debut in January 2004? Or, just maybe, is it an effort to help the Fox network during the November sweeps?

• Vanessa Olivarez becomes third 'American Idol' finalist to reach Canadian Top 10

  October 9, 2003
  After Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, which American Idol 2 finalist would be most likely to have a Top 10 single? Would you believe ... the pink-haired Vanessa Olivarez, who was the first member of the FInal 12 to be eliminated ... and who was the only Idol 2 finalist excluded from the live tour?

• 'Idol' singles sink, as Clay Aiken's album nears release amidst re-repackaging

  September 26, 2003
  Last week, the King of Rock and Roll rose from the dead to end American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's double-digit run at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Singles Sales charts in the U.S. and Canada. This week, another legend used a satanic twist to drive both Clay and Idol winner Ruben Studdard further away from the top.

• CBS's 'The Amazing Race' becomes second reality TV program to win "Best" Emmy

  September 22, 2003
  At 10:00 PM Eastern time on Sept. 21, 2003, reality TV history was made -- and CBS's The Amazing Race was the show that made it.

• Clay Aiken's #1 streak comes to an end in both U.S. and Canada

  September 18, 2003
  It took a King to do it, but Clay Aiken's streak of weeks with the top selling single in either the U.S. or Canada on the Nielsen SoundScan charts has finally come to an end. Clay, the runner-up on American Idol 2, watched his platinum single, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night," drop to second on the U.S. Singles Sales chart and to third on the Canadian Singles Sales chart for the week ended Sept. 14, as the remixed Elvis Presley single "Rubberneckin'" jumped ahead of Clay on both charts upon its release.

• Ryan Malcolm wins first 'Canadian Idol' title

  September 18, 2003
  The Toronto Sun reports that, as expected, Ryan Malcolm from Kingston, Ontario was selected by viewers as the winner of CTV's Canadian Idol. Malcolm, known by the derogatory moniker "Waiter Boy" -- a reference to his real-life job prior to Idol, defeated Nova Scotian Gary Beals in the final showdown.

• Reality TV World announces 2003 Blowie Awards nominees, opens ballot for voting

  September 17, 2003
  RealityTVWorld.com today announced the nominees for the second annual Reality TV World "Blowie" Awards, which are presented yearly to outstanding productions, performances and situations in unscripted television programming. Consisting of 22 award categories with a total of 164 nominees, the Reality TV World "Blowie" Awards range from the serious to the frivolous, providing an overview of the reality TV programming in the year gone by.

• 'Canadian Idol' down to final two contestants

  September 12, 2003
  The Toronto Sun reports that CTV's Canadian Idol, the all-Canadian version of Pop Idol (and thus the first cousin to Fox's American Idol), is down to its final two contestants. Ryan Malcolm from Kingston, Ontario and Gary Beals from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia have reached the finals, after Billy Klippert from Calgary, Alberta was voted out in the final elimination. This week, Ryan and Billy will perform with American Idol 2 winner Ruben Studdard as part of their final showdown.

• Clay Aiken logs 13th straight week atop Canada singles sales and 12th week in US

  September 12, 2003
  Is 13 unlucky? Nielsen SoundScan reports that American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night" has now spent 13 straight weeks atop the Canadian Singles Sales chart, placing #1 again in the week ended September 7. In addition, the single recorded its 12th week -- and second straight -- atop the U.S. SIngles Sales chart.

• 'American Idol' finalist Kimberly Locke signs with Curb Records

  September 11, 2003
  Could the third time be a charm? Billboard reports that Kimberly Locke, who placed third on Fox's American Idol 2 this spring, will now become the third finalist to receive a recording contract. Kimberly has been signed by Nashville-based Curb Records and will once again compete with Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken ... although now the battle will shift to the marketplace.

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