The 30 semifinalists for Fox's "American Idol" series are set to reunite in a Sept. 23 two-hour special, which currently carries the working title "American Idol in Las Vegas." The program, featuring performances from the contestants, will be taped before a live studio audience at the city's MGM Grand casino/hotel. Beginning Oct. 8, an unspecified number of the finalists will hit the road for a six-week U.S. arena tour.
Earlier this week, the "American Idol" field was whittled down to two finalists -- Justin Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., and Kelly Clarkson, 20, of Burleson, Texas -- during an expanded one-hour episode. Along with show judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, the finalists appeared during last night's (Aug. 29) MTV Video Music Awards to present the best new artist trophy to Avril Lavigne. The winner of "American Idol" will revealed in the show's two-hour season finale, which airs Wednesday (Sept. 4) on Fox.
"American Idol" has been the breakout hit of the usually dreary summer television season, with ratings for last week's episode reaching a new high of more than 15 million U.S. viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. RCA Records will release an album from the show's winner on Nov. 26, and has a compilation of songs by the 10 "American Idol" finalists due Oct. 1.
Here are the "American Idol" tour dates:
Oct. 8: San Diego (Cox Arena)
Oct. 9: Phoenix (America West Arena)
Oct. 12: San Antonio, Texas (Freeman Coliseum)
Oct. 13: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
Oct. 14: Houston (Compaq Center)
Oct. 16: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Oct. 17: Detroit (Fox Theatre)
Oct. 18: Cincinnati (US Bank Arena)
Oct. 19: Nashville (Gaylord Entertainment Center)
Oct. 21: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Oct. 23: Tampa, Fla. (Ice Palace)
Oct. 24: Sunrise, Fla. (NCR Center
Oct. 27: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Coliseum)
Oct. 28: Worcester, Mass. (Centrum)
Oct. 29: Albany, N.Y. (Pepsi Arena)
Nov. 1: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (First Union Arena)
Nov. 2: Atlantic City, N.J. (Mark Etsess Arena)
Nov. 3: Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)
Nov. 5: St. Louis (Savvis Center)
Nov. 7: Indianapolis (Conseco Fieldhouse)
Nov. 8: Cleveland (CSU Convocation Center)
Nov. 10: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)
Nov. 12: Denver (Magness Arena)
Nov. 15: Anaheim, Calif. (Arrowhead Pond)
Nov. 16: Sacramento, Calif. (ARCO Arena)
Nov. 17: San Jose, Calif. (Compaq Center)
Nov. 19: Portland, Ore. (Rose Garden)
Nov. 20: Seattle (Key Arena)
Earlier this week, the "American Idol" field was whittled down to two finalists -- Justin Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., and Kelly Clarkson, 20, of Burleson, Texas -- during an expanded one-hour episode. Along with show judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, the finalists appeared during last night's (Aug. 29) MTV Video Music Awards to present the best new artist trophy to Avril Lavigne. The winner of "American Idol" will revealed in the show's two-hour season finale, which airs Wednesday (Sept. 4) on Fox.
"American Idol" has been the breakout hit of the usually dreary summer television season, with ratings for last week's episode reaching a new high of more than 15 million U.S. viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. RCA Records will release an album from the show's winner on Nov. 26, and has a compilation of songs by the 10 "American Idol" finalists due Oct. 1.
Here are the "American Idol" tour dates:
Oct. 8: San Diego (Cox Arena)
Oct. 9: Phoenix (America West Arena)
Oct. 12: San Antonio, Texas (Freeman Coliseum)
Oct. 13: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
Oct. 14: Houston (Compaq Center)
Oct. 16: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Oct. 17: Detroit (Fox Theatre)
Oct. 18: Cincinnati (US Bank Arena)
Oct. 19: Nashville (Gaylord Entertainment Center)
Oct. 21: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Oct. 23: Tampa, Fla. (Ice Palace)
Oct. 24: Sunrise, Fla. (NCR Center
Oct. 27: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Coliseum)
Oct. 28: Worcester, Mass. (Centrum)
Oct. 29: Albany, N.Y. (Pepsi Arena)
Nov. 1: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (First Union Arena)
Nov. 2: Atlantic City, N.J. (Mark Etsess Arena)
Nov. 3: Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)
Nov. 5: St. Louis (Savvis Center)
Nov. 7: Indianapolis (Conseco Fieldhouse)
Nov. 8: Cleveland (CSU Convocation Center)
Nov. 10: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)
Nov. 12: Denver (Magness Arena)
Nov. 15: Anaheim, Calif. (Arrowhead Pond)
Nov. 16: Sacramento, Calif. (ARCO Arena)
Nov. 17: San Jose, Calif. (Compaq Center)
Nov. 19: Portland, Ore. (Rose Garden)
Nov. 20: Seattle (Key Arena)
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