Archive for the 'S7 Auditions' Category

Randy Jackson on Ellen Degeneres - VIDEO

Published by mj April 22nd, 2008 in American Idol, Video, S7 Auditions and S7 Top 12. 6 Comments

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson on the Ellen Degeneres Show…After the Jump…

  • Randy says, “It isn’t going to be David vs Goliath, it’s going to be David vs David.”
  • David Cook is Ellen’s favorite right now. She thinks he’s original.
  • Randy think’s he’s been one of the most original contestant’s they’ve ever had.
  • He thinks Carly Smithson’s potential is huge, but she hasn’t quite lived to her potential
  • He gave Brooke White a shout out for her singer/songwriter skills.

Continue reading ‘Randy Jackson on Ellen Degeneres - VIDEO’

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Season 7 Auditions - The Best of the Rest

Published by mj February 6th, 2008 in American Idol, S7 Auditions, Season 7 and S7 Show Recaps. 26 Comments

Tonight was the Simon show. I can count a number of times his remarks made me laugh out loud. My take on this year’s kinder and gentler Simon is that he’s not working hard to put on the meanie act. I suspect what we seeing is the real-life Simon, rather than Idol Simon. He’s made noises in the press that he’s ready to leave the show. Maybe he’s so bored, he can’t be bothered with the act. Whatever the case, I like the nice, but honest Simon, sprinkled with a healthy dose of snark.

At any rate, I’m totally over the auditions. Best of the Rest = Major filler. Why not just give us another night of Hollywood? It’s not as if last year’s filler spectacular scored incredible ratings to warrant a repeat.

I say it’s time for Drama! Tears! Bitchy Cat Fights! MEOW! Hollywood rules.

Sigh. I’m feeling really half-hearted about re-capping this shiz, but I’ll give it a try:

Continue reading ‘Season 7 Auditions - The Best of the Rest’

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Nigel Lythgoe Previews the Upcoming Season of American Idol

Published by mj December 14th, 2007 in American Idol, News, Nigel Lythgoe, S7 Auditions and The Next Great American Band. 7 Comments

Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, spoke to reporters yesterday via a phone conference call.  The main topic of discussion was the upcoming season of American Idol. Season 7  premiers with a 2-hour show on FOX, Tuesday, January 15.

What Nigel Said…

YAY:  More kids, less mentors. The contestants can play instruments, at least in the early rounds.  There might be a Beatles night.  No fake eliminations during Idol Gives Back.

NEIGH: No plans to cut out bad singers during the audition phase to make room for more footage of potential contestants.  There are SEVERAL teenagers who could potentially make it to the semis.  Nigel is talking like he already knows who the Top 12 will be.  Can we vote first? 

Nigel also talked a bit during the conference about The Next Great American Band.

Here are some choice quotes from the press conference:

After the Jump!

Continue reading ‘Nigel Lythgoe Previews the Upcoming Season of American Idol’

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Nigel Lythgoe Discusses Season 7 Auditions

Published by mj October 17th, 2007 in American Idol, Nigel Lythgoe and S7 Auditions. 9 Comments

The Idol producers did a press conference yesterday for journalists to talk about “The Next Great American Band.” I’m on the lookout for transcripts! Anyway, Rodney Ho of AGC.com, asked a few questions about the Atlanta auditions. He posted a few interesting tidbits on his American Idol blog.

Five years ago, 46 people from the Atlanta “American Idol” auditions made it to Hollywood. Last week, only 49 people were even trotted before Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. (We don’t know how many made it to the next round.)

Lythgoe said that this isn’t necessarily a reflection of less talent emanating from the auditions. “We’ve been very very picky this year. We’ve just cut out a lot of crazies. The truth is once we have them on tape, we can use them in montages. It seems silly to waste the time of the real judges.”

Of the seven audition cities this year, he said San Diego was the strongest while Dallas was the weakest. “With Kelly Clarkson the only big star out of Texas, it’s truly the Lone Star state,” he joked.

And this:

He also repeated an earlier comment that “Idol” next year will focus more on personalities, less on guest stars and “Idol Gives Back” and Sanjaya’s hair and such.

Less crazies? More Talent? Featuring the contestants instead of guest stars pimping their latest whatever? Giving up on Emmy bait cause they probably will never win one anyway? It all sounds too good to be true. Really, it does.

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Idol Producers Advanced 49 Atlanta Auditioners to Randy, Paula and Simon

Published by mj October 15th, 2007 in American Idol, S7 Auditions and The Next Great American Band. 0 Comments

More on the Atlanta auditions from Rodney Ho at ajc.com:

Though I’ve heard typically Randy, Simon and Paula in the past have screened 75 to 150 people per city, they ended up seeing only 49 over 12 hours Wednesday, or about four people per hour, according to the Buzz item. Since Ryan Seacrest did his L.A. radio show live that day from the Star 94 studios from 9 to at least noon EST, that meant they started around lunch hour at the earliest and worked til past midnight. Nigel & Ken, the executive producers really trimmed the pool down big time or perhaps the talent pool wasn’t as deep as they expected. I may have to ask Nigel a question about that Tuesday when Fox holds a phone press conference about the “Idol” sister show “The Next Great American Band,” debuting next Friday. I’m not sure how many even got to see Nigel and Ken.

Coming up: Press conference for “The Next Great American Band” tomorrow…

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American Idol Atlanta Auditions Begin and End with Very Little Fanfair

Published by mj October 12th, 2007 in American Idol and S7 Auditions. 5 Comments

The final rounds of the Season 7 American Idol auditions have come and gone in their last stop, Atlanta, Ga.

ETA:  Check out the video in comments from FOX News.  thanks milajoy… 

Per Atlanta-based American Idol blogger Rodney Ho, on October 8th:

The “Idol” folks have returned to town to cull the 300 to 500 people they found at the Georgia Dome in August to 75 to 150 for Paula, Simon and Randy to sift through later this week.

The executive producers, including Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, are cutting the numbers down as I write this. (I’m in South Carolina at a beach house so I’m sorry if my entries the next couple of days will be a bit thin.). They are currently at the Georgia International Convention Center on Camp Creek Parkway near the airport. They are not letting the media (or random fans) in. In 2002, I was able to actually view a few auditions at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and interview Simon. In 2003, at AmericasMart, I was able to hang out outside the audition doors, talk to Paula and get a shot of myself in the audition spot. Not this time. I’ll try to check things out later this week but based on media accounts in other cities (we’re apparently the last one), I probably won’t have much luck with access. I suspect they’ve had some psychos/stalkers and the like pop up in recent years so they’ve tightened up the security.

Hmmm…..Supra-Sekrit! While Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul held press conferences in Philadelphia and San Diego, they stopped talking to the press after that. Wonder what’s up?

Rodney, unfortunately, never made it to the auditions:

Continue reading ‘American Idol Atlanta Auditions Begin and End with Very Little Fanfair’

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Season 7 Audition Update - Omaha, Nebraska.

Published by mj October 6th, 2007 in American Idol, News, Simon Cowell, Nigel Lythgoe, Randy Jackson and S7 Auditions. 4 Comments

ETA: American Idol auditions have finished in Philadelphia, San Diego (the judges admited to liking a couple of singers there!), Charleston, Dallas,  Miami and Omaha.  Last to go: The judges round in Atlanta.

Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell auditioned hopefuls yesterday and today, including 23 year old Ross Koley, who of course, isn’t spilling the beans. Ross says, “If you watch the show in January, you’ll get to see everything that happens.

Uhhm. Or not, Ross. Many filmed auditions in front of the the judges wind up on the cutting room floor, or cut in a way that you won’t even recognize.

However, Idol producers did take time to film Ross singing in a local bar where he works as a waiter.

Camera crews also hit the streets on Thursday to record the contestants in their “natural habitat” as it were. I wonder how Idol producers plan to spin the city of Omaha? Considering their track record, I cringe at the thought…

Continue reading ‘Season 7 Audition Update - Omaha, Nebraska.’

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Season 7 Second Round Auditions Continue

Published by mj October 1st, 2007 in American Idol, News and S7 Auditions. 1 Comment

It was all hush-hush and supra-secret as the second and third round auditions took place in Miami this weekend.  Looks like the producers aren’t letting the press anywhere near the proceedings.  Somebody managed to get a picture, however…Ugh, those red shoes!

This week, the gang will be in Omaha, NE:

But some contestants have said producers have asked them to show up at the arena Oct. 2 and 3 for auditions in front of a team of judges that probably will include the program’s top producers, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick.

According to media accounts in those cities, contestants will be given a song to learn in a few minutes. They then must sing it, and maybe a couple of others, in front of the preliminary judges. Some contestants have said they’ve performed a number of times for different producers.

Those who keep impressing will get a shot at performing in front of the big three later in the week.

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Final Round American Idol Auditions Take Place in Dallas This Weekend

Published by mj September 21st, 2007 in American Idol, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and S7 Auditions. 0 Comments

ETA:  This guy auditioned in front of the producers today.  He blew it when he admitted to Nigel Lythgoe that he knew he couldn’t sing, but was auditioning because he wanted to be on the show.  Dumbass.

Second and third-round auditions are taking place at the W hotel in Dallas this weekend:

The American Idol frenzy continues in Dallas – this time at the luxurious W Hotel. Hundreds of second-round contestants showed up at the Victory Park hotel Thursday morning to audition for the show’s executive producers.

An Idol publicist said those “few hundred” contestants would be whittled down to an unspecified number. Contestants who then make it to the third round will audition sometime this weekend in front of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

All three are reportedly scheduled to arrive in Dallas today, though Idol would not release details on when. Auditions will take place throughout the weekend at the W Hotel.

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Randy, Simon and Paula Audition Season 7 Hopefuls in Philly

Published by mj September 4th, 2007 in American Idol, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and S7 Auditions. 1 Comment

Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were in Philadelphia, PA this weekend for the first set of 3rd round auditions.  When asked by the press during the lunch break what he thought of the talent he had seen so far, Simon Cowell said,

“A lot of the auditions are …the equivalent of eating water for lunch – it doesn’t leave you with anything,” Simon told reporters Saturday afternoon, reaching into his bag of similes for one that’s not likely to strike a chord in a city known for fattier fare.

If I were a little ambitious this morning, I could go back through my archives and show you similar quotes from last year, and the year before.  That’s Simon’s shtick–telling reporters the talent is crap.   Remember Simon unloading on Seattle last year? In the end, Seattle turned out both the winner and runner-up (Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis).  ]

C’mon people, we need some new material here!

Randy, Paula and Simon will continue to audition hopefuls throughout September and October.

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Season 7 Audition Update - Philadelphia PA

Published by mj August 30th, 2007 in American Idol, News, Kimberly Caldwell, Anthony Fedorov, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Constantine Maroulis and S7 Auditions. 2 Comments

The last of the “cattle call” Season 7 auditions took place in Philadelphia, PA this week.  According to American Idol producer Patrick Lynn, there was a “monster turnout.” at Wachovia Stadium. “Three times the size it had been anywhere else,”  Lynn says. Philadelphia is not only the last audition city, but also the only tourstop in the Northeast. All in all, 20,000 people turned out to audition, the largest turnout in Idol history according to Idol publicists.

Anthony Fedorov worked the crowds at the audition for the local FOX affiliate.  Also on hand were Kimberly Caldwell for TV Guide and Constantine Maroulis. According to Kimberly, tryouts in front of the producers are taking place at a secret location Wednesday and Thursday. Auditions in front of Randy, Paula and Simon will take place Saturday and Sunday.

Producer Lynn says, “Philadelphia is the turnaround city, so you’re lucky to be getting all the judging done in one week. In the other cities, we’ve just done the first round preliminaries and so we’ll be revisiting those towns after Philly.” The judges rounds with Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, will continue through the second week of October.

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Season 7 Audition Update

Published by mj August 23rd, 2007 in American Idol and S7 Auditions. 1 Comment

Leslie Gray Streeter from the Palm Beach Post posted dispatches from the Miami Auditions on her blog, The Pop Shop.  More than 8,000 hopefuls lined up at the American Airlines Wednesday morning to audition.

The next audition is scheduled for Monday, in Philadelphia, PA.

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This Week’s Season 7 Auditions

Published by mj August 18th, 2007 in American Idol, Kimberly Caldwell, Brandon Rogers, Ryan Seacrest, Constantine Maroulis and S7 Auditions. 9 Comments

Ryan and BrandonUnfortunately, little things get in the way of my blogging.  Like my job, for instance. Just a little thing. Ha.  Between travelling this week, and catching up at work, I am behind on my blogging, as usual. Good thing, the blog continues on without me, as LisaB and Kirsten keep you guys and informed and massively entertained every day with Idol news and chart and sales news (respectively). Thanks guys!

While I was away, Idol auditions took place in Atlanta, GA this week.  My blogger buddy Rodney Ho from the Atlanda-Journal Constitution was on hand at the Georgia Dome to blog the excitement–from registration, to the auditions, to first-person audition accounts. Ryan Seacrest was there as was Constantine Maroulis who was appearing on behalf of Garnier hair products (?!!?)

Fifteen-thousand hopefuls waited in line for their chance to audition for the first-line producers and hopefully move on to the producer and judges rounds.  Rodney interviewed repeat auditioners, and Season 6’s Brandon Rogers and Kimberly Caldwell covered the event for TV Guide.

Auditions begin today in Charlston, SC. By Thursday morning,  4,000 had arrived to wait in line.  By this morning, the number grew to 9,000.  The next city on the schedule is Miami, FL, Wednesday, August 22.

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Published by mj August 10th, 2007 in American Idol, Kimberly Caldwell, Fantasia and S7 Auditions. 8 Comments

“Don’t get your wristbands wet!” warn idol officials as the Omaha, Nebraska auditions begin today.  Fifteen thousand auditioners lined up at the Quest Center in soggy weather looking for their chance to be the next American Idol, or at least make it to the 2nd round in front of the producers.  And did you know that Idol uses PR and communications majors from local colleges to work the event?  I did not.  Also, there are people who will not miss their audition, no matter what.

In fact, even if an auditioner is about to give birth, they’ll still wait in line, and continue to audition while in labor.  After she sang,  Antoria Gillon, 20, of Dallas was whisked away via ambulance to the hospital to give birth to a healthy boy.  Win-win situation–Antoria has a beautiful new baby, and an excellent backstory that will definitely earn her screen time come January.

I’m hearing stories about heat related problems during the Dallas auditions–that they were even worse than the media let on.  Apparently, auditioners were dropping left and right from heat exposure and dehydration…

More notes:

Dallas audtioner Brittany Davis made it past the first two rounds, and will sing in front of Randy, Simon and Paula on September 19.  Here is a timeline of the Dallas auditions. Texan, and host of TV Guide’s Idol Chat, Kimberly Caldwell, was spotted at Texas Stadium.  Baylie Brown, the 16 year old country singer from Krum TX who was dismissed early on from the Hollywood rounds, auditioned again in Dallas.  I’d bet money that the second time will be the charm. Also auditioning, Fantasia Barrino’s brother,  Ricco Barrino.  He passed through to the second round.

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Preston’s Dallas Auditions Recap

Published by mj August 9th, 2007 in American Idol and S7 Auditions. 6 Comments

Preston auditioned in Dallas this week, he didn’t make it to the 2nd round, unfortunately, but he was kind enough to recap every thrilling moment just for us.  Heh. Enjoy.

************

How can you say no to auditioning to be a part of your favorite show? After having tried out last year in San Antonio (with my friend Carrie,not auditioning) and Memphis (where I met Gina Glocksen and hung out while we registered), both unsuccessfully, I was ready to head to Dallas to give it a shot—but with a bigger group, as the day can become boring as you wait.

So, the journey began Sunday afternoon at about 2:00, heading to Dallas with my friend Cody (driving, not auditioning, enjoys outrageous lying) and Carrie (good friend, auditioning, enjoys biting people). The drive is only two hours, and we picked up Leslie (another good friend, auditioning, enjoys self-depreciation), who lives in Dallas. Our first mistake was probably waiting until Sunday afternoon to register—if you plan auditioning, by all means go the first day of registration around midday to afternoon so you avoid the pointless line but still get to audition at a reasonable time on the actual day.

Continue reading ‘Preston’s Dallas Auditions Recap’

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American Idol Dallas TX Auditions Begin Today

Published by mj August 6th, 2007 in American Idol, Bucky Covington, S7 Auditions and Nikki McKibbin. 6 Comments

Kids started lining up at 6 am Saturday morning for the chance to audition today at Texas Stadium, in Dallas TX. It’s estimated there were more than 10,000 waiting in line on Saturday, by 8 am the line wrapped a quarter of the way around the stadium.

American Idol producer, Patrick Lynn, says that the biggest mistake an auditioner can make in the first round is “Being too nervous.” He also says that “Everybody should have at least two songs prepared, with verse and chorus.” And he adds, “I swear, sometimes we ask for a second song and people look at us like we’re high.” Heh.

This article from the Dallas News is most excellent and tells a cautionary tale about entering talent competitions with starry starry eyes. The story focuses on Season 1 3rd place finisher Nikki McKibbin. It took her 3 years to get out of an undesirable record contract with RCA Nashville. She recently released her first record with an indie label called “Unleashed.”

Bucky Covington is also interviewed for the article. He says, “It’s one thing to stay at home and watch a really good TV show…You can pick up the phone and even vote. That’s a great thing ’cause I’ve never picked up a phone and voted. But it’s still different from going out, picking up an album and buying it. It’s just a good TV show, and a lot of people watch it for that fact.”

Finally–to Preston, Carrie and Leslie, who are auditioning this week in Dallas–GOOD LUCK! Come back and tell us about your experiences!

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More on Season 7 auditions - Idols May Be Allowed To Play Instruments

Published by mj August 1st, 2007 in American Idol, News and S7 Auditions. 20 Comments

The preliminary audition rounds wrapped up in San Diego, CA this week.  Twelve-thousand people waited in line at Qualcom Stadium for a chance to advance to the producer’s rounds and eventually to sing in front of Paula, Randy and Simon.

According to producers, auditioners may be allowed to play instruments during their  audition in front of Idol judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Those rounds have not yet been scheduled. If they make it far enough, they may also be allowed to play instruments when they sing, an “Idol” first, producers announced.

Contestants who have made it through to the second round:

Among those selected Monday were two veterans of the program, Brian Miller, 20, from Anaheim and John Edward Carey Jr., 27, from Van Nuys. Both were among the final 25 men in last season’s competition.

Miller, a waiter who sang “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins Monday, said he was nervous hearing other people warm up for the auditions. “Am I as good as that guy? But you have to push all that aside. I’m just ecstatic to be moving on again.”

Carey said he thought it helped that he looks different from most of the other contestants: shaved head, black designer glasses, tattoos down both arms.

He sang “Guitar Man” by Bread – “a great song,” he said, and fitting for him because he makes guitars for a living.

“Last year I was so nervous,” he said. “This year I’m a lot more relaxed and just trying to have fun with it. My strategy is to lay low, get as far as I can and then surprise everyone.”

Also, thanks to Lisa M for the tip about Danielle Calato, 23 of Snyder, NY who has  also moved on to the 2nd round.  You can check her out here and here.

In other Idol news, 1000 hopefuls turned out for Arizona Idol sponsored by the local Phoenix Fox affiliate, Channel 10.  Jordin Sparks won Arizona Idol last year after not making it past the first round in Los Angeles.  Channel 10 flew Jordin to Seattle to try out, and well, you know the rest….

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Season 7 Auditions: San Diego, CA

Published by mj July 30th, 2007 in American Idol and S7 Auditions. 0 Comments

Season 7 auditions begin today in San Diego Ca. Would-be auditioners battled it out in traffic this weekend as they began lining up at 6 am Saturday morning at Qualcomm Stadium to receive their wristbands for today’s auditions.

San Diego is the first of 7 audition cities. For more details, photos and video check out the American Idol website.

Sidenote: The Season 6 Top 10 offer advice to auditioners in this USA Today article.

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Season 7 American Idol Audition Schedule Set

Published by mj June 25th, 2007 in American Idol, News and S7 Auditions. 9 Comments

And here it is:

July 30, San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium)
Aug. 6, Dallas (Texas Stadium)
Aug. 10, Omaha (Qwest Center)
Aug. 14, Atlanta (Georgia Dome)
Aug. 18, Charleston, S.C. (North Charleston Coliseum)
Aug. 22, Miami (AmericanAirlines Arena)
Aug. 27, Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)

More from USA Today:

As with past audition tours, Idol producers will narrow each city’s field to 300 to 400 of the best and worst singers. Lythgoe and co-executive producer Ken Warwick will then cull to about 120 per city to sing to judges Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Producers want to find a way to make sure more good singers make it through the initial auditions and the Hollywood round and into the final 24.

“Too many slipped through the net,” Lythgoe says, adding that no big changes are planned.

According to USA Today, the auditions are starting one week earlier to accomodate tryouts for the new Fox series, The Search for the Next Great American Band, going on at the same time.

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