Guarini Gone

The American Idol franchise has done very well with Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, apparently less so with Justin Guarini:

Justin Guarini, the second-place finalist for the first season of “American Idol,” has reportedly been dropped by RCA.

The label, which no longer lists him on its Web site, declined comment. Guarini’s eponymous debut album has sold 134,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

By contrast, the debut from first-season “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, “Thankful,” has sold 1.7 million copies. Second-season finalist Clay Aiken’s “Measure of a Man” has sold 1.3 million copies since its release in October.

….Guarini did not appear on last week’s Fox “An American Idol Christmas” TV special, although he was initially announced as one of the performers. 19 Entertainment, which signed Guarini to a management deal after his appearance on “Idol,” did not return calls.

….”American Idol’s” third season premieres Jan. 20, 2004. According to published reports, music producer Pete Waterman, a judge on the U.K.’s “Pop Idol,” is in discussions to join the show as a fourth judge alongside current “American Idol” judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Cowell. [Billboard]

Guarini does have one song on the American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics collection.