March 15, 2006 (2006-03-15) – May 21, 2009 (2009-05-21)
American Idol Extra is atelevision show that was shown on theFox Reality Channel andStar! and billed as a show that would reveal "the backstage drama of what really happens" onAmerican Idol.[1] The program featured the first full-length interview with the most recent eliminated contestant and various behind-the-scenes material.
It was hosted byJillian Reynolds and co-hosted byAce Young, a former contestant of the show. Jillian interviewed each week's eliminated contestant as well as Idol contestants from years past. The show included exclusive behind the scenes packages from the Idol show as well as live, in studio, performances by former Idols. JudgesSimon Cowell,Randy Jackson,Paula Abdul andKara DioGuardi were periodically interviewed after the results show tapings.
The second season (2007) brought some changes.JD Roberto became the host[2] and the show became exclusive toFox Reality Channel. In addition, the show is now taped on a stage ofCBS Television City adjacent to theIdol studio in front of a live studio audience (the stage was also used for The Price is Right).
In season 4 (2009),Jillian Reynolds replaced Roberto as host andAce Young replaced Glocksen and Maroulis as co-host.
The program did not return in2010 because Fox Reality was in transition toNational Geographic Wild. The exit interview moved toThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, hosted byDeGeneres, who was a judge that season. DeGeneres has since left the show and the first exit interview is now conducted onLive with Regis and Kelly. No other elements of this program have survived.
Weekly segments include interviews with audience members who watched the performance show, interviews with pastIdol contestants, a trivia contest, and a viewer question submitted bytext messages fromAT&T (formerlyCingular) subscribers.
The top 6 are asked to give their first thoughts onRod Stewart, asked what they were doing a year ago, what 3 words they would use to describeRandy Jackson, and how they would describe Ace.
The top 6 are asked what title they'd use if they had to write a love song about their life. The top 5 are asked 3 words to describe their time onAmerican Idol, and for their opinion on Kellie.
The top 4 talk about the worst birthday present they could ever get, a CD people would be surprised they own, and their thoughts on Paris.
Season 2 top 6 finalistCarmen Rasmusen talks about her struggles to get a record deal and her first album.
Mikalah talks to wardrobe stylist Miles Siggins about the clothes worn for the top 5 performance show.
Ty talks to season 1 runner-upJustin Guarini and season 5 top 10 finalist Lisa Tucker, and Lisa returns to the children's theater where she got her start.
Michael Johns made a special surprise for Carly Smithson. He also interviewed about his thoughts from the judges, his previous appearances, his upcoming appearance for the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and his song choices that he should have sung after he got eliminated.
Like Michael Johns,Kristy Lee Cook made a special surprise for Brooke White. She also interviewed about her previous appearances, and her song choices that she should have sung after she got eliminated.
JD Roberto had an exclusive interview with Paula Abdul about the controversy between her and Jason Castro after the first performance.
The 10 eliminated finalists were congratulated to David Archuleta and David Cook for being the Final 2, andJD Roberto finally interviewed Syesha Mercado as the last eliminated finalist on the show.
JD Roberto had last interviews with the eliminated Top 12 Finalists about their finale performances and feedbacks for the Final 2. He also had an exclusive one-on-one interview separately withDavid Archuleta andDavid Cook.
