When Fox’s American Idol first aired earlier this year, it took the country by storm. Anyone who ever dreamed of becoming the next pop singing sensation was able to experience all the trials and tribulations of getting to the top.
Now we get to do it all over again. Fox is gearing up for the second installment of American Idol, and the show’s producers are scouring the country for 10 lucky people who will compete for the second crown.
I was lucky enough to experience the gut-wrenching audition process up close and personal at the Fountainbleu Hilton in gorgeous Miami Beach, Fla., where nearly 2,000 hopefuls tried to get their 15 minutes of fame.
I spoke with some of the anxious participants, and judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
The fab three had some choice words about the Miami talent and how the second show was shaping up, but the contestants who are headed to Los Angeles for the final audition were beyond ecstatic, and I got caught up in the emotion of it all.
This was my American Idol experience.
The First Step
It was just another gorgeous day on the beach boardwalk. Crystal blue waters, warm sunshine–and a long line of young people, most of whom had spent the night there, hoping to get an audition number.
Idol‘s senior producer David Goffin admitted, “I thought we might have to audition people in line, to give everyone a chance. But, thankfully, I didn’t have to do that. We had enough spots. I hate auditioning people in line. You never want to say no.”
The stress might be getting to Goffen, who showed me his hairline. “See how many gray hairs I’ve got?” he asked. “There’s like four times as many people.”
But coming to Miami to search for talent was something the producers were looking forward to. “Hopefully, there’s a cultural thing in every city we go to. We want to have a broad spectrum of people–the looks, backgrounds, plus their singing style. This is a diverse country and part of the idea was to go places Hollywood doesn’t always go,” Goffin said.
Wandering around the giant ballroom, where the hopefuls were preparing for their “moment like this,” I met Aileen Garciga, 19, Chris Leasher, 19, and Brandon Moore, 20. These three became friends while spending the night together–in line, of course. They seemed like old pals that morning. Aileen was doing a little practicing; she has a wonderful voice. “I’m a little nervous,” she said. “But I’ve sung at Carnegie Hall [with a school choir], so I think I can handle this,” she said.
When I asked if they were ready for fame and fortune, Chris replied, “I just want to get past the audition process first.” Aileen and Brandon told me Chris might yodel to make himself stand out, but he said he was going to sing “Ain’t to Proud to Beg.” “Ironic, huh?” (Chris certainly has the personality for Idoldom.) Aileen added, “I would belly dance. I want to ask them if I can belly dance because I can do it really well.”
The First Cut
The organizers were running this thing like clockwork, getting the people in and out in record time. Twenty minutes after talking to the would-be contestants in the main room, I was hearing from those who made–or didn’t make–the first cut.
Those who didn’t make the cut, like Filip Piraino, 22, generally took the loss in stride. “I actually felt pretty good in there,” Piraino said. It was a really good audition for me. I felt I rose to the occasion. I really don’t know what they were looking for, but I guess it wasn’t me. Hopefully someday someone will be looking for me, so we’ll just have to see what happens.”
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Crystal Klipfel, 17, was a little disappointed she didn’t get past the first round. “When I was sitting there waiting, I could hear others auditioning and they sounded really good. But when they walked out without the blue slips, I was like ‘Whoa.’ I think I did OK but I don’t think I did as well as if I was really comfortable. I was very nervous. I knew this competition was going to be raised to highest level. I’m only 17, so I have time.”
Yamill Nogues, 24, who did move on, bounded out of the room, full of energy, holding her pass to the next round. “Oh my God! It is so exciting, what a rush! I’ve been waiting forever and a day for this. And I made it! I’m so excited!”
When 23-year-old Jennifer Acevedo made the first cut she dissolved into tears, as did her mother and best friend, who were with her. “I didn’t think they would cry,” Jennifer said.
The Last Day
About 200 people from the original 2,000 got the chance to sing in front of Cowell, Abdul and Jackson. The lucky ones from this audition would get a yellow piece of paper, inviting them to the final auditions in Los Angeles.
Tensions were understandably high in the holding room. A small group of stars-in waiting jiggled their legs, sang scales and snippets of songs and talked non-stop to their equally anxious friends and family waiting with them. I felt nervous just watching them.
Suddenly, I spotted Brandon Moore, one of the young men I had talked to on Saturday. I got a rush of excitement. I asked him how he managed to make it. “It was a blur what happened on Saturday. They told me to change into a different outfit, I think. Then Tuesday I auditioned for the executive producer and he asked me to sing something from the list, which I did. He told me to sing the same song for the judges. I guess that was his way of telling me I made it to today!”
Niki White, a striking 24-year-old girl from Oklahoma, came barreling into the room, waving the yellow paper high in the air. She was certainly ecstatic and seemed very sure of herself. You could tell this one knew how to work a room. Still, she was sincere about getting this far and offered some advice to those still waiting, “Be the biggest version of you that you can be. I was not afraid to move around and really feel the song. What you may lack in vocal talents, you can make up for in emotion.”
Those who came back from the auditions without the yellow piece of paper went through myriad emotions. Some went outside and had a moment alone. Others accepted that they just weren’t ready for Hollywood. One girl simply called it an “off day,” while another remained determined to follow her dream despite the setback.
Here Come the Judges
Finally, the press was led into a giant room with a tremendous view of the Atlantic Ocean, where Cowell, Abdul and Jackson sat at a long table. We all huddled on the mock stage, where the brave contenders had just sung their hearts out. The terrible three weren’t as intimidating as I would have thought.
Of course, I wasn’t singing in front of them.
How did they feel about the talent in Miami so far? Jackson acquiesced, “It’s only the first day,” while Cowell threw in, “Not very good, I’m afraid.” The most interesting audition up to that point was a girl Cowell said, “[who] must have a shrine to Mariah Carey at her home. Unfortunately, she didn’t have Mariah Carey’s voice.”
Cowell tried to explain what they were looking for this time around. “What you’re going to find this year is more shapes and sizes. This competition is going to be very different than last year. You’ve got people with unbelievable voices…and you’ve got people who look amazing but may not have the best of voices. You’re going to have a much more interesting competition. Are they going to have the voice? Or the image? Or both?”
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“We are asked to suspend our disbelief,” Cowell continued. “When they come in here, we asked them if they think they are the next American Idol and they say ‘Yes, sir, I do.’ Then they sing. Although, what’s coming out of their mouths, I wouldn’t call singing.” He added, “I’ve heard my favorite song of all time ‘Unchained Melody’ murdered in here. But still you get it wrong as many times as you get it right. Two hundred people come back for the second round and you think ‘Why the hell did I let these people through?’ It’s just one of those things.”
“And we each have our own perspective of the show,” Abdul said to which Cowell quipped, “Yes, you’re on Venus, I’m on Earth.” Ah, Cowell, forever the bad guy. “I am the truthful one, ” he claimed. The other two rolled their eyes.
What about rapper and disc jockey Angie Martinez, who was added as a fourth judge but dropped out after the first few auditions? Abdul bemoaned, “I miss her. Being the only female, it was nice to have another female voice.” Martinez couldn’t handle the pressure of telling people they weren’t good.
“It was tough for her,” Jackson said. “She has a record out on the charts that she’s promoting it and someone comes in here and says they really like her album and she turns around and tells them they suck–it’s a tough place to be,” Jackson said looking right at Abdul, who was shaking her head. She replied, “Like I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
The fact that American Idol became so hugely popular took the three a little by surprise. Jackson said, “I think it [became] so huge because the record industry is in such a weird place in America. I think it’s like a cool, free alternative. That and the fact it’s live where people can vote for their favorites.”
“The idea of doing this again, after doing the first one, I would have rather had paper cuts all over and doused myself with vinegar, ” the ever-dramatic Cowell said. “That’s how much I dreaded it. But this is a better show. I can feel it already…it’s more extreme, and we’ve definitely changed our judging processes to try and create a more dynamic balance”
Suddenly, a debate got started about whether they should include dancing as part of the whole deal. Abdul was obviously all for it, while the other two said they could care less about it. Even executive producer Nigel Lythgoe got into the fray, claiming Celine Dion didn’t dance.
Finally, Cowell just sat back and said, “As you can see, it’s just one big happy family.”
