Movie connections for
"American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) More at IMDb Pro »

Version of

"Pop Idol" (2001)
"Deutschland sucht den Superstar" (2002)
"Idool 2003" (2002)
"Idol stjörnuleit" (2003)
"Narodniy artist" (2003)
"À la recherche de la nouvelle star" (2003)
"Kochav Nolad" (2003)
"Australian Idol" (2003)
"Idols" (2003/I)
"Ídolos" (2003)
"Idols" (2003/II)
"Hrvatski Idol" (2004)
"Slovensko hladá SuperStar" (2004)
"Idol" (2004)
"New Zealand Idol" (2005)
"Philippine Idol" (2006)
"Latin American Idol" (2006)
"Eesti otsib superstaari" (2007)

Edited into

"American Idol Rewind" (2006)

Spin off

From Justin to Kelly (2003)
World Idol (2003) (TV)

Referenced in

"Saturday Night Live: Sarah Michelle Gellar/Faith Hill (#28.2)" (2002)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend update
Game Theory (2003) (V)
Sexy American Idle (2003) (V)
 -  title spoof
"Saturday Night Live: Queen Latifah/Ms. Dynamite (#28.14)" (2003)
 -  Mentioned in Live with Regis and Kelly skit
Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
"Saturday Night Live: Dan Aykroyd/Beyonce (#28.20)" (2003)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend Update
"Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin/Missy Elliot (#29.6)" (2003)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend Update
"The King of Queens: American Idle (#6.10)" (2003)
 -  title reference
"Saturday Night Live: Al Sharpton/Pink (#29.7)" (2003)
 -  Mentioned by Vasquez
"Saturday Night Live: Elijah Wood/Jet (#29.8)" (2003)
 -  Mentioned in Wake Up Wakefield
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Charlie's Angels' (2004) (TV)
 -  Foreshadowed during pitch meeting and rejected by Spelling
Brave New Girl (2004) (TV)
 -  "American Idol" is mentioned in the dialogue
"High Chaparall: (#2.8)" (2004)
 -  Mentioned by name
"Saturday Night Live: Snoop Dogg/Avril Lavigne (#29.19)" (2004)
 -  referenced on Weekend Update
"Saturday Night Live: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen/J-Kwon (#29.20)" (2004)
 -  Mentioned by paparazzi
"E! True Hollywood Story: American Idol" (2004)
 -  Story tackles the reality show.
"Da Ali G Show: Peace (#2.3)" (2004)
 -  Ali G asks if its true this show got more votes than the presidential election.
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: The Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (2004) (V)
 -  Triumph makes repeated jabs at Simon in the MTV VMAS segment and in the hidden features segment.
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
 -  At a wedding party a guest from America asks what's about to happen and is told "an Indian version of 'American Idol.'"
Meet the Fockers (2004)
 -  "Focker out!" line
Kathy Griffin Is... Not Nicole Kidman (2005) (TV)
 -  kathy talks about this being her fav show
"Saturday Night Live: Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson (#30.12)" (2005)
 -  Mentioned during the monologue
"Saturday Night Live: Ashton Kutcher/Gwen Stefani (#30.15)" (2005)
 -  Referenced on Weekend Update
"South Park: Wing (#9.3)" (2005)
 -  The boys sign Wing as her agents, then she goes on this show as a contestant.
"Saturday Night Live: Cameron Diaz/Green Day (#30.16)" (2005)
 -  Referenced in Weekend Update
"Saturday Night Live: Lindsay Lohan/Coldplay (#30.20)" (2005)
 -  Mentioned on Hardball
Bill Maher: I'm Swiss (2005) (TV)
 -  references the show in a joke
"The Office: Sexual Harassment (#2.2)" (2005)
 -  Ryan asks Packer if he is "a big William Hung fan."
"Stacked: Darling Nikki (#2.3)" (2005)
 -  Stuart and Skyler talk to each other on the phone about the show.
"E! True Hollywood Story: American Idol: Girls Rule" (2005)
 -  Story tackles the female winners of the reality show.
"The Boondocks: The Real (#1.8)" (2006)
 -  The White Shadow has to leave because he doesn't want to "miss 'the Idol'".
SherryBaby (2006)
 -  Sherry sings for her daughter and her family tells her, she should go on the show and would probably win.
"Real Time with Bill Maher: (#4.2)" (2006)
 -  Maher makes fun of Abdul's behavior
"Howard Stern on Demand: Best of 02/20-02/24, 2006" (2006)
 -  Howard compares Roger Ebert's show to the show
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2006)
 -  when larry plays the tape of the mayors confession, he tells him that "you were singing like one of them choir boys on American Idol"
"The Simpsons: Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife (#17.15)" (2006)
 -  American Idol holding pen on Fox lot
"Howard Stern on Demand: Artie Gambles/Sandra Bernhard" (2006)
 -  Howard loves the show
Wordplay (2006)
 -  American "Crossword" Idol Talent Show sign
"Saturday Night Live: Antonio Banderas/Mary J. Blige (#31.15)" (2006)
 -  Referenced during Weekend Update
Over the Hedge (2006)
"The Office: Drug Testing (#2.20)" (2006)
 -  Michael says, "Peace out, Seacrest."
"Howard Stern on Demand: Joey G Phoner/Live" (2006)
 -  Howard talks about the show
"Saturday Night Live: Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Paul Simon (#31.19)" (2006)
 -  Mentioned during cold opening
Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed (2006) (TV)
 -  mentioned by name
I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) (V)
 -  "You're gonna be the next American Idol"
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
 -  Andy says that she chatted about American Idol with Miranda
Material Girls (2006)
"Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: New Grade & Dodgeball (#3.1)" (2006)
 -  "Crubbs out!"
"ER: Ames v. Kovac (#13.5)" (2006)
 -  When Abby sings in the phone to her infant, Sam jokes that she is auditioning for American Idol
"Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera (#32.5)" (2006)
 -  mentioned by 'Saddam Hussein' (Alec Baldwin)
Sam and Max: Situation Comedy (2006) (VG)
 -  The show 'Embarrassing Idol' is a direct reference to 'American Idol'
"Saturday Night Live: Jeremy Piven/AFI (#32.11)" (2007)
 -  Mentioned during Weekend Update
"Tavis Smiley: (2007-01-23)" (2007)
 -  mentioned
Epic Movie (2007)
 -  Jack Swallows says he named his ship after Fantasia from this show
"Ugly Betty: I'm Coming Out (#1.14)" (2007)
 -  Betty mentions it when she meets Katherine McPhee
Music and Lyrics (2007)
 -  "We think it's going to be bigger than 'American Idol'."
"Saturday Night Live: Rainn Wilson/Arcade Fire (#32.14)" (2007)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend Update
"30 Rock: The Fighting Irish (#1.17)" (2007)
 -  Mentioned by Kenneth
"Saturday Night Live: Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Snow Patrol (#32.15)" (2007)
 -  Mentioned during Weekend Update
"The New Adventures of Old Christine: Strange Bedfellows (#2.17)" (2007)
 -  Christine watches it.
"Saturday Night Live: Peyton Manning/Carrie Underwood (#32.16)" (2007)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend Update
"Saturday Night Live: Scarlett Johansson/Björk (#32.18)" (2007)
 -  Referenced during the monologue
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Ending Happy (#7.21)" (2007)
 -  Brass asks Dreama "Do I look like Paula Abdul to you?" after she sings
Kickin It Old Skool (2007)
 -  when someone mentions this show, Justin has never heard of it
"The Simpsons: You Kent Always Say What You Want (#18.22)" (2007)
 -  "Entertaining America with hits like ..."
Knocked Up (2007)
 -  Ryan Seacreast mentions that the shoot can't take very long because he has to go do American Idol.
"The Starter Wife" (2007)
 -  The characters discuss the show at Joan's brunch.
"The Sopranos: Made in America (#6.21)" (2007)
 -  mentioned in dialogue
Dead Man's Hand (2007)
 -  " 'American Idol' rejects"
Assume the Position 201 with Mr. Wuhl (2007) (TV)
 -  still of the cast
"Tripping the Rift: Skankenstein (#3.1)" (2007)
 -  Dr. Skankenstein left to audition for this show
"Trading Spaces: Thrills and Spills" (2007)
 -  "Trading Spaces meets American Idol" said by narrator
Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell (2007) (TV)
 -  Mentioned in discussion of Paula Abdul.
"Eli Stone: Something to Save (#1.6)" (2008)
 -  Dr. Chen: "This is the second time you've seen your boss singing to you, Eli. What does that tell you?" Eli: "He should try out for American Idol."
Otis (2008) (V)
 -  Referenced in dialogue
"Saturday Night Live: Jonah Hill/Mariah Carey (#33.8)" (2008)
 -  Mentioned on Weekend Update
"The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-05-15)" (2008)
 -  This show is referenced in the mail segment.
"Just In with Laura Ingraham: (2008-07-03)" (2008)
 -  This TV show is referenced in the 'Art & Soul' segment.
The House Bunny (2008)
 -  Shelley mentions the judges after being asked who's she going to vote for

Featured in

William Hung: Hangin' with Hung (2004) (V)
 -  Features footage from the TV show
"The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-03-14)" (2008)
 -  Clips of this TV show are featured in a segment about an aleged gender discrimination complaint.
"The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-03-18)" (2008)
 -  Clips of this TV show are featured during the 'Pinheads & Patriots' segment.
"The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-04-14)" (2008)
 -  Clips of the 4/10/2008 episode were shown, featuring Jimmy Kimmel ripping into Simon Cowell.
"The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-04-30)" (2008)
 -  Clips of the 4/29/2008 show were featured with Paul Adbul making a blunder.
"I Love the New Millennium: (#1.3)" (2008)
 -  Shown on the 2002 episode

Spoofed in

Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special (2003) (TV)
 -  Spoofed during opening credits and after the break
"Saturday Night Live: Adrien Brody/Sean Paul & Wayne Wonder (#28.19)" (2003)
 -  Spoofed during the cold opening
Scary Movie 3 (2003)
 -  Simon Cowell appears to judge a rap freestyle battle
American Porn Star (2004) (V)
 -  gay porn parody
"Saturday Night Live: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey/G-Unit (#29.10)" (2004)
 -  Spooofed in American Idol skit
"Saturday Night Live: Megan Mullally/Clay Aiken (#29.11)" (2004)
 -  Spoofed in Weekend Update
"The Simpsons: Smart & Smarter (#15.13)" (2004)
 -  Simon himself participates in this episode and spoofs his own capricious remarks and assessments of toddlers, including Lisa's younger sister, competing to be enrolled into a school for toddler prodiges.
"Saturday Night Live: Janet Jackson (#29.17)" (2004)
 -  Spoofed with Simon Cowell as himself
Far Far Away Idol (2004) (V)
 -  Not only does Simon play himself, but this is an entire spoof of the show.
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jimmy Fallon (2005) (V)
 -  Spoofed during impressions montage
"Saturday Night Live: Paris Hilton/Keane (#30.11)" (2005)
 -  a sketch spoofs the show
"Robot Chicken: Plastic Buffet (#1.4)" (2005)
 -  Ryan Seacrest spoofs his role on the show
"Robot Chicken: The Deep End (#1.8)" (2005)
 -  a sketch titled "Zombie Idol" with dead rock stars
"Saturday Night Live: Johnny Knoxville/System of a Down (#30.18)" (2005)
 -  Spoofed during cold opening
"Reno 911!: Released from Prison (#3.1)" (2005)
 -  Dangle tries out for American Idol
"Reno 911!: Revenge of Mike Powers (#3.2)" (2005)
 -  Dangle tries out for American Idol
American Dreamz (2006)
 -  film revolves around a similar television show
"The Fairly OddParents: Fairy Idol (#6.8)" (2006)
 -  Most of the episode is a spoof of American Idol.
"Mad TV: (#11.21)" (2006)
 -  A Randy Jackson sketch that parodies him and American Idol
The Fairly OddParents in Fairy Idol (2006) (TV)
 -  Is a parody of this show using FOP characters.
"Saturday Night Live: Kevin Spacey/Nelly Furtado (#31.20)" (2006)
 -  Spoofed during monologue
Endurance Challenge: Mordred's Isle Episode 1 (2006) (V)
 -  One Character thought he was auditioning for that singing reality show
"Robins: (#1.7)" (2006)
 -  Cales spoofs his judging from swedish "Idol"
"Reba: As We Forgive Those... (#6.8)" (2007)
 -  Kelly Clarkson appears in the episode and Brock, Cheyenne, and Van pretend to be Randy, Paula, and Simon from American Idol and critique her weather report.
"Mad TV: (#12.12)" (2007)
 -  Nicole Parker plays Paula Abdul who is quite tipsy
"Saturday Night Live: Drew Barrymore/Lily Allen (#32.12)" (2007)
 -  spoofed during cold opening
"Mad TV: (#12.13)" (2007)
 -  The Judges don't like Ike and Bobby's Show opener
"Saturday Night Live: Molly Shannon/Linkin Park (#32.19)" (2007)
 -  Spoofed during Cold Opening
Sam & Max: Season 1 (2007) (VG)
 -  At one point in the game, Sam & Max enter the 'Embarrassing Idol' contest.
Meet the Spartans (2008)
 -  Leonidas kicks Sanjaya, Paula, Randy and Simon into the pit, and convinces Ryan to jump in after them; cast sings "I Will Survive" on the set at the end

---

Related Links

Trivia	Plot summary	FAQ
Crazy credits	Main details	IMDb trivia browser