The Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke with local resident Tamyra Gray after she grabbed more votes than anyone this week on ‘American Idol’ and moved on to the next round. Gray explained why she chose ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ by Jennifer Holliday for the competition saying her mother Rita Preston, loves it. After performing the song, Gray reached her mother by phone and “all she did was scream and then hang up the phone.”

Kelli Glover Says ‘It’s Not God’s Will’

June 21, 2002 - Access Hollywood spoke with ‘American Idol’ loser Kelli Glover following her emotional breakdown on the Wednesday show when she learned she hadn’t been selected to move on to the next round. Kelli said, “I was upset at first but then you think like, ‘Hey it’s not God’s will,’ There’s a higher being then us and you really can’t do anything about it. If it’s not your will — it’s not your will. If it’s not your time — it’s not your time. Maybe I’ll get something better then everybody else, you know.”

‘American Idol’ Losers Have No Hard Feelings

June 21, 2002 - Extra TV has another video clip on ‘American Idol’, this time talking to the losing contestants after Wednesday’s show. Surprisingly, most of them still had good things to say about Simon Cowell, including Natalie Burge who said, “It’s really tough to take those comments but if you can’t stand in the fire now, get out cause it’s hotter than ever.” Brad Estrin also had nice things to say about Simon, as the two were filmed arm-in-arm. No sign of the pouty Kelli Glover though.

‘American Idol’ Shrink Has Mr. Nasty Steamed

June 21, 2002 - The New York Post reports ‘American Idol’ keeps a psychologist on hand to help contestants deal with the rejection they encounter on the show. This hasn’t made the show’s harshest judge Simon Cowell pleased. “I think it’s all a load of garbage to be honest with you,” he told the Post. “It’s ridiculous, it’s pandering to people’s egos. They are not doing this [competition] to save the world, they’re doing it to benefit themselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

‘American Idol’ Finalist’s LiveJournal

June 20, 2002 - Jim Verraros, the most controversial selection to move on in ‘American Idol’ last night has his own LiveJournal, with his last posting on June 11th. Jim writes, “I’m nervous as all hell, yet excited to blow them all away. I think that if I weren’t going to get anything out of this, they would’ve cut my ass long before. But - they didn’t. Which means they see something in me, something talented, something personable, something real. So, watch the show again, and I hope you all see the same thing.”

Tamyra, Jim And Ryan Move On In ‘American Idol’

June 20, 2002 - Tamyra Gray, Ryan Starr, and Jim Verraros advanced in this week’s ‘American Idol’ competition. They’ll move on to the next round and you can chat with the trio on MSN later today at 1pm ET/10am PT.

Am I the only one who thought Tamyra, Kelli, and Chris were truly the most talented trio?

‘American Idol’ judge Simon Cowell was on the Howard Stern show this morning to talk about the show airing tonight. Howard told Simon that he thought he was gay when he heard him on the show. Simon says that he’s not gay and has never had gay sex. He admits he sounds gay on TV but he bangs tons of hot chicks. After seeing a picture of Simon’s ex-girlfriends Georgina Law, Howard was impressed. Simon played judge to several hopeful singers, including Stuttering John, who he rated only a 2 out of 10.

First 10 ‘American Idol’ Hopefuls Profiled

June 16, 2002 - The ‘American Idol’ official website has video clips, Q&A’s, and photos of the first 10 contestants featured on this week’s episodes. The 5 men and 5 women range in age from 17 to 24 years old. Watch this week’s episodes to vote and see who advances on FOX Tuesday at 9 PM and Wednesday at 9:30 PM.

‘American Idol’ Continues Strength Even Vs. NBA Finals

June 13, 2002 - Despite being pitted against the NBA championship game last night, FOX’s ‘American Idol’ saw its viewership increase 12 percent to 11 million in its hour-long airing at 9 p.m. Wednesday. The demographics were excellent too with 14 percent of 18- to 49-year-olds and 19 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds tuning in for the show’s second episode.

‘American Idol’ Wins Tuesday Night With 9.9 Million Viewers

June 13, 2002 - About 9.9 million viewers tuned in to the debut of ‘American Idol’ on Tuesday night, making it the most-watched show of the night. Mike Darnell, one of Fox’s executive vice presidents and its reality TV guru said the success has made the network decide to give the judges more power than was given during the British version of the show. Now that the off-key contestants have been removed, the draw won’t be the trainwreck, but the talent.

FOX Hopes American Idol Will Become Viral

June 10, 2002 - Stephen Battaglio of the New York Daily News spoke with American Idol judge Simon Cowell, producer Nigel Lythgoe, and senior vice president for FOX Preston Beckman about Tuesday’s debut of the American version of Pop Idol. Beckman said he hopes the audience will build as the show gets closer to picking a winner, “If we get the right 30 people. this will become viral and people will start to talk about it and watch it.”

Simon Cowell Predicts Big Things For American Idol Winner

June 7, 2002 - Extra TV spoke with those behind American Idol including Simon, who described the show saying, “The whole point of the show was to try and show the audience at home what an audition process is really like and it is not pleasant. And we tell them basically what we think of them.” Simon then boldly predicted, “Whoever wins this show will, I think, become the biggest star in the country.”

Simon Cowell Hires Bodyguards After Contestants Attack

May 30, 2002 - The Sun reports Simon has hired two bodyguards to protect him after being attacked by Pop Idol wannabes who were furious after Cowell insulted them during auditions. Cowell said, “On two separate occasions guys in their 20s waited until the end of their auditions and then tried to hit me. I had to be bundled into a car for my own safety by people who worked on the show. Luckily I wasn’t hurt.” Cowell added, “People are so much more aggressive in the US - and they don’t seem to be able to take my nastiness.”

Get A Sneak Peak Of ‘American Idol’

May 24, 2002 - Extra TV had a short video clip, since removed, from the ‘American Idol’ auditions that featured the show’s judges Paula Abdul, producer Randy Jackson, and the show’s founder Simon Cowell - dubbed ‘Big Nasty’. Cowell is featured on the clip telling pop hopefuls, “You will never ever EVER have a career in singing” and “There are only so many words to drag out of my vocabulary to say how awful that was.”

Hundreds Show Up For ‘American Idol’ Seattle Audition

April 25, 2002 - Ellen A Kim of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was at the Elliott Grand Hyatt on Tuesday which was the place to be for auditions to FOX TV’s upcoming series ‘American Idol’. About 160 young hopefuls were there by 9 a.m. for a chance to be selected in the cast of 10, with the winner getting a major recording contract. Read more.

American Idol Website Launched

April 19, 2002 - As reported earlier, the British Pop Idol phenomenon is hitting America with ‘American Idol’. Auditions will take place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta (What? No Orlando!?). The show premieres on Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30 PM on FOX. Meanwhile, the show’s creator Simon Cowell created headlines in The Sun this weekend with news that gay icon Elton John asked the host, “When are you going to come out and admit you’re gay?” Cowell looked lost for words before finally retorting, “If it means I end up with you, Elton, then never.” Read more.

Pop Idol’s Simon Cowell Headed To America

April 4, 2002 - The Sun reports Simon is headed off to America to prepare for the US version of the show that will be broadcast on FOX. He’ll make the journey from the UK in two weeks in a venture that will make him millions and has an insider revealing, “He has plans to be the next Anne Robinson.” Read more.