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Norway Rules "World Idol"
Must be something in the fjords.
In a global showdown for pop domination this holiday season, Norway was victorious.
The land of the midnight sun's Kurt Nilsen took the World Idol title on New Year's Day during a two-part televised special that featured a face-off between the 11 winners of American Idol-style competitions from around the globe.
Kelly Clarkson, representin' for the U.S., came in a close second with Belgium's Peter Evrard rounding out the top three. The amateur hour also featured guest performances by Elton John and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham.
The singing and booty shaking portion of the crooning contest began on Christmas Day. While Clarkson was a popular fave with the international panel of judges, Nilsen, a 25-year-old plumber, made a less positive impact.
A wise-cracking Australian judge told the gap-toothed contender he looked like a Hobbit and would be a shoo-in if competing in "Middle-earth."
But the toothy smile obviously didn't bother TV viewers who were taken with Nilsen's rendition of U2's "Beautiful Day." He placed first in nine of the 10 eligible voting countries--voters were not allowed to cast ballots for their own homegrown talents.
"This is totally amazing," said a tearful Nilsen. ''I love you guys,'' he told his 10 challengers.
Nilsen, who won the Norwegian version of Pop Idol in May, saw his first single, ''She's So High,'' go straight to number one on the Norwegian singles chart. His most recent victory could increase record sales and bragging rights, but that's where the honor ends--there was no tangible prize associated with claiming the World Idol title.
Despite the hype, Fox didn't dominate Chirstmas day ratings with only 6.5 million tuning in for the first episode (not that folks were roasting chestnuts either, instead they were watching repeats of CSI and Cold Case and pro basketball). The count is still out on the total number of viewers who tuned in for the concluding New Year's broadcast, but it's unlikely to reach the 38 million mark achieved when second season winner Ruben Studdard was crowned.
Programming execs are undoubtedly hoping interest in the show will resume when the third season of American Idol kicks off later this month. The show, which premieres with one-hour episodes on three consecutive nights, January 19, 20 and 21, kicks off with ridiculously bad audition outtakes that'll have even the kindest souls channeling their inner Simon.
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