Editing American Idol (section)

====Season 2 (2003)====
{{Main|American Idol season 2{{!}}''American Idol'' season 2}}
[[File:Ruben Studdar 2 cropped.JPG|right|thumb|upright|[[Ruben Studdard]], the [[American Idol season 2|second season]] winner]]
Following the success of the first season, the second season was moved up to air in January 2003. The number of episodes increased, as did the show's budget and the charge for commercial spots. Dunkleman left the show, leaving Ryan Seacrest as the lone host. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell returned as judges. [[Kristin Adams]] was a correspondent for this season.<ref>{{cite web |last=EXTRA |date=November 20, 2002 |title=American Idol |url=http://telepixtvcgi.warnerbros.com/dailynews/extra/11_02/11_20b.html}}</ref>

[[Corey Clark]] was disqualified during the finals for having an undisclosed police record; however, he later alleged that he and Paula Abdul had an affair while on the show and that this contributed to his expulsion. Clark also claimed that Abdul gave him preferential treatment on the show due to their affair. The allegations were dismissed by Fox after an independent investigation.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2005 |title=After probe, Paula Abdul to remain on 'Idol' |work=[[Today (NBC program)|Today]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/after-probe-paula-abdul-remain-idol-wbna8931265}}</ref> Two semi-finalists were also disqualified that year – Jaered Andrews for an arrest on an assault charge, and [[Frenchie Davis]] for having previously modeled for an adult website.<ref name="mtv – screening">{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |date=February 4, 2004 |title='American Idol' Steps Up Screening Process For Contestants |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484799/20040203/story.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821191117/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484799/20040203/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=Mtv}}</ref>

The season finale drew more than 38 million viewers, marking ''Idol'''s biggest audience ever for a single episode. [[Ruben Studdard]] emerged as the winner, beating [[Clay Aiken]] by a small margin. Out of a total of 24 million votes, Studdard finished just 134,000 votes ahead of Aiken. This slim margin of victory was controversial due to the large number of calls that failed to get through.<ref name="Your Vote Doesn't Count">{{cite web |last=Deborah Starr Seibel |date=May 17, 2004 |title=''American Idol'' Outrage: Your Vote Doesn't Count |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/153439-American_Idol_Outrage_Your_Vote_Doesn_t_Count.php}}</ref> In an interview prior to the fifth season, executive producer [[Nigel Lythgoe]] indicated that Aiken had led the fan voting from the wildcard week onward until the finale.<ref>{{cite web |last=Logan Martin |date=January 17, 2006 |title="It's Going to be a Very Strong Season, I Think": An Interview with American Idol Producer Nigel Lythgoe |url=http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article9455.art&page=6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713220342/http://www.realitynewsonline.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?mode=1&article=article9455.art&page=6 |archive-date=July 13, 2009}}</ref>

Both finalists found success after the show, but Aiken out-performed Studdard's coronation song "[[Flying Without Wings#Ruben Studdard version|Flying Without Wings]]" with his single release from the show "[[This Is the Night (Clay Aiken song)|This Is the Night]]", as well as in their subsequent album releases. The fourth-place finisher [[Josh Gracin]] also enjoyed some success as a country singer.<ref name="billboard 2012">{{cite magazine |last1=Gary Trust |last2=Jillian Mapes |last3=Kevin Rutherford |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Top 24 'American Idols' Of All-Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/reality-check/513688/top-24-american-idols-of-all-time |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>