ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ruben Studdard, of Birmingham, Ala., right, was named the new “American Idol” on Fox TV last night. In a tight contest, Studdard captured 50.28 percent of the vote to seal his victory over Clay Aiken. Fox’s ultimate talent show drew 24 million votes on Tuesday night.
Alabama idol chosen
by television viewers
LOS ANGELES >> In a squeaker, the public crowned Alabama's soulful teddy bear Ruben Studdard as the Fox network's second "American Idol," defeating sweet singing Clay Aiken.
Isle Mom, daughter
Joanne Kong, a food-service teacher at Maui High School, and her 7-year-old daughter Sarina won our "Idol Pursuits" pick-the-winner contest.
pick winnersThe Kongs were the only voters among 142 to correctly select Ruben Studdard as No. 1, Clay Aiken in second place and Kimberly Locke in third. Most readers picked Studdard and Aiken in the top slots, but the third person was the wild card.
Kong, the mom, said they entered the contest without thinking much about it. "We just did it as something to do together."
She gave her daughter a pick -- Locke -- and she chose Aiken for herself. They agreed on Studdard.
Mother and daughter watched Tuesday night's show together and thought both did very, very well.
Kong said Sarina told her: "Well, I really wanted Kimberly, but they were both good."
Star-Bulletin staff
The cuddly mountain of soul edged out his lanky, spiky-haired rival for the title in viewer voting announced on last night's finale show at the Universal Amphitheater.
"I feel great, man! Thank y'all!" said Studdard, 24, of Birmingham, Ala. Then, filled with emotion, he sang his song of gratitude, "Flying Without Wings," as the crowd roared "RU-ben, RU-ben!"
"This is wonderful, man," Studdard added. "I've dreamed of being in this place my whole life and I'm finally here. I'm finally living out my dream."
Of 24 million phoned-in votes, 50.28 percent were for Ruben, Fox said. He finished 130,000 votes ahead of Aiken, 24, of Raleigh, N.C.
Studdard, with his silky voice and infectious grin, was a favorite from the beginning, and his victory was not a surprise although both singers had charmed audiences for more than four months with their very different personalities and vocal styles.
Still, conspiracy theorists on "Idol" Web sites complained about busy signals for both finalists while trying to vote. The voting was done during three hours Tuesday night.
David Bloomberg, editor of fan Web site foxesonidol.com, wrote on his site that if phone lines were at capacity for both candidates, that would have made the contest artificially close and skewed the results.
Nonetheless, both are guaranteed record contracts and built-in fan bases. (Original "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson has two top-10 pop hits).
The fact that this vote was watched like a presidential election shows how a seemingly innocuous talent contest has grown since its first incarnation last year. Fox ran 38 episodes this time around, up from 25 last season, and ratings have stayed high, in the 20 million-viewer range per show, helping the network generate more than $500 million in ad revenue. (CBS's "Survivor: Amazon" scheduled only 14 episodes.)
Studdard, who has been singing since the age of 3, was dubbed the "velvet teddy bear" earlier in the competition by celebrity judge Gladys Knight.
He could spark a frenzy with his winning smile, soulful voice and wardrobe of T-shirts emblazoned with the "205" telephone code for his hometown.
Aiken, 24, a former YMCA counselor, sang his way into the final 12 lineup courtesy of a wild card, despite being told at the outset he didn't have a pop-star image.
Tart-tongued British judge Simon Cowell, whose comments helped make "American Idol" a ratings hit for Fox TV, once told him, "I prefer you when you shut your eyes."
But Aiken was transformed by contact lenses and a spiky-haired makeover that complemented his pitch-perfect voice. He won over millions of viewers and inspired a fan club called the Claymates.
"I didn't get cut tonight -- I just didn't win," Aiken reasoned. "So I don't have to go home earlier than anyone else."
He called Studdard "one of the most talented people I know, one of the best friends I have. I'm so proud of him!"
Despite the result, both singers look destined for fame.
Judge Randy Jackson told reporters before the result was announced that Aiken and Studdard would go "straight to the top. They are both very talented. There is nothing in their way."
Organizers said a total of some 250 million votes were received during the current season, more than double those phoned in last year.
Controversy and scandal did nothing to hurt the show. Three contestants were thrown out in earlier rounds -- one for having posed topless on an Internet site, and two for failing to disclose criminal records.
For many, "Idol" became appointment TV.
When gathering friends for "Idol" parties, Jordan Myers, a 28-year-old ecologist from Atlanta, said he became "the volume Nazi." "Nobody is allowed to talk when anyone is singing," he said.
Fans enjoyed (or enjoyed mocking) host Ryan Seacrest's "right after these messages" teases, Randy Jackson's constant "dawg" references, Simon Cowell's smirks and Paula Abdul's absurdist cheer-leading.
And there are more competitions ahead: "American Juniors," which will spotlight talented children, premieres on Fox this fall. A third "American Idol" season is planned for next January, but fans may have to do without music industry executive Cowell, who said his role as a judge had become time-consuming.
"This may be the last time you see me on air in America. I want to go back to England. I want to produce," Cowell told reporters.
As for his infamous insults -- "I am very lucky. They come naturally," Cowell quipped.
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