American Idol

[Ohio Buckeye]

I usually watch Amer. Idol towards the end of the competition when all is
left is the great talent.  But I watched it last night.  It is unbelievable
that with so many applicants they would so few good ones on and soooooooooooooo
many who could not sing. Hope it improves quickly.
 

[Romona]

It was interesting.

[boxman55]

The faces and comments the judges make are what I watch for early on, and the people, some are just out there...Boxman

[okarol]

A good friend of Jenna's named Michael went to the try outs here last year. The have a ton of auditions going on at once and various Idol staff members choose the singers. They make you all sing the same song, in a group of 15, and they choose 5 people from the group, then maybe one person to come for a call back. There are many good singers, and Michael has a very good voice, but they are also looking for uniqueness (and weirdness.) If you are really bad they keep you so they can make fun of you in the first few "auditions" in front of Paula, Simon and Randy. It's kind of sad because so many people really believe they are being selected because they actually have a chance at being the next "American Idol" when, in fact, they are only chosen to be laughed at. When Michael didn't make it through the first round people would say "You must be pretty bad because there are contestants who make it through to the be on the show, and they are terrible singers!" Now that I know how it works it's hard for me to watch the first few weeks, until they narrow it down to 10. So let me know when it gets to that point please.

You can get tickets for American Idol being filmed here in southern California http://www.ocatv.com/shows/show/9.

[bolta72]

I usually watch Amer. Idol towards the end of the competition when all is
left is the great talent.  But I watched it last night.  It is unbelievable
that with so many applicants they would so few good ones on and soooooooooooooo
many who could not sing. Hope it improves quickly.
 

The first few shows at the start are like that but after that it gets better.

[glitter]

A good friend of Jenna's named Michael went to the try outs here last year. The have a ton of auditions going on at once and various Idol staff members choose the singers. They make you all sing the same song, in a group of 15, and they choose 5 people from the group, then maybe one person to come for a call back. There are many good singers, and Michael has a very good voice, but they are also looking for uniqueness (and weirdness.) If you are really bad they keep you so they can make fun of you in the first few "auditions" in front of Paula, Simon and Randy. It's kind of sad because so many people really believe they are being selected because they actually have a chance at being the next "American Idol" when, in fact, they are only chosen to be laughed at. When Michael didn't make it through the first round people would say "You must be pretty bad because there are contestants who make it through to the be on the show, and they are terrible singers!" Now that I know how it works it's hard for me to watch the first few weeks, until they narrow it down to 10. So let me know when it gets to that point please.

You can get tickets for American Idol being filmed here in southern California http://www.ocatv.com/shows/show/9.

wow- that makes me not want to watch at all.....thats awful....

[angela515]

Yah.. the auditions are for our entertainment, and I do find them hilarious... I don't miss any episodes of American Idol, and haven't in the whole 7 years it's been on air... I love every minute of it. I also know someone who went in for auditions and didnt make it, but honestly.. they were not American Idol potential... there is no way I would of bought her cd's if by some miracle she won.. you have to think how good they are compared to all of America.... and yah, they let people go through who will get laughed at for our entertainment during Audition Weeks on air, but in the long run, they also do pick out the one's they think WILL have a chance at winning it all.

[paris]

During the end of season 3, my oldest daughter was due with her second baby.  Wouldn't you know, she went into labor the afternoon of the show.  At 7:30 we were telling her she needed to hurry because American Idol was coming on at 8!!  Paxton Elizabeth was born 15 minutes later!  The t.v. was on while we were passing the new baby around.   It will make for a good story when she grows up.

[goofynina]

I love American Idol, it's hilarious when these people say they were coached for years and years and then sound like crap, lol, who are they kidding?  If i was a judge i would say, give up a kidney and i'll send you to Hollywood    (i know that is bad of me huh)  but hey, at least i would get my friends some kidneys 

[Wattle]

   Go Aussie Go!!   

Aussie Johns in US Idol top 12

Daily Telegraph
March 07, 2008 12:00am

AUSSIE singer Michael Johns is one step closer to American Idol super-stardom after securing a place in the final 12.

Johns has impressed judges and audiences alike week after week with his soaring voice and confident stage presence, earning him comparisons to INXS frontman Michael Hutchence.

On the 1980s themed episode this week, Johns sang the Simple Minds track Don't You (Forget About Me).

A record 36 million votes were cast by the American public, with Johns one of 12 contestants to make the final rounds.

The competition really heats up now, as one person is sent home each week in the countdown to the final on May 22.

American Idol is among the most watched TV programs in the US and has launched the international chart-topping careers of Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry.

Johns said his game plan on the show was to let audiences see what kind of artist he wanted to be.

"I want people to be able to say: 'OK that's what kind of record he would make' – like a rock soul kind of record with a bit of dance involved," Johns said.

With his broad Australian accent and easy-going charm, Johns has a growing fan base who call themselves "the Aussie Posse".

Born and raised in Perth, the 29-year-old singer moved to the United States in 1998 to attend college.

He married a Texan woman and now calls Los Angeles home.

The dedicated performer has previously fronted two bands, The Rising and Film, and names making it in the music business as the toughest obstacle in his life.

American Idol, now in its seventh series, is aired on pay TV channel Fox8 in Australia.

[okarol]

Is Idol broadcast live in Australia? Do you vote by telephone?
They said they had 36 million votes for the last show... that's a lot of phone calls!

[Wattle]

American Idol, now in its seventh series, is aired on pay TV channel Fox8 in Australia.

Fox8 is on Foxtel which is a pay T.V channel. I have never had pay T.V. It's not as popular here as over there. Most of the shows are on free to air channels.

I am not sure when it is broadcast, maybe a day or two after it is screened there. However, we are unable to vote.
We have our own "Australian Idol" show which is screened live on free to air and we vote. It is the same show format.

We also have "So you think you can dance". The first show was the American one. Sabra won. We couldn't vote. The show on now is an Australian one.

[angela515]

I never heard of pay tv...??

[paris]

Cable tv is pay tv, right?

[okarol]

Yes, so is Satellite TV.

[thegrammalady]

my daughter tried out for the 2nd season, it was quite an interesting experience. there were 8000 people at the pasadena rose bowl that year.

[angela515]

I have DirecTV, but yah.. never in my life have I heard the term "pay tv" used for that or cable... wierd.

[Wattle]

I have DirecTV, but yah.. never in my life have I heard the term "pay tv" used for that or cable... wierd.

Angela, do you pay for cable t.v? Well here it is called pay t.v or just Foxtel. Most of the shows are on free to air t.v so not everyone has cable t.v. We have never had it. I figure the kids watch too much t.v as it is and it is around $100 per month for the top package. Too much for me.

[angela515]

Yes, and I get what your saying.. I am just saying in America we don't call it "pay TV" so that's why I was asking "What is it?". We call it either cable TV, or satellite TV.. and if you have none of that and use an antennae.. than your crap out of luck.

[Wattle]

Do you have to have cable? Are any chanel's free to air? What do you pay per month?

[angela515]

No, you don't have to have cable. The "free" channels are the main ones... like CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS and any local ones.

[AlohaBeth]

Back to American Idol...

I am loving this season - my favorite BY FAR being Jason Castro -- actually, he is my favorite from any of the seasons...  love him

This week I thought was a lot of fun - I am a huge Beatles fan, and loved most of the versions last night (excluding the horrible rendition of 8 days a week -- Lennon is rolling in his grave right now...) 

I must say, for all you Aussies out there - as adorable as he is, the Aussie really annoyed me singing my favorite song last night...  when the main verse "Jai guru dava om" was not sung correctly.  It's the most important line in the song...  you got to sing it right!!
 

[angela515]

My favorite is David Archuleta.

However, my favorite performance of the night was Chikezie. He really did it awesome and rocked it.

[cherpep]

I think they have a decent mix this year.  My favorite performer is David Cook, although I don't like the fact that he knows how good he is and seems a bit arrogant.  But, I do love his performances.  I was blown away by his version of "Hello". 

I also really like Brooke.  I think David Archuleta has a great deal of natural talent, and he doesn't even know how good he is.  I hope he stays in a while because it will be fun to watch him mature in his performances as the competition moves forward. 

I love American Idol, and the final 12 is my favorite part.  I've never been a big fan of the auditions in each of the cities, I think they give too much attention to the people trying to make fools of themselves for that moment on television, and most of all, I think they can be extra mean to those that just don't have talent, but truly think they do.  It's painful for me to watch.

[rookiegirl]

My favorites are David Archuleta, Brooke and Carly.  I was so scared for David since he forgot his lyrics.  I just knew he was going to be in the bottom three.  Thank goodness he wasn't.