It all begins this Sunday - the countdown to finding the
nation's next big pop star.
Thousands of wannabe singers have been whittled down to
just 40 and now it's up to you to decide who will be Australia's
first idol.
1. The hosts are spunks.
Co-hosts Andrew G and James Mathison are music nuts from
Channel [V]. "He's definitely a bit of a glamour
boy," laughs James of Andrew. "I often say that
when it comes to girls I'm the seagull who picks up the
scrapes."
2. Millions of fans can't be wrong.
The show has already been a huge success around the world,
including Poland, South Africa and Germany. In the US
and the UK it's a phenomenon. The first UK series - won
by Will Young - was watched by 14 million people. In the
US more than 15 million votes were cast for the first
season finale, won by Kelly Clarkson. A staggering 24
million voted for the second season finale when Ruben
Studdard took the title.
3. There'll be warm and fuzzy moments... we think
Almost without exception the finalists love judge Marcia
Hines. "It's in my nature to nurture - I can't help
it," she says. Fellow judge Mark Holden says, "Marcia
is the softer of all of us. She loves everyone."
But James warns there is a limit to her empathy. "It's
not all good guys and bad guys," he explains. "If
you're wasting Marcia's time, she'll see it right away
and she will strike you down."
4. You'll get your 'bitch' hit.
In the UK and US judge Simon Cowell became the man everyone
loved to hate for his harsh critiques of wannabe stars.
Ian 'Dicko' Dickson from the Aussie office of record label
BMG has taken on that role for the local leg. Ian told
one performer he'd require a head transplant to achieve
the "Australian Idol look". Dicko called another
hopeful's "powerful but ugly voice" a "weapon
of mass destruction." Ouch!
5. See our next big star
As well as Will, kelly and Ruben, various contestants
in the UK and UK have been signed up for record deals,
such as popular UK runner-up Gareth Gates. "We're
going to see some major Australian talents come out of
this - I guarantee it," says Andrew G. And Ralph
Carr, the manager who took Aussie Tina Arena to the top
of the international charts and is now developing the
music career of Neighbours star Madeleine West, says the
industry as a whole will be watching. "I spend a
lot of time in the US and I've seen how this show has
managed to uncover huge talents," he says. "There's
no reason to believe it won't happen here as well."
6. The scandals and controversy
Fans of second US runner-up Clay Aiken claim he was robbed
of the title and have flooded the Federal Communications
Commission with letters calling for an investigation into
the voting process and Ruben's victory. "Something
stinks here and it's not Ruben's sweaty 205 jersey,"
one fan sniffs, referring to the shirt Ruben wore on the
hit show. There might be something to their allegations,
with Clay's debut single easily outselling Ruben's. Idol
has also been slammed by pop stars. Robbie Williams has
called it "mass entertainment humiliation".
As well, his single Something Beautiful opens with the
line "You can't manufacture a miracle", while
the video pokes fun at the audition process.
7. Emotional roller-coaster
"I can tell you, from day two of the second selection
process, when I saw the 100 finalists, it was like. 'Danger!
Danger! High voltage!' There's tension in the air,"
reports Andrew G. "Something, or someone, is going
to snap at some point!"
8. The hair and fashion
US runner-up Clay slept on the footpath the night before
auditions to make sure he got his chance - and looked
like it! Within weeks, though, he went from tragic to
trendy. He lost the glasses and his red hair turned brown
and spiky as he transformed into a smooth operator. One
SA finalist has already altered her "boring brown
hair". "I've gone a bit more out there. It can't
hurt," she shrugs. "I'll do anything to stand
out."
9. Bust-ups and breakdowns
Several contestants took extreme measures in the lead-up
to the selection process. Some cut ties with jobs or risked
failing university exams to prepare for auditions. Others
spent their savings on new images. "I have given
up everything for something I love. I truly believe I'm
doing the right thing," one NSW finalist told NW.
So it's a sure bet there will be tears when all but tow
are sent packing.
10. The spectacle
When only two contestants remain, things will go from
big to huge. A live concert from the Sydney Opera House
is being planned, in which the finalists will take part
in a dramatic sing-off before phone lines open for the
last time. "It's going to be enormous on the night,
and the thing is I can't even start planning the music
until very close to the end because we have no idea who
the stars are"
Finding the Idol|
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Weeks One and Two (starting this Sunday)
Two 90-minute specials to begin. Our first chance to see
some of the 8,000 hopefuls who auditioned.
Weeks Three to Eight
Just 40 finalists remain and are divided into groups of
five. The audience takes over deciding who stays and goes. Sundays:
One of the five groups goes under the spotlight. Each
of the semi-finalists performs a song of his or her choosing.
After the hour-long show the phone lines are opened. Mondays:
The phone results come in. The top two, as voted by viewers,
progress to the next round and the other three go home.
Expect tears! The rest of the half-hour show consists
of a group song and farewell individual performances from
those about to hit the road.
Week Nine Sundays:
Each of the 10 finalists, and possibly a few surprise
extras (see "idol gossip"), do a song during
themed episodes. They might have to perform a country
number, gospel or even an Australian bush ballad. Phone
lines open. Mondays:
Each week the least popular performer is given the boot.
The Finale
The formula continues until November, when only two finalists
remain and the first Australian Idol is chosen after a
huge live broadcast from the Sydney Opera House.
* Contestants booted in early rounds may get another chance
to strut their stuff - but only if they seriously impressed
a judge. Midway through selection the judges will have
the chance to bring back a favourite "wild card"
who was previously cut.
* Delivering her song on stage is the least of one finalist's
concerns. She's hoping she doesn't deliver her baby while
performing! The 19-year-old from Brisbane wowed the judges
with her amazing voice and the news that she may give
birth to her second child before the series finale.
* The 100 people who made it through the audition underwent
such a gruelling selection process that the gatherings
were nicknamed "the auditions from hell" by crew members.
* Look out for one reformed Sydney tomboy with a cupboard
full of secrets. The pretty 17-year-old currently holds
the Miss Philippines Australia title and hosts her own
variety show in the Philippines during her school holidays.
She's also been seen in small roles on Home And Away
and Always Greener.
* And she's not the only one with television experience.
A Victorian contestant has appeared in four episodes of
Neighbours and various finalists also tried out for Popstars.
* One finalist from Sydney has already had two shots at
impressing the three judges. He auditioned once as himself
and then again as his drag queen alter ego, Courtney Act.
* You thought Kylie was a pocket-sized pop star. Well,
one of the early favourites is 13cm shorter than Ms Minogue,
who's just 5' (155cm).
* "Expect the unexpected" is a popular phrase
behind the scenes. While the Australian version closely
mirrors those from the US and UK, there is likely to be
some Big Brother-style surprises to keep viewers on their
toes.
* Co-host James Mathison knows a thing or two about reality
TV. Not only did he score his job at Channel [V]
through a nationwide talent search, he was also a contestant
on travel reality show The $20 Challenge.
* If she wins, a Melbourne finalist wants to dedicate
part of her time to making motivational speeches to teens
in psychiatric wards. She suffered psychosis after experimenting
with drugs, was later diagnoses with clinical depression
and once attempted suicide. After several stays at institutions,
she completed high school and is now planning a novel
about her life to date.
* Insiders reveal that within days of the 100 finalists
converging in Sydney, there was already love blossoming
between at least one wannabe Britney Spears and her own
Justin Timberlake. "There's a very co-ed summer camp
vibe about the whole thing," says Andrew G. James
adds, "I think there might actually be a few Kylie
Minogues who've found their Michael Hutchences - the guys
who will lead them astray, if you know what I mean."
* Among those to travel to the Sydney elimination round
are a brother and sister whose parents were part of a
chart-topping Indonesian musical group. Another finalist's
mother and aunts were part of a well-known Samoan band.
Holly Brisley, TV personality:
"I'm really looking forward to the Australian Idol
experience. The discovery of some of Australia's hidden
talent... bring it on!"
Jenny Morris, singer:
"I'll be watching Australian Idol because anything
that gives young artists a voice is okay by me."
Ben Archibold, BB3 evictee:
"A reality TV show where we get to see people as
they really are? I like the idea that it's the audience's
true perception that counts and not the way they're edited."
Tiffani Wood, former member of Bardot turned solo artist:
"Any TV show that gives a person with talent a chance
at their dreams, I say, 'Go for it.'"
Natalie Miller, singer with Brat/ex-YTT member:
"I'll be watching to see what's out there now. It's
been a long time since we've had something to show what
kind of talent exists."
Hayley Chapman, Totally Wild:
"Having seen snippets of American Idol, I can't wait
to see how the Australian finalists compare."
Patrick Harvey, Neighbours:
"Because I'll get to see what Australia has to offer
in regards to young talent. I'm sure there'll be a lot
of it."
Natarsha Belling, newsreader:
"It's important to support local talent. I believe
there are a lot of gifted performers in Australia and
this is an opportunity for them to realise their dreams."
Ryan Lappin, Cheez TV:
"I love all music so it will be great to see just
how much talent there is out there. I was thinking of
trying out myself."
Jemma Gawned, BB1 housemate turned cosmetics entrepreneur:
"There's an abundance of hidden talent in this country.
This gives young Aussies the chance to let their light
shine."
Ian "Dicko" Dickson watched 8,000 auditions
around Australia and proudly called every one exactly
how he saw it. Despite a niggling fear he "could
be going to Hell for this", Ian says he can't resist
an opportunity to get in a dig if the occasion presents
itself.
"I'm not being Simon Cowell, I'm just being me,"
he says of being labelled the Australian version of the
acid-tongued judge from the UK and US shows. "I have
been tough but fair and I've always done my job, which
is to find the very best talents. I want to create something
that's fabulous, so when people were turning up who were
substandard, it disappointed me and they needed telling."
Ian says all of his cutting comments have been justified
in some way, including telling one prospective 17-year-old
star from Brisbane her calling was as a pole dancer in
a strip club. "She took offence, but she was shaking
her arse in my face. I think if you're going to go there,
be prepared," he says. "I'll be honest - sexiness
is important in this business. But I found it insulting
that at times some of these performers felt they could
get around us by shaking their arse."
Marcia Hines, the most nurturing of the judges, defends
her friend. "You know it was harsh but funny and
it was also deserved. The girl has no business gyrating
like that in an audition - and he told her."
Ian insists he didn't pick on the most hopeless cases.
Those auditions which he calls "so, so tragic",
left him speechless. "I just wanted them out of there,"he
explains. "Some of them were so bad and were still
shocked to hear it... you wonder what their support network
is like if no-one has ever told them before."
Marcia believes Dicko is the comic judge we'll love to
hate, but we may not be so fond of colleague Mark Holden's
more straightforward dismissals. "Oh baby, he's said
some stuff that has made me go, 'Oh no, you can't say
that to these kids,'" she says. "I mean, he
made one little girl cry! He didn't know it at the time,
so I made him apologise. It can break them forever and
you have to be careful of that."
The judging panel consist of singer Marcia Hines, former singer
and now writer and producer Mark Holden and BMG record label
representative Ian Dickson.
