American Idol (2002) - The A.V. Club

Browse Episodes

Season 21

Slide 1 of 20

20. 519 (Grand Finale)
19. 518 (Top 5)
18. 517 (Top 7)
17. 516 (The Great Idol Reunion)
16. 515 (Disney Night)
15. 514 (Judge's Song Contest)
14. 513 (Top 14)
13. 512 (Top 14 Live Reveal)
12. 511 (Season 20's Top 20)
11. 510 (Top 24 at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii Part #2)
10. 509 (Top 24 at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii Part #1)
9. 508 (Showstopper/Final Judgment)
8. 507 (Hollywood Duets Challenge)
7. 506 (Hollywood Week: Genre Challenge)
6. 505A (Auditions)
5. 505 (Auditions)
4. 504 (Auditions)
3. 503 (Auditions)
2. 502 (Auditions)
1. 501 (Auditions)

Cast

Slide 1 of 18

Ryan Seacrest
Self - Host
Mark Thompson
Announcer
Randy Jackson
Self - Judge
Simon Cowell
Self - Judge
Paula Abdul
Self - Judge
Jennifer Lopez
Self - Judge
Katy Perry
Self - Judge
Kara DioGuardi
Self - Judge
Keith Urban
Self - Judge
Lionel Richie
Self - Judge
Katy Perry
Self - Judge
Luke Bryan
Self - Judge
Steven Tyler
Self - Judge
Harry Connick Jr.
Self - Judge
Jimmy Iovine
Self - Mentor
Carrie Underwood
Self
Ruben Studdard
Self
Clay Aiken
Self

Creator

Simon Fuller

Synopsis

Twelve finalists and/or future singers (six men and six women) who were selected from America, compete in a talent contest in which they were asked to sing any song they like on this "Star Search" clone. After each song that was sung, the judges, Abdul, Jackson and Cowell, then critique that finalist's chosen song. After each show's ending, America must vote for a finalist to whom they really think their performance is good using this AT&T (now Cingular Wireless) or any other cellular phone to cast votes with. Once the votes are locked in, the judges and America decides who has the most and the least amount of votes, and the contestant with the least amount of votes is eliminated, and it goes on each week's show until the winner is crowned as "American Idol," where he/she wins a recording contract worth up to $1,000,000. The rest of the other finalists to whom they have been voted off before (the runner-up) also get recording contracts, too.