US Pop Idol makes debut

American Idol held auditions in seven cities

US music fans are awaiting the hotly-anticipated American version of Pop Idol, which starts broadcasting on Tuesday night.

But as one British format makes its US debut, another is ending regular broadcasts after poor ratings.

ABC will broadcast its final scheduled episode of the American version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on 27 June, showbiz trade magazine Variety reported.

The 90-minute special will be the last of the regular prime-time spots for the show which will return only in specials.

Simon Cowell is the only judge to cross the pond

NBC's The Weakest Link has also lost its prime-time spot after initial US success, but the Fox network will be hoping American Idol will go the distance.

Simon Cowell, the acerbic panel judge on the UK version, is the only direct on-screen import.

Seven auditions

The other judges are 1980s star Paula Abdul and veteran American A&R man Randy Jackson, with the show hosted by actor and comedian Brian Dunkleman and radio talk show prodigy Ryan Seacrest.

The show held auditions in Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and New York.

American producers hope to repeat the UK success

Pop Idol was billed in the US as "the biggest thing to hit Great Britain since The Beatles".

Its American producers hope to reproduce the "phenomenon" of the British show, with the outcome dominating conversations across the country.

And they also hope the winner and runner-up will enjoy the same level of chart success as Will Young and Gareth Gates.

But they will be conscious that the novelty of British imports can wear off with Millionaire - which peaked at 40 million US viewers - and The Weakest Link losing ratings dramatically.

So far in the UK, both Young and Gates have scored number one hits, and Young's second hit Light My Fire is currently topping the charts for a second week.

And as well as being a ratings winner, Pop Idol was also awarded Europe's top television honour - the prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux in April.