// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var idol_moments = new Array(); idol_moments.ID = "idol_moments"; idol_moments.sPubDate = "5/25/2004 9:27:13 PM GMT"; idol_moments.mainsectionID = "LIV" idol_moments.navsectionID = "television" idol_moments.appFmt = 2; idol_moments.itemsPerPage = 9; idol_moments.appWidth = 460; idol_moments.appHeader = "The highs and lows of 'American Idol'"; idol_moments.appDeck = "There have been high notes, low notes and a few sour ones in this season’s “American Idol.” Click the tabs below for a look back at some moments that proved unforgettable, like it or not."; idol_moments.appFooter = "Source: Associated Press"; idol_moments.appNavStyle = 3; idol_moments.nLinkCols = 2; idol_moments.sNavLinkStyle = "font-weight:bold;font-size:14px;"; idol_moments.appLayout = 1; idol_moments.copyMargin = 9; idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","HIGHLIGHTS","Fantasia Barrino puts her spunky, R&B style on hold for a moving version of “Summertime.” She introduces a new generation to the Gershwin classic in what Randy Jackson deemed the series’ best performance yet.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","La Toya London shows voters her indomitable spirit — and how darn impressive she is — by outdoing Streisand on “Don’t Rain on My Parade” moments after being voted off.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Simon Cowell apologizes! The acid-tongued judge, who called 16-year-old Diana DeGarmo too young to compete, tells her, “I’m gonna take that back” after she commandingly belts out “This Is It” on disco night.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Redheaded John Stevens takes an unusual approach to retro crooning by mixing the cool of Sinatra and Martin with the bland stylings of Pat Boone. And, as even Cowell acknowledges, he’s a heck of a nice teenager.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Barry Manilow proves he’s a mensch of a pop star, spending an entire week with the contestants as they try to master his material.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Gloria Estefan is another celebrity trouper, lending her encouragement and Miami Sound Machine band to the effort (but salsa music sinks contestants).

","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","To lose is to win as the finalists who are voted off embark on whirlwind publicity tours that include endless TV talk shows.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","The program routinely places among the top five shows in the Nielsen ratings, giving struggling Fox TV something to live for and unparalleled exposure for unknown youngsters.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("",""," ","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","LOWLIGHTS","William Hung proves that people like to rubberneck at accidents on stage with a “She Bangs” song-and-dance routine that’s truly mesmerizing in its awfulness. A record deal follows as oddity trumps talent.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","“American Idol” is pre-empted for a speech by President Bush. Wartime policy over a pop culture contest? Outrageous.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Jennifer Hudson, expected to join Barrino and London in a three-diva final showdown, is voted off as Hawaii fervor keeps native daughter Jasmine Trias in the contest.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","It’s another Hawaiian aloha-ha on a superior singer as Trias stays and London goes.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Paula Abdul appears with a variety of injuries throughout the season, including one requiring a sling, making us fear for her safety. One high point: a matching, rhinestone-studded bandage and dress outfit.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","A tally shows that aspiring idols sang Whitney Houston songs 1,152 times during nationwide auditions for season three alone. Enough, already.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Fox finds more and more ways to milk the franchise with “specials” that aren’t very special and which tend to include endless replays of bad auditions. Give the poor saps a break.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Congested phone lines create major headaches for voters, who have to dial again and again and often can’t get through. Fox TV smiles a Cheshire cat grin: It just proves the show’s popularity.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); idol_moments[i++] = new Array("","","Group hugs end each show. C’mon folks, this is a contest.","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); // END editorial data