• 'Idol' movie 'From Justin to Kelly' cancels press screenings; raising 'dud' talk

  June 4, 2003
  Overlooked in all the success of Fox's American Idol and the solo singing careers of Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken is the forthcoming movie From Justin to Kelly, starring the winner and runner-up from the first Idol (Clarkson and Justin Guarini).

• 'American Idol' voting overtaxed U.S. phone systems

  May 27, 2003
  The parallels with Florida 2000 continue to pile up regarding the American Idol finale vote. Now it's disenfranchisement.

• Did misdials cost Clay Aiken the title on 'American Idol'?

  May 27, 2003
  The American Idol finale voting saga reminds us more of the 2000 Florida presidential election fiasco every day. In an uncanny imitation of the "hanging chad" controversy that forced the Bush-Gore Florida vote count to the U.S. Supreme Court twice, the Associated Press reports that more people may have tried to vote for runner-up Clay Aiken than for winner Ruben Studdard ... but misdialed the number, so their votes weren't included in the final count.

• '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.

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