American Juniors (group)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Music |
| Founded | June 3, 2003 |
| Founder | Simon Fuller |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Simon Fuller (creator), Nigel Lythgoe (producer), Ken Warwick (producer), Bruce Gowers (director) |
| Products | Reality singing contest, Music group American Juniors |
American Juniors was a reality singing contest from the United States that aired a single season on Fox between June 3 and August 19, 2003. As a derivative of American Idol, it showcased younger talent and involved the original creative team, including Simon Fuller as creator, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia, director Bruce Gowers, and producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick.
Distinct from American Idol, this show sought to assemble a vocal quintet instead of choosing an individual champion. This approach paralleled the British program S Club Search, which formed the group S Club Juniors. The band formed by this series—Taylor Thompson, Tori Thompson, Chauncey Matthews, Lucy Hale, and Danielle White—disbanded in 2005 following the disappointing commercial reception of their self-titled album.
Production took place in Los Angeles.
Auditions and Hollywood Week (June 3 and 10)
Out of two thousand aspiring young singers who auditioned, selected contestants along with their guardians were transported to Hollywood for "Hollywood Week." During this phase, the competition was reduced to 20 finalists who moved forward to the live shows.
Top 20 Semi-Final 1: Contestant Choice (June 17 and 18)
The "Top 20" semifinals were broadcast live over two nights, featuring half of the contestants competing for five spots in the Top 10 through viewer voting. The results were revealed on the following evening.
| Contestant | Song (Original artist) |
Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Burke | "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers) |
Top 5 |
| Kara Lieberman | "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (Olivia Newton-John) |
Eliminated |
| Kristinia DeBarge | "Reflection" (Christina Aguilera) |
Eliminated |
| AJ Melendez | "Isn't She Lovely?" (Stevie Wonder) |
Top 5 |
| Grace Leer | "To Sir with Love" (Lulu) |
Eliminated |
| Danielle White | "Colors of the Wind" (Vanessa L. Williams) |
Top 5 |
| Chauncey Matthews | "A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle) |
Top 5 (most votes) |
| Julie Dubela | "Rainy Days and Mondays" (The Carpenters) |
Eliminated |
| Tyler Foehr | "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (The Police) |
Eliminated |
| Katelyn Tarver | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) |
Top 5 |
Results
- Moved on to Top 10 Finals: Chauncey Matthews (highest votes), Danielle White, AJ Melendez, Morgan Burke, Katelyn Tarver
- Featured celebrity: Justin Guarini
- Group number: "Kids in America"
Top 20 Semi-Final 2: Contestants' Song Selections (June 24 and 25)
| Participant | Song (Original Performer) |
Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan McCoy | "Stupid Cupid" (Connie Francis) |
Reached Top 5 |
| Lucy Hale | "Get Here" (Brenda Russell) |
Advanced to Top 5 |
| Quinton Caruthers | "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder) |
Eliminated |
| Lauren Klena | "L-O-V-E" (Nat King Cole) |
Eliminated |
| Chantel Kohl | "Open Arms" (Journey) |
Advanced to Top 5 |
| Brennan Hillard | "That Thing You Do" (The Wonders) |
Eliminated |
| Mercedes Ruiz | "Can't Fight the Moonlight" (LeAnn Rimes) |
Eliminated |
| Taylor Thompson | "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (Betty Everett) |
Advanced to Top 5 |
| Canyon Grove | "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) |
Eliminated |
| Tori Thompson | "Let 'Er Rip" (Dixie Chicks) |
Top 5 (highest votes) |
Outcomes
- Moved on to Top 10 Finals: Tori Thompson (highest votes), Taylor Thompson, Jordan McCoy, Lucy Hale, Chantel Kohl
- Featured celebrity artist: Ruben Studdard
- Group number: "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
Top 10 Round (July 1 and 2)
Theme: Hits from 1969
| Participant | Song (Original Performer) |
Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| AJ Melendez | "My Cherie Amour" (Stevie Wonder) |
Returned to competition |
| Katelyn Tarver | "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Dionne Warwick) |
Returned to competition |
| Jordan McCoy | "More Today Than Yesterday" (Spiral Starecase) |
Returned to competition |
| Chantel Kohl | "You've Made Me So Very Happy" (Blood, Sweat & Tears) |
Finished Top 2 |
| Chauncey Matthews | "This Guy's in Love With You" (Herb Alpert) |
Returned to competition |
| Morgan Burke | "Build Me Up Buttercup" (The Foundations) |
Returned to competition |
| Lucy Hale | "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations) |
Returned to competition |
| Tori Thompson | "Bad Moon Rising" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) |
Placed in Top 3 |
| Danielle White | "Good Morning Starshine" (Hair stage musical) |
Returned to competition |
| Taylor Thompson | "Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) |
First place (voted into group) |
Outcomes
- Top 3 finalists: Chantel Kohl, Tori Thompson, Taylor Thompson
- Final two: Chantel Kohl, Taylor Thompson
- Selected for American Juniors Group: Taylor Thompson
- Group performance: "Make Your Own Kind Of Music"
- Guest artist: Tamyra Gray
- Encore by Taylor: "Proud Mary"
Top 9 (July 8 and 16)
- Theme: Hits from 1970
- Tori Thompson - "Love The One You're With" (Stephen Stills)
- Danielle White - "(They Long To Be) Close To You" (Burt Bacharach)
- Morgan Burke - "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" (Edison Lighthouse)
- Chauncey Matthews - "Hey There Lonely Girl" (Eddie Holman)
- Chantel Kohl - "Stony End" (Barbra Streisand)
- Jordan McCoy - "ABC" (Jackson 5)
- Katelyn Tarver - "We've Only Just Begun" (Carpenters)
- AJ Melendez - "I'll Be There" (Jackson 5)
- Lucy Hale - "Make It Easy On Yourself" (Dionne Warwick)
Outcomes
- Top three finalists: AJ Melendez, Tori Thompson, Chauncey Matthews
- Final two: Chauncey Matthews, Tori Thompson
- Advanced to American Juniors ensemble: Tori Thompson
- Group number: "United We Stand"
- Taylor Thompson's music video release: "Cheeseburgers For Me"
- Guest artist: Brian McKnight
- Tori's encore performance: "Love The One You're With"
Top 8 (July 23 and 24)
- Theme: Classics from 1962
- AJ Melendez - "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (Bobby Vee)
- Danielle White - "The Loco-Motion" (Little Eva)
- Chantel Kohl - "Don't Make Me Over" (Dionne Warwick)
- Chauncey Matthews - "Moon River" (Henry Mancini)
- Lucy Hale - "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (Neil Sedaka)
- Morgan Burke - "Can't Help Falling in Love" (Elvis Presley)
- Jordan McCoy - "Sealed with a Kiss" (Brian Hyland)
- Katelyn Tarver - "Tell Him" (The Exciters)
Outcomes
- Top three finalists: Lucy Hale, Chauncey Matthews, Chantel Kohl
- Final two: Chauncey Matthews, Chantel Kohl
- Advanced to American Juniors ensemble: Chauncey Matthews
- Group performance: "Do You Love Me"
- Taylor and Tori Thompson's collaborative video: Bring the House Down
- Special guest performer: Kelly Clarkson
- Chauncey's encore song: "Moon River"
Top 7 (July 29 and 30)
- Theme: Popular songs from 1980
- Katelyn Tarver - "On the Radio" (Donna Summer)
- Morgan Burke - "Rock With You" (Michael Jackson)
- Jordan McCoy - "Magic" (Olivia Newton-John)
- Danielle White - "Daydream Believer" (Anne Murray)
- AJ Melendez - "Still" (Commodores)
- Chantel Kohl - "Brass In Pocket" (Pretenders)
- Lucy Hale - "Call Me" (Blondie)
Outcomes
- Top three finalists: AJ Melendez, Lucy Hale, Chantel Kohl
- Final two: Lucy Hale, Chantel Kohl
- Advanced to American Juniors ensemble: Lucy Hale
- Group number: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
- Music video featuring Taylor Thompson, Tori Thompson, and Chauncey Matthews: Sundown
- Featured performer: Monica
- Lucy's encore piece: "Call Me"
Final Round (August 5 and 12)
- Theme: Songs by S Club
- Morgan Burke - "Bring the House Down"
- Danielle White - "Never Had a Dream Come True"
- AJ Melendez - "Alive"
- Jordan McCoy - "You Are the One"
- Chantel Kohl - "Sundown"
- Katelyn Tarver - "Have You Ever"
Outcomes
- Top three finalists: Danielle White, Chantel Kohl, AJ Melendez
- Final two: Danielle White, Chantel Kohl
- Last member selected for American Juniors group: Danielle White
- Individual performances:
- Morgan Burke – "Build Me Up Buttercup"
- Katelyn Tarver – "I'll Never Fall In Love Again"
- Chantel Kohl – "Open Arms"
- Jordan McCoy – "More Today Than Yesterday"
- Danielle White – "Colors of the Wind"
- AJ Melendez – "I'll Be There"
- Group rendition: "Kids In America"
- Encore performances:
- Danielle White – "Never Had a Dream Come True"
- Chantel Kohl – "Sundown"
- AJ Melendez – "Alive"
- Official debut performance of American Juniors group: "One Step Closer"
Concert Special (August 19)
- Performance of "Reach" by American Juniors
- Danielle White alongside American Juniors delivering "Never Had a Dream Come True"
- "Bring It All Back" performed by American Juniors
- Debbie Gibson presenting "Lost in Your Eyes"
- Lucy Hale and American Juniors performing "Have You Ever"
- Gladys Knight singing "If I Could"
- Collaborative performance by Gladys Knight and American Juniors
- American Juniors performing "One Step Closer"
- American Juniors performing "(You Got to Have) Friends"
Ratings and canceled second season
American Juniors achieved a top position among summer television programs, reaching approximately 11.9 million viewers on June 3. However, by late July, the audience had decreased by nearly 40%. Despite the drop, the show was praised for attracting a substantial teenage audience. Plans for a follow-up season in fall 2003 were made but later postponed to summer after the third season of American Idol. Ultimately, the second season was scrapped entirely.
Post-show developments
The final lineup of American Juniors consisted of Taylor and Tori Thompson, Chauncey Matthews, Lucy Hale, and Danielle White. This group appeared on the December 2003 special An American Idol Christmas. Their self-titled debut album, American Juniors, was released on October 6, 2004. The band dissolved in 2005 due to limited media exposure.
Among the contestants, Lucy Hale gained the most recognition, establishing a successful acting career highlighted by her role in Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017). She revisited her musical roots in 2014 with the country album Road Between, released under Disney Music Group’s Nashville division.
Katelyn Tarver launched her solo music career with the album Wonderful Crazy in 2005 and later appeared on Nickelodeon’s series Big Time Rush (2010–2013). She continues to work in both music and acting, including a 2019 appearance on NBC’s Songland.
Kristinia DeBarge, although not advancing to the finals, pursued a music career starting with her 2009 album Exposed, followed by additional recordings and acting projects.
Jordan McCoy secured a contract with Bad Boy Records but only produced demo tracks; she subsequently became part of a reformation of the girl group Dream.
In 2011, siblings Tori and Taylor Thompson participated as a duo on NBC’s The Voice, mentored by Cee Lo Green; they were eliminated during the initial live round.
Semifinalist Grace Leer auditioned for the eighteenth season of American Idol in 2020. She progressed to Hollywood with her rendition of "Crowded Table" but exited at the Top 11 stage.