American Idol Runner-Ups: Where They Are:

Justin Guarini:  Justin finished second to Kelly Clarkson: I'd call that a victory.  Justin released a trio of albums, but nothing noteworthy.

Clay Aiken: 'You mean to tell me Clay Aiken was a runner up?  Then who won?'  Ruben won.  Despite an amazing voice, Clay has taken a lot of heat from the bashers and bigots for being gay.  Clay Aiken fared better than most Idol winners in term of resulting success and popularity.  To date, he's released a half dozen albums.  While Ruben is no slouch, having released five albums, Clay is much more memorable.

Diana DeGarmo:  Diana finished runner-up to Fantasia Burrito.  To date, she released three "albums" that produced one charted single.  Fantasia recorded a platinum selling record.  You made the right choice, America.

Bo Bice:  Bo is in the same boat as Justin:  He finished runner-up to a superstar.  Bo finished second to Carrie Underwood.  Bo continued recording and performing with his band before his record label dropped him.  What a shame. Idol hates fielding rockers like Bo.

Nanny Katharine McPhee:  In what I consider to be Idol's Golden Year, Katharine lost to Taylor Hicks.  However, her final songs were noteworthy:  Katharine's rendition of "Black Horse and Cherry Tree" resurrected the song's popularity.  She also covered Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever."  It was good, but I'm not impressed.  Katharine went on to release a slew of successful albums and landed a few acting roles.  What did Taylor "touch of gray" Hicks do?  He released three singles and fell into obscurity. 

Season 5 also saw the rise of Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Eliot Yamin.  Now you see why I call it the "Golden Year."

Blake Lewis:  Who can forget the annoying, spikey-headed beat boxer who lost to Jordin Sparks?  I blame him for dubstep.  However, his compilation of the Bee Gee's "How Deep is Your Love" during Hollywood week is among the best the week's ever seen.  So, what's Blakey up to now?  He charted six singles and released two albums and an EP.

David Archuleta:  Archuleta lost the Battle of the Davids to David Cook.  The hair-less faced, lost member of the Jonas Brothers.  David is more memorably for being the cutie with the big voice moreso than the runner-up who did something important.  Like most of other Idols, he released a few average albums and a Christmas collection.

Adam Lambert:  Oh, Adam.  You're my guilty pleasure (in a completely heterosexual sense, in case Kylee is reading.)  Adam Lambert gets my vote to be Freddie Mercury's successor as the best male voice in music.  No wonder Queen asked him to front their follow-up tour to Return of the Champions.  He sings circles around Paul Rodgers.  A dozen charted singles later, it's safe to say he surpassed Kris Allen in post-Idol success.

Crystal Bowersux Bowersox.  There's only one Adam Lambert, so "Sox" had pretty big shoes to fill.
She finished second fiddle to Lee Dewyze, who was one of my favorites.  She only released one noteworthy Album the bore her two singles.  Lee didn't do much, either.

Lauren Alaina:  18 year old Lauren, having lost to "baby lock that door" McCreary, hasn't had much time to make a career.  She has, however, released a few singles, making her more successful than a few fellow runner-ups.

Jessic Sanchez:  Jessica Lost to (Phillip)^2 + S.  She's 16 and just starting her music career.  Her resume includes a few National Anthems and an appearance at the Democratic National Convention.  Phillip hasn't done much.