The Music Industry’s Stake in Reality Talent Shows, by Sting7: Remember how the music industry scoffed at the notion that a reality show winner could make a dent on charts? Kelly Clarkson came along, and the laughing stopped. Now, record labels are battling for the chance at the next reality-born sensations, like Ruben Studdard and Buddy Jewell!

Why Ruben, Not Clay?, by Sting7: Ruben is the American Idol and at least half of America is glad he is. But, why Ruben and not Clay? What makes Ruben so special? We take a look at the Ruben phenomena for answers.

Clay and Ruben: Does It Matter Who Won?, by David Bloomberg: By now we all know the results, and many feelings have already been aired on the message boards. But if we look at the big picture, does it really matter who won? The answer to that question remains up in the air.

Was Clay Robbed?, by David Bloomberg: Clay fans are up in arms - "Clay was robbed!" Certainly there were problems with the vote, some of which we've discussed already. But then Ryan couldn't even get the numbers right! So is it a conspiracy? Was Clay robbed? Can we even know the answer?

American Idol 2, May 21: This Is It!, by Sting7: Last night, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard (right) made their final pitch to be the American Idol. Both performed spectacular numbers that promised to decrease the already narrow gap between them. America has voted and now, the results. It was really close! Who is the American Idol?

American Idol’s Final Voting Process: Fair or Flawed?, by David Bloomberg: The phone lines for both Ruben and Clay were jammed for the full three hours. What does this mean for the vote totals? Will there even be a real difference? Could Fox have done anything to fix the problem? What will the results tell us?

American Idol – A Guide to Withdrawal, by Donna Reynolds: The votes are in and we’re waiting for the results. So now is perhaps a good time to think about how we are all going to deal with the void in our lives that will be created when American Idol finishes up tonight.

American Idol 2, May 20: Decide, by Sting7: Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this. Ruben and Clay can't believe it's happening to them. I can't believe what a dazzling night it was! Neither can Paul Anka! Read on!

The Odds on Ruben, Clay, and the Guy Suing to Stop the Show, by David Bloomberg: Fans are debating who will win – Clay or Ruben. They aren’t the only ones. Bookies are wondering as well. And then there’s the guy suing the show to get it stopped altogether. What do you suppose his odds are?

American Idol 2, May 19’s Final Two Show: Gonzo and the Turkey Sandwich, by Sting7: A special look at the remaining two contestants on American Idol, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. Plus, Vanessa's back! Josh is not! Who the heck is Gonzo, and why did someone get knocked out over a turkey sandwich?

The Top 20 Greatest American Idol Performances Ever, by Sintg7 & Mike DeGeorge: Season Two of American Idol is almost in the books. Now is a great time to look back and rank the Top 20 Greatest American Idol Performances Ever. There's no way Nikki McKibbin could make this list, could she?

You Say Tomayto, I Say Tomahto: The Clay Conspiracy, by Andrea Shuman: A number of Clay fans think that he is getting the shaft. Early on, producers decided that Ruben would win, and now they’re making sure that happens. Read on to find out what the complaints are and whether it’s a conspiracy or… something else.

Oprah Takes Us Behind the Scenes at ‘American Idol’, by David Bloomberg: Earlier this week, Oprah Winfrey dedicated her entire show to American Idol, including a behind-the-scenes look, interviews with the judges and contestants, and Kelly Clarkson singing her newest single!

American Idol 2, May 14: One for the Money, Two for the Show, by Sting7: Poor Simon. Such a talented trio to judge. He looks simply bored. No Nikkis to annihilate this year! In better news, a truly deserving two will face off to be the American Idol in just six days. Clay? Kimberley? Ruben? The answer is here!

American Idol 2, May 13: Sing a Song of Three Picks, by Sting7: For once, the three most deserving contestants remain on American Idol. If there is a darkhorse in this talented trio, it would have to be Kimberley Locke, battling extraordinarily popular opponents with very strong camps. Can she deliver the performances she's capable of to pull off a mild upset?

Thank You Kimberley, by Donna Reynolds: Kimberley’s farewell meant a lot of disappointed fans – but not particularly surprised ones. Still, her future looks bright and Donna shares a “Thank You” for the performances she has given us.

Why Kimberley Lost, by David Bloomberg: The final three had the three best singers out of 70,000 who applied. But one of them had to go. Did the voters make the right choice in sending home Kimberley? Why did she lose?

American Idol 2, May 7: Stayin’ Alive?, by David Bloomberg: Last season at this time, we had The Big Shocker of Nikki beating Tamyra. This week, will Josh once again pull through? Or is it finally his time to say goodbye?

Why Joshua Lost, by David Bloomberg: Joshua stuck around much longer than most people expected. He provided us with this season's most shocking moment last week. But now he's gone. What happened to change things?

American Idol 2, May 6: Pulling Out All the Stops!, by David Bloomberg: The final four know they need to bring it tonight or they may not have another chance. Clay has some fun with one song while Josh countrifies a couple of BeeGee hits. Who will stay and who will go?

From Justin to Kelly - Inside Information, by Bruce Barker: From Justin to Kelly was supposed to be released by now, but has been pushed back once already. We have some inside information on just what has happened and, indeed, what may happen with the movie. Will it come out in June? Will it be pushed back? Will it come out in theaters at all? Read on for details!

The Josh Campaign, by Donna Reynolds: Is it fair for a website to encourage a campaign that not only has viewers voting, but also has them roping in other people who don't even watch the show? That's exactly what at least one pro-Josh site is doing…

And the Winner Is…, by Andrea Shuman: Andrea knows who the winner will be. No, not by inside information - simply by looking at the fan devotion. So who will win it all?

The Marine Has Landed - In the Final Four, by Donna Reynolds: As Donna watched the Results Show this week, she was certain Josh would be going. What happened? How did he stay? She has some ideas on that - and some reasons why he shouldn’t.

My Trenyce Goodbye, by Phil Kural: Why did Trenyce leave? Who should have gone in her place? Phil says goodbye by both talking about Trenyce’s performances and also who should have gone in her place.

Why Trenyce Lost, by David Bloomberg: It was a shocking result - Joshua not even in the bottom two while Trenyce left the show. But it's not completely unexpected. Let's take a look at why Josh stayed… and why Trenyce lost.

‘American Idol’ Discovers New Winner: The Re-Dial Button, by Rosanne Simunovic: The votes are in - but who really won this week? The American public? The show itself? Any of the contestants? Or a relatively small population of people who can eagerly hit redial on their phones?

American Idol 2, April 30: Love Won’t Keep Us Together, by David Bloomberg: It's the biggest American Idol shocker since Nikki beat out Tamyra. In fact, we even visit some with Tamyra before the results. And Justin Guarini. And Burt Bacharach. And… phew! Eventually we get to those shocking results, though. Not only will you be unable to believe who stays, but you won't believe who is in the bottom two either!

Kelly Clarkson’s Fans Reach Out to the Troops, by L. Dougherty: Kelly Clarkson is “Thankful,” and now some of her fans have joined together to get Thankful to our troops stationed abroad. Read on for all the details!

American Idol 2, April 29: Two-for-Tuesday with Neil Sedaka, by David Bloomberg: We're down to the final five and that means time for two performances by each contestant. And one of them is by guest judge Neil Sedaka! One slip-up can knock the performers out of the game. Can Joshua Gracin pull himself up to the level of the other singers, or are we going to tell him goodbye?

First Impressions of the AI2 Love Songs CD, by David Bloomberg: The American Idol Season 2 All-Time Classic American Love Songs CD came out today, so it’s time for a first impressions review. Do Ruben, Clay, and Kimberley live up to their hype? Do the others rise to the challenge? Let’s find out.

American Idol: The Best Voting System for Its Purpose, by James Shepherd: Earlier, James wrote an article on how we shouldn't expect a better voting system for American Idol. Since then, he received a number of emails with feedback, including one that made him think harder about just what the show is trying to accomplish.

Why Carmen Lost, by David Bloomberg: Carmen has been on the bubble for several weeks now, but every time we thought she was going, her fans managed to pull her through somehow. This week we saw a record fan vote, but Carmen ended up going home. What changed? Why did Carmen lose? And how did she last this long to begin with?

American Idol 2, April 23: Love Didn’t Lead Them Back, by David Bloomberg: It's time for the results! David was absolutely certain that Trenyce would be heading home. The judges are certain that Carmen should be the one to go. So who is right? There is a new record number of votes and even a brand new Diane Warren song written just for the contestants. All in all, a lot of TV fit into a single half-hour show.

Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Thankful’ - A Full Review, by David Bloomberg: Last week, I presented my first thoughts on Kelly Clarkson’s debut CD, Thankful. After listening to it since then, some thoughts have stayed the same while others have grown stronger or changed. Let’s take a look at my full album review.

American Idol: The Mind of the Voter, by David Bloomberg: While those of us who write about American Idol have a very good idea of how we think people should vote, they often surprise us. Other viewers have their own ideas about how they should make up their minds. Some make sense, others not so much, but in the end will it come down to a rightful winner?

American Idol 2, April 22: Big Hits and Bigger Misses, by David Bloomberg: Diane Warren has written some huge hits. But sometimes when you swing for the fence, you end up striking out instead. Which was the case for Josh Gracin? He changed style again, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?

American Idol 2, April 21: The ‘Halfway Home’ Special, by David Bloomberg: Sometimes, two nights a week of American Idol just isn't enough - at least as far as Fox is concerned. So we get a full hour special on Monday night to look at the six remaining finalists and hear them each perform a song of their choosing. No judges, no results, just chatting with Ryan and singing.

American Idol 2 : Corey’s Story, by Sting7: Corey Clark's day in court has been delayed, but he now tries his case in the court of public opinion. Did American Idol act too soon? Did they know all along? Corey makes some surprising allegations. Is he telling the truth? You decide.

An American Idol Passover, by Andrea Shuman: When Andrea’s Passover seder turned into an opportunity to watch the American Idol results show with younger family members, she got some insight into the viewing – and voting – habits of the younger crowd.

Why Kimberly Lost, by David Bloomberg: We kept hearing that Kimberly Caldwell had more talent, if only she could show it in her performances. But at some point we had to wonder - does she? Even so, she wasn't the worst singer this week, so there must be some other explanations for why Kimberly lost.

American Idol: Don’t Expect a Better Voting System , by James Shepherd: The method of voting for American Idol has faced a great deal of criticism. People can vote over and over, and a relatively small number can alter the overall results - a possible explanation for several recent departures. What are the alternatives and would Fox likely ever consider them? James Shepherd takes a look.

American Idol 2, April 16: Wake Up, Virginia…, by Sting7: Despite the protestations of his fans, Clay Aiken has slid to number two in this race. Last night, Clay showed he's savvy enough to make fun of his own ballad-rich reputation, and talented enough to pull off an up-tempo number. Or did he? Can America embrace this new incarnation of Clay?

American Idol 2, April 15: You Have to Be a Big Shot, Don’t You?, by Sting7: Meet Ruben Studdard, by all accounts the heir-apparent to the American Idol crown. But, the race is not over; in fact, the game has definitely changed! Tonight marked the occasion of his first negative critique, and another contestant has made their presence known! Is Ruben in jeopardy?

America, Your CD Has Arrived, by L. Dougherty: America voted for Kelly Clarkson, and now, with her debut album on the shelves, America can see how well they chose for “their” CD!

A First Look at Kelly Clarkson’s New Album, by David Bloomberg: We’ve waited long enough! Now Kelly Clarkson’s new CD, Thankful, is finally available. I’ve given it a couple listens and here are my first impressions.

American Idol: Paving the Way for Excellence in the Music World, by Rosanne Simunovic: Rosanne, a voice coach and conductor, didn’t watch American Idol last year. But now she sees it as a great way to find new performers and teach them how to push themselves. What changed her mind? Read on to find out.

American Idol’s Corey: Too Much Ado to Bid Adieu?, by Sting7: Corey Clark speaks to the media about his pending court date (originally scheduled to be today), why he never spoke up about those charges, and why he feels Fox let him down.

American Idol 2: Mid-Season Report Card, by Sting7: When you are Number One, there's nowhere else to go. No problems to solve. It ain't broke; don't fix it. Right? Not so fast. Time for midterms for everyone involved in American Idol, in front of and behind the cameras. An exhaustive look at where they are, and what may be in store for them.

Miss Independent Returns to Her Stage, by L. Dougherty: Ms. Doughtery thinks something has been missing from this second season - and when Kelly Clarkson took the stage to sing her new single, that something was made perfectly clear. Read on to find out just what it is that makes Kelly so great and may be missing this season.

Rickey’s Loss Shows the Power of Fan Support, by David Bloomberg: The bottom two last week were completely safe this week while Rickey Smith dropped from safety to dead last. How do we explain it? Well, it actually serves as a lesson on how fans react when their favorites are threatened. In this case, we had a particularly good look into the way voting is done because we had two weeks of information to draw from.

Why Rickey Lost, by David Bloomberg: Rickey wasn't even in the bottom three last week, when nobody was voted off and the votes were rolled into this week's numbers. Yet somehow he ended up with the fewest votes total! What happened? Did he break one of the cardinal rules or was it something else entirely?

American Idol 2, April 9 – Corey Clark: The Aftermath, by Sting7: What has Kimberley Locke ever done to you? She's nailed her performances for the last three weeks. She hasn't broken any laws. Yet she was in the bottom three on last week's results show. It counts this week too! Randy Jackson cried foul, but does America say her "heart will go on"?

American Idol 2, April 8: No, Really, What Did You Think?, by Sting7: Poor Trenyce. This beautiful and gifted entertainer has found herself in the wake of Corey Clark's spiral! She was actually in the bottom two of last week's results show, though few think she deserved to be there. Now, she has a chance to get out of the basement. Will 'the power of love' move her up?

American Idol 2 Finalists’ CD Provokes Questions, by David Bloomberg: The track listing for the American Idol 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs CD is available on Amazon.com and provides us with some information on what is planned for the album. However, it also provokes questions as to why certain songs (and even singers) are included.

Vanessa Olivarez Gets Naked (and Other Vanessa News), by David Bloomberg: Yes, it's true - Vanessa Olivarez is the first American Idol finalist to pose nude. But she's not doing it for Playboy or Penthouse - she's doing it for PETA. Plus, what's this about Vanessa in a mall tour and supposedly being told she won't be on the finalists' album?

American Idol 2: The Charity CD Confusion, by David Bloomberg: First, American Idol said they were going to release “What the World Needs Now Is Love” as a charity CD single. Then they said instead they would release “God Bless the U.S.A.” But news reports from all over the globe have been horribly confused. Let’s try to cut through it all and see just what’s going on.

Readers Speak Out on the Joshua Gracin Controversies, by David Bloomberg: My article on the controversies surrounding Joshua Gracin provoked a good deal of comment from just about every direction. Let’s take a look at a sampling of these comments and think about where everybody is coming from when it comes to Josh and his stint on American Idol.

The Case for Carmen, by Kelly Dean Hansen: Without any other considerations, Carmen appears to have many of the qualities that would seem to help her qualify as an “American Idol.” She is young, beautiful, and has had formal training. She is also a favorite of Simon Cowell. How is all of the anti-Carmen negativity to be explained? How did she finish in the bottom three after her best performance? And what is the case for her continuing in the competition?

Trenyce: How Could This Possibly Happen?, by Phil Kural: How on Earth could Trenyce have ended up in the bottom three?! Worse, the bottom two! Could it have been the revelation about her past? No matter what the reason, Phil has a call to action for Trenyce fans!

The Joshua Gracin Controversies, by David Bloomberg: Joshua Gracin, the Marine and American Idol finalist, has been at the center of several swirling controversies lately. First, should he even be on the show rather than fighting in Iraq? Second, should he have gotten as many votes as he did this week when he obviously had the worst performance? Were people voting for Joshua the singer or Joshua the Marine - and how should he feel about that?

American Idol 2, April 2: Too Much Time on My Hands, by Sting7: Disco Week left Simon eager for the last dance, and willing to give a scathing critique to can't-go-wrong Clay Aiken, and a good review to his own Wildcard pick Carmen Rasmusen. Hmmm. Does America also think she is "the most commercial?" Prepare to be shocked!

American Idol 2, April 1: Fool Me Once…, by Sting7: This time, American Idol couldn't brush the expulsion under the rug. Corey Clark speaks in his own defense. It's also Disco Week: Simon warned Joshua Gracin that this could be trouble for him if he intends to stay country. Is it "taps" for the popular Marine?

Corey Clark: Exodus, by Sting7: Even before Corey was given the boot by producers, many people wondered how he managed to stick around as long as he had in the voting. We’ll never know for sure how long he could have held out, but we have some ideas as to what the reasons were.

Corey Clark Booted for Beating Allegations, by David Bloomberg: Yesterday it was revealed that Corey Clark was facing criminal charges for allegedly beating his sister and resisting arrest. Fox has acted quickly to remedy their part of the situation and now Corey has been given the boot.

Corey Clark Faces Battery and Resisting Arrest Charges, by David Bloomberg: Forget American Idol, it’s American Idol’s Most Wanted as it has now been revealed that Corey Clark was arrested for allegedly beating up his sister and resisting arrest. Oh, and then there were those bad checks…

Why Is Everyone So Hard on Kimberly Caldwell?, by Tab Ross: Why are people so hard on Kimberly Caldwell? Is she too “generic”? Is it because of her earlier fight with Julia DeMato? Or do people just think she’s fake? Can we find the real Kimberly?

Trenyce’s Past Arrest Exposed, by David Bloomberg: It's become almost a cliché. You get onto a Fox reality show and then we find out that you have something unsavory in your past. It happened again this week when Trenyce was revealed to have an arrest for felony theft.

Why Julia Lost, by David Bloomberg: Many people expected Julia to go in week one of the finals, then again in week two. In the third week, after she had what may have been her best performance, it finally happened. Was there one single cause or a group of them? Why did Julia lose?

American Idol 2, March 26: Third Time’s the Charm, by David Bloomberg: Tuesday night gave us an interesting mix, which made it difficult to predict just who would end up leaving. I had predicted Julia, Corey, and Trenyce. Was I even close? And what did the judges think of the three America picked?

American Idol 2, March 25: Country? Rock? Or Just More Ballads?, by David Bloomberg: The theme for this week is supposed to be "country-rock." But you wouldn't know it from listening to a number of the contestants, who just took the opportunity to bring us more ballads. Did Ruben (right) fall into this trap or did he jump into the new genre?

Reality News Update, March 25: Paula’s Necklace, Hillbilly Protests, Evan & Zora, Big Brother 4, and a Real World Auction, by David Bloomberg: More news from the world of reality TV. Paula Abdul is selling the necklaces she gave to American Idol contestants and MTV is selling stuff from Real World Las Vegas, including the condom jar. Also, Congressmen are protesting The Real Beverly Hillbillies, it's officially over for Evan and Zora, and Big Brother 4 applications are now being accepted!

Trenyce: The True Wild Card, by Carl Esperance: Trenyce did not get a lot of early screen time to show us her personality, but after being put into the finals as a Wildcard, she has shown solid performances. Can she outlast the more talked-about contestants and make it to the end?

Versatility Will Narrow the Field, by Carl Esperance: As we move through the weeks of American Idol, the singers are being asked to perform for different genres. What will this mean for somebody like Joshua, who is now saying he’s sticking to country, as opposed to Clay, who has tackled a variety of different types of songs? Who can we expect to face the challenge and succeed?

Most Contestants Raising Their Game, by L. Dougherty: Whether it was the presence of Gladys Knight or last year’s winner Kelly Clarkson, something raised the game of a number of our contestants. Unfortunately, not everybody was included in that group. Charles wasn’t one of them, but did he deserve to go or should it have been somebody else?

“Young Profiles” Book Shows Why Kelly Clarkson is an American Idol, by David Bloomberg: When she won American Idol last year, Kelly Clarkson went through the media wringer. Recently a new book, Young Profiles: Kelly Clarkson, was published for her younger fans – though some older ones may like it as well.

American Idol 2, March 19: You Can’t Win, by David Bloomberg: American Idol had a full hour to fill with its results show. Two group songs showed off the vocal talents of our performers, but it wasn't until near the end that we found out our bottom three. Could Julia survive another week?

Thoughts and Impressions on ‘American Idol’: March 18, by Sting7: Kimberley seeks redemption, Josh seeks a genre, Julia seeks to endear herself to America again, Clay seeks to show his range (there's more?), Kimberly Caldwell seeks her big, convincing performance, and Charles seeks to survive another week. My thoughts on a very satisfying week of performances.

From the Studio to the Live Stage: How to Get Out of the Shadows of Ruben and Clay, by Carl Esperance: The winner of the second American Idol will not come merely from having the best vocal ability, but also from being able to interact well with the audience and the viewers at home. Ruben and Clay have a head start because they definitely have the voices. Here is some advice for the others.

American Idol 2, March 18: Grooving to the Movies, by David Bloomberg: It's time for movie songs as Gladys Knight joins the judges and Kelly Clarkson sings a song from her own upcoming film. But what about the contestants? There are a few snags and a few greats. Where does Joshua Gracin fit in with his country version of an Aerosmith tune?

Is It Better to Be Bad than Mediocre?, by Brent Wolgamott: We’ve seen a number of theories about why Vanessa lost, but Brent thinks he’s hit on the main one: She wasn’t bad, but she wasn’t great. Read on for his explanation and his predictions of how others, including Carmen and Charles will do.

Why Vanessa Lost, by David Bloomberg: Vanessa's loss came as a surprise to almost everybody. She was not the worst singer. She did not mouth off like Julia. So what was it that caused voters to call in for others but not for her? Could it have been the "trained monkey" remark she made to Ryan? Why did Vanessa lose?

A Good Scare for Julia, by David Bloomberg: Vanessa was sent home, much to the surprise of most of us. But what about Julia, who has a second chance? She can never undo what she did on Tuesday night, but she can work towards making herself look better to viewers. Hopefully, the scare she received will send her in the right direction.

American Idol 2, March 12: Blame the Producers, by Sting7: The first to go has been decided. In the early stages of the competition like this, anything can happen, and the most innocent things can be devastating. Charles Grigsby, we learned, sings as he stocks shelves at his local grocery store. Will America send him back to that store and the real world?

American Idol 2, March 11: Make Me Motown, by Sting7: The first night in front of a live audience, the first theme is Motown. The first time we see some separate from the pack, others start to show cracks, and one individual should have their bags packed. Is America preparing to dismiss its favorite Marine, Joshua Gracin?

The Carmen Conspiracies, by David Bloomberg, with Sting7: TEver since Carmen was put into the Top 12 by Simon, conspiracy theories have flown all over the place. Was it because she’s a woman? Because she’s white? Because she’s 17? Let’s take a look at these and the rationale behind them.

American Idol 2, March 5: Justify My Love, by Sting7: The judges' decisions are final, as usual. America's decision is… delayed? There are surprises and complete shocks!

American Idol 2, March 4: Pretenders and Contenders, by Sting7: The judges have determined who was worthy of a second chance at becoming the new American Idol. The biggest surprise of the season was that Clay Aiken hadn't advanced already. What does he do with his new opportunity?

A REAL Wild Card at American Idol: How Would Stars Past Have Fared?, by Bruce Barker: Looking at the way the judging has gone so far, it’s enough to make one wonder how music stars of the past would have fared if facing this panel. Let’s see how it might have been if such people were in the Wildcard show…

Wild Speculation on the ‘American Idol’ Wildcard Twist, by RealityNewsOnline & Foxes On Idol Staff: What could the big "twist" for American Idol described by Simon be? We already know part of the answer, but we asked the writers from RealityNewsOnline and Foxes On Idol to speculate wildly about what the full answer might be.

Ex-Semi-Finalist Jaered’s Expulsion Explained… by Arrest for Assault, by David Bloomberg: Jaered Andrews had made it to the semi-final round of American Idol. But then, he suddenly disappeared without explanation. Fans were left scratching their heads and wondering what happened. Now we know. He has been arrested for an assault that took place when he was celebrating his semi-final placement. And the worst part is that another man died as a result of it.

American Idol 2, February 26: Gotcha!, by Sting7: In the most surprising "results show" of the season, a few finalists found themselves on an emotional rollercoaster, like Nasheka (right). Here's a hint, she didn't advance to the Top Ten. Here's another hint. That's not the end of the story!

American Idol 2, February 25: Dying Flowers and Sinking Ships, by Sting7: Judges were in good cheer, in spite of subpar performances from most. Juanita Barber (right, ego not pictured) says Simon and Randy "don't know singing," is there any chance America agrees with her?

Jim Verraros Discusses ‘American Idol’ and His Future, by David Bloomberg: Jim Verraros quickly became well-known to American Idol fans in the first series. He was slammed by Simon but made it into the top 10 anyway, and has had a whirlwind of activity with the concert tour and all that has brought him. More recently, he had an interview in The Advocate in which he "came out" to the general public. Jim tells us how all of this has affected him and what his are plans for the future.

American Idol “Best of the Worst” Special: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, by Bruce Barker: Besides the regular results episode Wednesday night, we also had a special hour of "the best of the worst" singers from the original auditions. Let's take a look - because it's better than having a listen!

American Idol 2, February 19: Whatever Works, by Sting7: The third group of eight failed to ignite the judges last night, but it's America's opinion that counts now. Two singing hopefuls will move on to the Top Ten and personality is the order of the day. Will Vanessa Olivarez showing Simon her butt capture her a spot?

American Idol 2, February 18: Group Dynamics, by Sting7: Question: When is "polished and professional" considered a bad thing? Answer: This week's American Idol performance show! Simon says they were good, but no sparks. In a week with no clear-cut favorite, can Equoia charm her way into the Top Ten?

Pulling Together the Newest Information on Frenchie’s Expulsion, by David Bloomberg: Tidbits about Frenchie’s expulsion from American Idol have popped up here and there since yesterday, including a few brief words from Frenchie herself. We’ve pulled this information together in one convenient location.

American Idol 2, February 12: This Year’s Model, by Sting7: Two more seats will be filled in the Top Ten this week. We already know that you just never know how America will vote! It appears that Ruben Studdard is the unanimous choice of the judges, while Rebecca Bond was "all wrong." What will America say?

More Details and Reader Feedback on Frenchie’s Expulsion, by David Bloomberg: More details have come out about what Frenchie did four years ago that eventually led to her dismissal from American Idol. More importantly, fans have been swift to make their reactions known regarding this turn of events.

Frenchie Davis Booted from ‘American Idol’ Without Giving the Audience a Say, by David Bloomberg: Frenchie Davis, one of the up-and-coming stars of American Idol 2, has been kicked off the show unceremoniously and without viewers even having a chance to get their say. Why? Because of something she did years ago.

American Idol 2, February 11: Jive Talkin’, by Sting7: The second group of eight did a lot of back-talking, but some of them did their talking with their performances! Kimberley Locke earned Simon's respect with spunk, but what about her performance?

Charles Grigsby: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, by Andrea Shuman: Charles surprised many of us by being one of the top two vote-getters in the first round of American Idol competition. Andrea takes a look at his singing and his choice of clothing ensemble on a night when another contestant took the heat for a bad outfit.

Julia vs. Kimberly – The “Rivalry” Pushes Julia Ahead, by David Bloomberg: Fox couldn't have planned it better. Julia and Kimberly fought when they were placed in the same foursome during an earlier elimination round. Julia came off as the victim while Kimberly came off a bit snotty. Now Julia has advanced to the final round while Kimberly has not - at least not yet. Coincidence? Yeah, right.

American Idol 2, February 5: Don’t Call It An Upset, by Sting7: The first group of eight semifinalists took their shot at becoming the American Idol. In a night Simon called "dismal" two will go on to the Top Ten and one is complete shock. Trenyse got good critiques from all the judges, but did America agree?

American Idol 2, February 4: Parental Guidance Not Recommended, by Sting7: The first group of eight step out to impress America. There are three name changes in this group, two Stevie Wonder songs, and one contestant who apparently needed parental guidance to handle Simon!

Potential Idols Who Don’t Fit the Mold – Can Simon Take It?, by Bruce Barker: England and the U.S. share more than just their history - they share fads and a great deal of music as well. Of course, American Idol came over from Great Britain and made quite a splash here. But will Americans turn the Idol concept upside down? Last year, Simon didn't let many outside his view of a pop star into the voting. This year is quite different. Will he be able to stand it if one of them wins?

American Idol 2 – Finally, Let the Games Begin!, by L. Doughtery: We've waded through hours and hours of bad auditions. Now it's finally time to get to the good stuff - the top 32, the voting, trying to find the next Kelly Clarkson! Will it be Julia? Kimberly? J.D.?

American Idol 2, January 29: Four Days to 32, by Sting7: How do you narrow 234 to 32? Four days of intense auditioning. There was good performances, bad decisions, dog bonding, cat fighting, crying Paula, furious Simon, all leading to the top 32. I pegged Kimberly Caldwell as an early favorite. Will she make it?

Reality News Update: Divas, Dancers, and Fakers on Cable, Plus a Marine on ‘American Idol’, by David Bloomberg: There’s all sorts of news in reality TV today. We have new shows debuting on cable that involve more singers, dancers, and people pretending to be something they aren’t. Plus, what’s the story on the marine who made it to Hollywood for American Idol?

American Idol 2, January 28: The Good, the Bad, and the WORST, by Sting7: Two cities to go! Atlanta and Nashville get their turn at producing the next American Idol. However, one particular contestant was anointed with a title all their own: The Worst Singer In the World!

The Original ‘American Idol’ Top 10: Where Are They Now?, by Sting7: After the premiere of the second American Idol, viewers got to find out what the first group of finalists have been up to since the show ended. Let's take a look at what our favorite Foxes On Idol are doing.

What American Idol 2 Contestants Need to Know, by David Bloomberg: As American Idol 2 begins and we find out who the semi-final 32 are, they will have only a few moments to win our votes in order to make it into the final 10. But you need to know how to do more than just sing if you want to be the next Kelly Clarkson.

RNO Roundtable: Should ‘American Idol’ Have an Age Limit?, by RealityNewsOnline Staff: You may have recently heard about a lawsuit filed against American Idol producers for age discrimination. Does the lawsuit have any merit? Should there be age limits in American Idol? David Bloomberg, C. Brian Devinney, Brian James, and Peggy Keller provide their thoughts.

American Idol 2, January 22: L.A. Talent, Detroit Bust, by Sting7: The search for an American Idol runs through Los Angeles and Detroit. While Los Angeles was bursting with talent, Detroit seemed to be devoid. Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are waiting to be knocked off their feet!

American Idol 2, January 21: It’s Back!, by Sting7: After months of anticipation, American Idol is finally back! And where would we begin if not with tens of thousands of people trying to be the next Kelly Clarkson? Of course, many are destined to be shown at this stage only because they are so absolutely horrible. But there are some good ones as well. Will our returning judges agree?

What American Idol 2 Contestants Probably… Um… Don’t Really Need to Know, by David Bloomberg & Sting7: We’ve already had an article on what American Idol 2 contestants really need to know. Here is some advice that didn’t quite make it into that article.

American Idol – Does Season Two Have a Chance?, by Linda Dougherty: We're just weeks away from the beginning of American Idol 2. Will the second season live up to the hype of the first, or will it face the same problems that Survivor did in moving from the summer to a regular season slot? Will the new contestants simply be compared to the originals? Will America listen in or plug its ears? And how will it affect the soon-to-be "former American Idol," Kelly Clarkson?

My American Idol 2 Audition, by Phil Kural: RealityNewsOnline contributor Phil Kural is more than just a great writer - he can sing, too. So when Philadelphia hosted an American Idol 2 audition, he was right there, sleeping in the cold and waiting for his chance. See how he did and what he thought of the experience!

What ‘American Idol 2’ Hopefuls Need to Know, by David Bloomberg: Since auditions for American Idol 2 begin in just a few days, potential Idols need to get themselves prepared for the big competition. But you need to know how to do more than just sing if you want to be the next Kelly Clarkson.

News on American Idol 2, Star Search, and The Show, by David Bloomberg: There is quite a bit of news today in the area of finding the country’s newest talent. We have American Idol 2, the return of Star Search, and a new show called, well, The Show. Read all about it, right here.

American Idol: Who Will Replace Dunkleman?, by David Bloomberg: It was recently announced that Brian Dunkleman will not be returning to his cohosting duties on American Idol 2. So who will replace him? We may not know, but we have some suggestions from the realm of American Idol and the world of reality TV in general.

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