American Idol is a talent contest where twelve finalists (six men and six women) from America compete by singing any song they like, similar to "Star Search". After each performance, judges Abdul, Jackson, and Cowell critique the song choice.
At the end of each show, America votes for their favorite finalist using AT&T (now Cingular Wireless) or any other cellular phone. The contestant with the least votes is eliminated each week until the winner is crowned as "American Idol", receiving a recording contract worth up to $1,000,000.
The runner-up and other finalists also receive recording contracts, making American Idol a platform for aspiring singers to launch their careers.