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The Best Episodes of American Idol Season 3

Every episode of American Idol Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Idol Season 3!

Binge this in 1d 11h•Peaking at 5.8/10

Each year, hopeful singers from all over the country audition to be part of one of the biggest shows in American television history. Who will become the new American Idol?

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    American Idol Season 3 Episode 1 - First Show, First Recap
    4.7/10(43 votes)

    #1 - First Show, First Recap

    S3:E1

    In The Beginning of the Journey on AI3, we start out in New York city, where contestants start to compete...most fail, but 29 make it to the next round!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Idol Season 3 Episode 2 - The Journey Continues!
    4.4/10(27 votes)

    #2 - The Journey Continues!

    S3:E2

    The auditions continue as the judges move on to Atlanta. And just when they think it couldnt get any worse, well.....it does

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Idol Season 3 Episode 3 - Night Three!
    4.4/10(27 votes)

    #3 - Night Three!

    S3:E3

    Embarassment in Houston. Only 13 people out of the thousands that auditioned made it. Wow...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Idol Season 3 Episode 4 - Finally! A Show About California!
    5.0/10(40 votes)

    #4 - Finally! A Show About California!

    S3:E4

    Once again, hopefuls compete in Los Angeles and San Francisco to be the next American Idol. Not much else to say...the talent was not there.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Idol Season 3 Episode 5 - Mokolokilikilanilaki! It's Hawai'i!
    4.9/10(28 votes)

    #5 - Mokolokilikilanilaki! It's Hawai'i!

    S3:E5

    The contestants are now in Hawaii, battling it out for the trip to Hollywood. People from all over the country come to Hawaii to see if they've got it, but for most people, it turns out they don't.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. American Idol Season 3 Episode 6 - The Road is to Hollywood! (Is Paved with Broken Dreams. And Asphalt.)
    5.0/10(27 votes)

    #6 - The Road is to Hollywood! (Is Paved with Broken Dreams. And Asphalt.)

    S3:E6

    Today's show is about the lost contestants that auditioned, but we never got to see...some pretty bad ones, i'm glad that we didn't see them at first...Ouch!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. American Idol Season 3 Episode 7 - You're Going to Hollywood! (For a Little Bit, At Least.)
    5.2/10(34 votes)

    #7 - You're Going to Hollywood! (For a Little Bit, At Least.)

    S3:E7

    Now it's time for those 117 finalists to show their stuff, but not literally. After some bad lyrics to made up songs, MANY MANY MANY forgotten lyrics, and goofiness, the finalists are trimmed down to 87, as the search for the American Idol 2004 begins!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. American Idol Season 3 Episode 8 - 87 - People Not Good Enough = 32 Finalists!
    5.0/10(37 votes)

    #8 - 87 - People Not Good Enough = 32 Finalists!

    S3:E8

    One again, the margin of finalists is getting smaller, now narrowed down from 87 to 32. After many forgotten words (again) by both the guys and girls groups, the top 32 doesn't look all that impressive...or does it?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. American Idol Season 3 Episode 9 - Sing!
    4.9/10(37 votes)

    #9 - Sing!

    S3:E9

    THESE 8 PEOPLE COMPETE FOR A 2 PERSON SPOT IN THE FINAL GROUP OF 12! Who will win it..? Performing: 1) Diana Degarmo - I've Got the Music In Me 2) Marque Lynch - The Wind Beneath My Wings 3) Ashley Thomas - Crazy 4) Katie Webber - Orange Colored Sky 5) Erskine Walcott - Open Arms 6) Jennifer Hudson - Imagine 7) Matthew Metzger - Walkin' In Memphis 8) Fantasia Barrino - Something to Talk About

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. American Idol Season 3 Episode 10 - Two Will Be Happy. Six Will Be Sad. Lots Will Be Watching.
    5.4/10(33 votes)

    #10 - Two Will Be Happy. Six Will Be Sad. Lots Will Be Watching.

    S3:E10

    The first two people to move on to the final group of 12 are... Diana DeGarmo! & Fantasia Barrino!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. American Idol Season 3 Episode 11 - Sing Again!
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #11 - Sing Again!

    S3:E11

    Performing Tonight Jesus Roman- Back At One Lisa Leuschner- Sweet Thing Kara Master- I'm Outta Love Briana Ramirez-Rial- Don' t Know Why Matthew Rogers- What You Won't Do for Love Noel Roman- This I Promise You Marisa Joy- Some Kind of Wonderful Camile Velasco- One Last Cry

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. American Idol Season 3 Episode 12 - The Final Decision...But The Right One?
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #12 - The Final Decision...But The Right One?

    S3:E12

    The second two people to move on to the final group of 12 are... Camile Velasco & Matthew Rogers

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. American Idol Season 3 Episode 13 - I'm Back, Baby!
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #13 - I'm Back, Baby!

    S3:E13

    Performing Tonight: Elizabeth Letendre: I Wanna Dance With Somebody Eric Yoder: Still Of the Night Amy Adams: Power of Love Jon Peter Lewis: Tiny Dancer Charly Lowry: Chain of Fools Jonah Moananu: Leah Labelle: I Have Nothing Latoya London: All By Myself

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. American Idol Season 3 Episode 14 - You! Over here! With the rest of the finalists!
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #14 - You! Over here! With the rest of the finalists!

    S3:E14

    The next two people to advance to the top 12 are.... LaTOYA LONDON and... AMY ADAMS

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. American Idol Season 3 Episode 15 - Uncut, Uncensored and Untalented
    5.3/10(33 votes)

    #15 - Uncut, Uncensored and Untalented

    S3:E15

    This special is dedicated to all of the contestants that didn't make it or were never seen. Included in this show is the now famous William Hung, who did "She Bangs," now somewhat of a 'celebrity.'

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. American Idol Season 3 Episode 16 - Group Four! Then the Wild Card!
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #16 - Group Four! Then the Wild Card!

    S3:E16

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. American Idol Season 3 Episode 17 - Finally! Finalists!
    5.6/10(32 votes)

    #17 - Finally! Finalists!

    S3:E17

    Performing Tonight Susie Vulaca- Unbreak My Heart Heather Piccinini- New Attitude John Preator- That's What Love Is All About Tiara Purifoy- I Wanna Dance With Somebody John Stevens- She's Always A Woman Jasmine Trias- Run To You George Huff- Always & Forever Lisa Wilson- Come To My Window

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. American Idol Season 3 Episode 18 - Wild Card Round (1)
    4.9/10(34 votes)

    #18 - Wild Card Round (1)

    S3:E18

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. American Idol Season 3 Episode 19 - Wild Card Round (2)
    4.8/10(24 votes)

    #19 - Wild Card Round (2)

    S3:E19

    These people will be preforming: * Jennifer Hudson (Group 1) * Katie Webber (Group 1) * Marque Lynche (Group 1) * Matthew Metzger (Group 1) * Lisa Leuschner (Group 2) * Jon-Peter Lewis (Group 3) * Elizabeth Letendre (Group 3) * Leah Labelle (Group 3) * Eric Yoder (Group 3) * Susan Vulaca (Group 4) * George Huff (Group 4) * Tiara Purifoy (Group 4)

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. American Idol Season 3 Episode 20 - 12 Finalists Have Been Chosen
    5.8/10(35 votes)

    #20 - 12 Finalists Have Been Chosen

    S3:E20

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. American Idol Season 3 Episode 21 - Clay Aiken Returns
    5.6/10(35 votes)

    #21 - Clay Aiken Returns

    S3:E21

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. American Idol Season 3 Episode 22 - 1 Down 11 To Go
    5.3/10(36 votes)

    #22 - 1 Down 11 To Go

    S3:E22

    The remaining 11 contestants battle it out to stay in the competition.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. American Idol Season 3 Episode 23 - Soon There Will Be 10
    5.3/10(37 votes)

    #23 - Soon There Will Be 10

    S3:E23

    One contestant's hopes & dreams come to an end as one more is voted off. K-Lo (Kimberley Locke) returns to preform newest song "8th World Wonder".

    Director:Bruce Gowers
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. American Idol Season 3 Episode 24 - 10 Contestants sing
    5.1/10(27 votes)

    #24 - 10 Contestants sing

    S3:E24

    One contestant's hopes & dreams come to an end as one more is voted off. K-Lo (Kimberley Locke) returns to preform newest song "8th World Wonder".

    Director:Bruce Gowers
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. American Idol Season 3 Episode 25 - 10 - 1 = 9
    5.3/10(39 votes)

    #25 - 10 - 1 = 9

    S3:E25

    The 10 remaining contestants sing to stay in the competition Also this weeks theme is Motown Preforming tonight is: Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo, Camile Velasco, LaToya London, Amy Adams, John Stevens, Jasmine Trias, George Huff, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Peter Lewis

    Director:Bruce Gowers
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"First Show, First Recap" is the best rated episode of "American Idol" season 3. It scored 4.7/10 based on 43 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/19/2004. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Journey Continues!".