Because the term came from Bryant Gumble every Thursday morning on the Early Show back in the summer of 2000. They would have experts weighing in on what would happen once the series became a fullon phenom. Gumble had a self-confessed crush on her and started referring to her as "America's Sweetheart" during the round tables. Then at the reunion, he introduced her as such. It wasn't something production was trying to achieve -just a by-product. Then with the trying to repeat the success of the first season and the popularity of such characters as Colleen and Rudy, casting always tried to find newer versions of them to ensure viewer interest. It's a business. Nowadays, it doesn't need it anymore.

Haskell would be the first person to roll her eyes at the title.