ABOUT AMERICAN IDOL
This is the eighth season of the popular TV series “American Idol”. The show, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, allows viewers to vote on who will get the title and the recording contract that comes with it. Contestants are chosen through auditions that are held across the country each year. The show normally airs twice a week — Tuesday and Wednesday — on WHBQ-TV Channel 13. Contestants perform on Tuesdays and the judges offer comments after each performance. Viewers are allowed to vote by phone for two hours after the show ends. The results are revealed on Wednesday. Eventually the competition is narrowed down to two finalists who compete for the title.
PAST WINNERS
Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook.
VOTING TIPS (From americanidol.com)
Each contestant will be assigned his or her own toll-free number and text message short code number during the performance show each Tuesday. To vote, dial the telephone number of the contestant for whom you wish to vote.
Call during non-peak periods. Voting lines are open for two hours following each Tuesday broadcast. The highest call volumes for toll-free telephone voting generally occur within the first 30-45 minutes after the show ends and this is the time when viewers are most likely to get a busy signal. Waiting for non-peak times, such as the second hour of voting.
Try calling from a cell phone if you cannot get through using a land line, and vice versa. Both land lines and cell phone systems will experience line congestion, especially during peak periods, but try both if you can. Cell minutes will be used even though the call is toll-free.
AT&T Mobility subscribers can send the word ‘VOTE’ to the 4 digit number that corresponds to their contestant of choice (e.g., 5701, 5702, etc). Standard text messaging rates will apply depending on your wireless plan. If you are not an AT&T Mobility subscriber, you will not be able to vote via text message.
NEVER call a “900” number or provide your credit card in relation to voting for American Idol. If you call and hear a message to call a “900” number, or if you hear anything relating to a chat service or a request for a credit card number, you have dialed the wrong telephone number.
