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American Morning

"Idol" Countdown

Aired May 14, 2003 - 07:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Another one will bite the dust tonight, at least that's what they say on "American Idol." And the big question for the show's fans is: Which two will be left for next week's final?
Kimberly Locke is one of the three finalists who showed her stuff last night. The others are Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. And tonight, "American Idol" viewers will send one of them packing.

Kristen Baldwin, senior editor at "Entertainment Weekly," is here to tell us what she thinks.

Now, the host said right in the outset that this is definitely not about just image, but this is about singing performance.

KRISTEN BALDWIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Right.

WHITFIELD: And we certainly saw some great singing last night. We also saw a couple of surprises.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Let's begin with the good ones, I guess.

BALDWIN: OK.

WHITFIELD: Kimberly was up first.

BALDWIN: Yes, Kimberly did a great job. I think these were probably her best three performances, you know, of the season. She knows she has got some tough competition, and she was really working hard to prove herself.

WHITFIELD: And, in fact, even Simon gave her a glowing compliment...

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... saying, you know, you really worked hard, and each time you have gotten better...

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... and this time you really hit it right on.

BALDWIN: Yes, she really was at her best, and I think, you know, it could create an upset, but I'm not sure. WHITFIELD: All right, Ruben.

BALDWIN: Yes, Ruben was fabulous, as always. Every week, you know, week in and week out he is consistently great, and last night was no exception. He really won the crowd over.

WHITFIELD: I think Paul even gave him a standing ovation.

BALDWIN: Yes, yes, you know, they -- the judges love him, and he showed a little more versatility last night singing some upbeat stuff.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BALDWIN: And they loved him.

WHITFIELD: Now, what's up with Clay? I like Clay. I like him a lot.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And I think, you know, obviously America does, too. But, you know, that first opening tune, what a flop.

BALDWIN: Yes, well, you know, nobody could have made that song interesting. Clay did get off to a rough start with that song about "Vincent" Vango (ph). But he really rebounded well. And his performance at the end of "Unchained Melody," I mean, that was a home run. Little girls across the country were melting in their living rooms. So I think he really redeemed himself.

WHITFIELD: Yes, he said he sang his mom's favorite song...

BALDWIN: Yes, yes.

WHITFIELD: ... by the Righteous Brothers.

BALDWIN: Exactly. And he really performed the next two songs well. He knew that he had kind of flopped in the beginning, but that was a tough song. So, I think he redeemed himself by the end.

WHITFIELD: And something that makes this "American Idol" final so great, or at least with these three, that they really do represent some true talent, don't they?

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And it is that image is everything.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: But all of them come to the table with an interesting image of their own.

BALDWIN: Exactly. You know, Clay is kind of geeky, and Kimberly isn't your typical waist, and Ruben obviously is a big guy. But they all -- you know, they've got some good personality and some talent, and that's -- it's nice to see that America is rewarding that as opposed to just a perky, pretty blond girl.

WHITFIELD: And this "American Idol" just isn't over yet.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: I saw they've got teases for the "American Idol Junior."

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And of course, there probably will be another one of these as well.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. You know, this show is a juggernaut for FOX. It has revitalized their ratings and helped them launch new shows. Like you said, they're doing "American Junior." This is going to be on the schedule for FOX as long as possible. They want, you know, to keep it a permanent fixture, because it's really helping them survive.

WHITFIELD: So, tonight is the night we're going to find out who is eliminated. What's your best guess?

BALDWIN: Kimberly. You know, I love her. I think she's a good singer, a solid performer, but I have to say she doesn't have the charisma or the stage presence to compete with Ruben and Clay, both of whom just ooze star quality. So I think if somebody has to go, I think it's going to be her.

WHITFIELD: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired May 14, 2003 - 07:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Another one will bite the dust tonight, at least that's what they say on "American Idol." And the big question for the show's fans is: Which two will be left for next week's final?
Kimberly Locke is one of the three finalists who showed her stuff last night. The others are Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. And tonight, "American Idol" viewers will send one of them packing.

Kristen Baldwin, senior editor at "Entertainment Weekly," is here to tell us what she thinks.

Now, the host said right in the outset that this is definitely not about just image, but this is about singing performance.

KRISTEN BALDWIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Right.

WHITFIELD: And we certainly saw some great singing last night. We also saw a couple of surprises.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Let's begin with the good ones, I guess.

BALDWIN: OK.

WHITFIELD: Kimberly was up first.

BALDWIN: Yes, Kimberly did a great job. I think these were probably her best three performances, you know, of the season. She knows she has got some tough competition, and she was really working hard to prove herself.

WHITFIELD: And, in fact, even Simon gave her a glowing compliment...

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... saying, you know, you really worked hard, and each time you have gotten better...

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ... and this time you really hit it right on.

BALDWIN: Yes, she really was at her best, and I think, you know, it could create an upset, but I'm not sure. WHITFIELD: All right, Ruben.

BALDWIN: Yes, Ruben was fabulous, as always. Every week, you know, week in and week out he is consistently great, and last night was no exception. He really won the crowd over.

WHITFIELD: I think Paul even gave him a standing ovation.

BALDWIN: Yes, yes, you know, they -- the judges love him, and he showed a little more versatility last night singing some upbeat stuff.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BALDWIN: And they loved him.

WHITFIELD: Now, what's up with Clay? I like Clay. I like him a lot.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And I think, you know, obviously America does, too. But, you know, that first opening tune, what a flop.

BALDWIN: Yes, well, you know, nobody could have made that song interesting. Clay did get off to a rough start with that song about "Vincent" Vango (ph). But he really rebounded well. And his performance at the end of "Unchained Melody," I mean, that was a home run. Little girls across the country were melting in their living rooms. So I think he really redeemed himself.

WHITFIELD: Yes, he said he sang his mom's favorite song...

BALDWIN: Yes, yes.

WHITFIELD: ... by the Righteous Brothers.

BALDWIN: Exactly. And he really performed the next two songs well. He knew that he had kind of flopped in the beginning, but that was a tough song. So, I think he redeemed himself by the end.

WHITFIELD: And something that makes this "American Idol" final so great, or at least with these three, that they really do represent some true talent, don't they?

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And it is that image is everything.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: But all of them come to the table with an interesting image of their own.

BALDWIN: Exactly. You know, Clay is kind of geeky, and Kimberly isn't your typical waist, and Ruben obviously is a big guy. But they all -- you know, they've got some good personality and some talent, and that's -- it's nice to see that America is rewarding that as opposed to just a perky, pretty blond girl.

WHITFIELD: And this "American Idol" just isn't over yet.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: I saw they've got teases for the "American Idol Junior."

BALDWIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And of course, there probably will be another one of these as well.

BALDWIN: Absolutely. You know, this show is a juggernaut for FOX. It has revitalized their ratings and helped them launch new shows. Like you said, they're doing "American Junior." This is going to be on the schedule for FOX as long as possible. They want, you know, to keep it a permanent fixture, because it's really helping them survive.

WHITFIELD: So, tonight is the night we're going to find out who is eliminated. What's your best guess?

BALDWIN: Kimberly. You know, I love her. I think she's a good singer, a solid performer, but I have to say she doesn't have the charisma or the stage presence to compete with Ruben and Clay, both of whom just ooze star quality. So I think if somebody has to go, I think it's going to be her.

WHITFIELD: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.