Biographic - Sunday May 17, 2009 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Following the resounding success of "Pop Idol" the U.K. TV show created by music impresario Simon Fuller- manager of the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and David Beckham- "American Idol" debuted in 2002, the show was an immediate ratings winner, and 50 million viewers tuned in to the season finale to see Kelly Clarkson edge out Justin Guarini and take the crown. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, the series established music producer Randy Jackson, singer and choreographer Paula Abdul, and recorded company executive Simon Cowell as judges, and, with the exception of Dunkleman, who left after season one, all have become staples of the show. (Songwriter Kara Dioguardi was added as a fourth judge for season eight.) The second season aired in January 2003, and saw Ruben Studdard edge out Clay Aiken by just 130,000 votes out of 24 million cast. Season three was won by Fantasia Barrino, while season four introduced America to Carrie Underwood, who prevailed over rocker Bo Bice in the final. The season attracted more than 500 million telephone votes in total! "American Idol" triumph has propelled the likes of Clarkson and Underwood to multi-platinum, award-winning superstardom... but stellar success has also befallen such also-rans as Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry. Within three years of competing, Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award. Season five winner Taylor Hicks and season six "Idol" Jordin Sparks have both enjoyed subsequent chart-topping hits while following his season seven victory, David Cook had eleven songs debut in one week on the Billboard charts, a rating behemoth, the show is screened worldwide, including the U.K. Australia and Asia, and is now a 21-country franchise that has so far generated more than one billion dollars in revenue.

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