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Stampede to stardom
Stampede to stardom
4 June 2003
By Michael Corkhill, Courier Mail
Wannabe celebs flocked in droves to auditions at South
Bank yesterday. Michael Corkhill reports
WHEN you're the Lizard King, you can do anything. Or so
Jeremy Otto, 19, discovered yesterday when he clowned
himself into the final round of Brisbane auditions for
the new Australian Idol television program, dressed
as a lizard and singing Puff the Magic Dragon.
"I just came in for a bit of fun and I got in,"
says the Queensland University of Technology drama-education
student.
"I'm excited but a bit shocked and nervous also."
Jeremy was one of 2000 would-be Australian Idols yesterday
who turned up to South Bank's Suncorp Piazza to audition
for the upcoming Channel 10 show, based on the hit US
television series American Idol, which was based
on the popular British series Pop Idol.
Organisers asked about half to return today. "We
are happy to stay and audition until we see all the talent,"
says executive producer Stephen Peters.
Produced by Grundy Television, Australian Idol
offers singers the opportunity to warble their way into
a major recording contract. The catch is that the public
gets to vote contestants off the show each week, in scenes
reminiscent of Star Search, Survivor and
Big Brother.
Last year American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson,
20, shot to No. 1 on the US singles charts with A Moment
Like This, the power ballad she used to clinch her
victory on the show.
Peters, who also worked on Australian Survivor,
says he's looking for someone 16-28 with "that special
something" to make Australians want to idolise them.
"That special something doesn't necessarily have
to be a really pure singing ability or personality,"
he says.
"A bit of both is important. Obviously voice is important."
Peters says Jeremy made the final audition round because
he was a "natural", not because of his strange
song selection.
"Sure, he couldn't sing, but he is a great entertainer,"
he says.
"He's just fun and that's fine. But it's not like
anyone with a voice has missed out on account of Jeremy
being selected."
Among the performers yesterday were former Big Brother
star Damian Hoo, 21, who teamed with friend Daniel Conte,
21, for a tongue-in-cheek shot at stardom.
The judging panel consist of singer Marcia Hines, former singer
and now writer and producer Mark Holden and BMG record label
representative Ian Dickson.
