• Second 'American Idol 3' episode draws 28.6 million viewers

  January 21, 2004
  The ratings of the second episode of FOX's third season of American Idol might have been down significantly from Monday's first episode of the program's special three-night premiere week, but Idol was still far and away the most-watched program of the night.

• Ratings: 'American Idol 3' premiere swamps the competition, draws 29 million viewers

  January 20, 2004
  So much for those whispered industry thoughts that the third season of FOX's smash-hit American Idol series might not be quite as successful as last season's edition. Wishful thinking appears to have been a more accurate description.

• Ryan Seacrest to host FOX New Year's countdown, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie to also appear

  December 23, 2003
  Ryan Seacrest will help ring in the New Year when he returns for a second year to host the 90-minute music spectacular featuring previously announced performances from Ashanti, Metallica, Puddle of Mudd, Hootie and the Blowfish, Keith Urban, DJ Funkmaster Flex and rap artists Westside Connection on America's Party, airing live from the Venetian Resort Hotel-Casino Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 31 live from 11:00 PM -12:30 AM ET (tape delayed elsewhere.)

• FOX moves 'American Idol 3' premiere to January 19

  December 11, 2003
  FOX has announced a change to its previously announced upcoming January American Idol 3 premiere, with the first two-hour episode of the program's originally planned two-night/three-hour premiere now having been broken into two one-hour consecutive night broadcasts due to concerns regarding a potential presidential address conflict.

• Report: FOX looking to add another Brit as fourth 'American Idol' judge

  November 23, 2003
  Is FOX once again looking to add a fourth American Idol judge? According to a recent report in The Sun newspaper, Pete Waterman, who along with Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman, and Neil Fox function as the four-person judging panel for the UK's Pop Idol, is "in talks" with FOX to join Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson as a judge for this January's third edition of American Idol.

• Third season of 'American Idol to premiere January 20 and 21

  November 17, 2003
  FOX has announced that its hit American Idol series will make its highly anticipated third-season debut on Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21. The series’ special two-part premiere will kick off with a two-hour episode from 8-10 PM ET/PT on Tuesday followed by a special one-hour episode on Wednesday from 8-9 PM ET/PT on FOX.

• 'American Idol 3' adds audition sites in San Francisco and Honolulu

  September 12, 2003
  The Associated Press reports that Fox's American Idol 3 has added two new audition sites for the month of September: San Francisco, California and Honolulu, Hawaii.

• FOX announces 'American Idol 3' audition dates for Houston and Atlanta

  August 7, 2003
  FOX has announced the Houston and Atlanta open audition dates for the third edition of "American Idol."

• FOX announces 'American Idol 3' August 3 Los Angeles audition details

  July 29, 2003
  FOX has announced that auditions for the third edition of "American Idol" are set to start in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 3, 2003 starting at 8:00 AM at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Participants can start lining up AFTER 12:00 Noon on Friday, August 1.

• 'American Idol 3' announces first audition dates and locations

  July 15, 2003
  The next edition of FOX's "American Idol" might be coming to a city near you. Auditions for the third edition of the popular FOX series "American Idol" are set to start Tuesday, August 5 in Los Angeles and continue to Houston, Atlanta, and New York. Participants will vie for a spot on "American Idol" and a chance at the title and a major recording contract.

MORE AMERICAN IDOL 3 NEWS