'IDOL' FANS LINE UP FOR CLIMAX OF SURPRISING SUMMER HIT.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski and Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writers

HOLLYWOOD - Aspiring superstars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini sang their hearts out Tuesday before a sell-out crowd at the Kodak Theater and a nationwide audience of millions as they competed for the ``American Idol'' crown.

Fans who managed to secure tickets to Fox TV's phenomenal - and surprise - summer hit, ``American Idol: The Search for a Superstar,'' screamed and cheered during the performances by the talent-show finalists.

Tonight, in a special two-hour episode airing from 8 to 10 on Fox (Channel 11), the winner will be revealed. Guarini, 23, of Doylestown, Pa., or Clarkson, 20, of Fort Worth, Texas, will savor the moment by singing a first single that will hit stores Sept. 17.

Lined up Tuesday outside the Kodak, fans of all ages couldn't contain their enthusiasm for the singers.

Wearing a custom-made ``Justin is my American Idol'' T-shirt, 42-year- old Gina Leonardo of Napa explained why she's been phoning in votes for the curly-haired young man.

``To me, he's just a good all-around entertainer. He's got the whole package: charisma, vocal talent - and he can dance, too,'' Leonardo said.

Rafael Iniguez, 31, of Riverside and his wife, Christy, 27, were split: He likes Justin; she likes Kelly.

``I think he's the better performer,'' Rafael Iniguez said. ``I know Kelly has a great voice, but I think Justin has a better chance to make it.''

``I think she's an amazing talent,'' Christy Iniguez countered. ``That girl could sing the socks off of anyone.''

The two finalists each sang three songs, including two written for the show.

Guarini dressed casually in an open-neck shirt over brown pants when he sang his first song, ``Before Your Love.'' He went to the edge of the stage and touched the hands of fans reaching up from the audience.

Clarkson wore a dark, full-length sequined gown for her opening song, ``A Moment Like This.'' She wore another gown when she sang ``Before Your Love'' later in the show, and Justin changed into a suit for his performance of ``A Moment Like This.''

If the winner doesn't make it big, it won't be for a lack of trying on Fox's part. The grand prize is a recording contract with RCA Records, a management contract and a concert tour. After the single will come the compilation compact disc, featuring multiple contestants, and the winner's first solo album - most likely entirely cover songs - on Nov. 26.

The promotional frenzy is evident on the Web site (www.idolonfox.com), where fans can snap up logo-imprinted T-shirts and caps, order the series on DVD, and buy the official book by Marissa Walsh.

There is also information about the official ``American Idol'' tour, which will start Oct. 8 at Cox Arena in San Diego. Another Southland stop will come Nov. 15 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim.

``American Idol,'' derived from the British hit series ``Pop Star,'' came almost out of nowhere June 11 - a bid to retain a summer audience that has no appetite for series reruns.

It drew 11.5 million viewers in its debut, which introduced the good, the bad and the completely dreadful wannabes whom judges singer-choreographer Paula Abdul, record executive Simon Cowell, and musician and record executive Randy Jackson had to endure while culling 30 with a real shot at stardom.

It became the water-cooler show of the summer, much like the first ``Survivor'' outing was.

Fans at the Kodak Theater praised the show for being an upbeat, entertaining program that the whole family could enjoy.

Claudia Malawy camped out overnight early last month to secure tickets for Tuesday's show for herself and her daughter, Trista, 14, an aspiring singer who was rooting for Kelly.

``It's a reality show, but it's not like 'Fear Factor' or 'Survivor,''' Malawy said. ``I don't want to watch people swallow strange things.''

Viewership snowballed as the contest grew more interesting, and the phone lines tallied more than 14 million votes a week. Fox acknowledges that the callers included some ``power dialers'' hoping to stuff the ballot box and influence the outcome, but the producers say they were a statistically insignificant number.

Jazmin Lambright, 16, and her grandmother, Nori Lambright, 59, both of Los Angeles, said they used three phones - one land line and two cellular phones - to vote for their favorite, Nikki McKibbin. McKibbin was eliminated last week, but the Lambrights figure their frantic voting helped her win third place. With McKibbin out, they were hoping Justin would win.

``We pushed 'redial' until we went nuts,'' Nori Lambright said, and she laughed.

Meanwhile, Fox has begun looking for contestants for the next season. And there is a sweepstakes whose winner gets a seat at the judges' table for those auditions. Somewhere out there is the next superstar.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Yolanda Gaven, left, rooting for Justin Guarini in the ``American Idol'' TV show finals, dislikes a sign carried by Kelly Clarkson fan Mike Angel, 15, and his uncle, Joe Dorado.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2) Singers Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini walk on stage for the ``American Idol'' finals telecast Tuesday night.

Lucy Nicholson/Associated Press