‘American Idol’ 101: Frequently asked questions
In just one week, "American Idol 7" will debut, ready to capture the nation's attention once again. The No. 1 television show in the country generates big ratings and tons of questions — from how much contestants are paid to why producers insist upon selecting bad singers year after year.
FOX isn't always forthcoming about its top show — most likely because that silence keeps people talking and guessing — but from past contestants, media reports and other sources, there are many answers.
Here, then, are the most frequently asked questions about "American Idol." Once the seventh season begins, make sure to send in your new questions.
Q: How much does it cost to audition for ‘American Idol’?
A: Nothing. However, it can get expensive to travel to an audition location and stay overnight, particularly if you live nowhere near the audition location.
Q: Why does ‘American Idol’ pick bad singers?
A: Because that's what people want to watch. Producers intentionally move awful singers through the audition process. The tens of thousands of people who show up to audition in each city are screened many times before they ever see the judges (who only show up for the final day or two), and those producers get rid of everyone except the good and the very bad, ensuring that both the judges and viewers will see only the most entertaining — or horrifying — performances.
Q: Why do some auditioning contestants appear in montages singing songs that they did not sing in front of the judges?
A: Those performances are recorded well before the contestant ever makes it in front of the judges, although they stand in front of a backdrop that's identical to the one that's set up in front of the judges. Producers ask auditioners — particularly the bad ones — to sing certain songs to create those montages.
‘Idol’ auditions
Thousands turn out in cities across America for a chance at stardom on season 7 of the hit show.
Q: Why are there contestants older than 28 on the show?
A: The show's age limit — currently, contestants must be 28; in earlier seasons, it was 24 — comes into play only when they audition. Thus, turning 29 the day after the audition means a contestant is still eligible to compete.
Q: How do contestants choose their songs?
A: On Thursdays, finalists have about one hour to pick their song after learning the following week's theme. While they're given dozens of options, they're free to choose any song, as long as producers can get permission from the artists, writers and/or record labels.
Q: What is the contestants' weekly schedule?
A: Finalists follow the same schedule each week, as The Washington Post revealed last year. On Thursdays, the day after the elimination, they select their new song and record it to help the composers create the musical accompaniment. Fridays are spent rehearsing with vocal coaches, while on weekends, they shoot commercials and other segments, and go shopping for clothes. On Mondays, they rehearse their own song and the group song, if there is one. On Tuesdays, the day of the live show, they rehearse three times to ensure that everything from sound to camera placement is good, and then they perform live.
Q: How is the performance order decided?
A: Producers arrange the contestants' performances every week, based upon their song choice and other, sometimes more arbitrary criteria.
Q: Why don't the clips at the end of performance episodes match the actual performance?
A: In the past, those clips have been culled from the dress rehearsal earlier in the day, giving producers time to select the best moment and edit them all together.
Q: How do family member's afford to be in the audience?
A: They sacrifice.
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FOX isn't always forthcoming about its top show — most likely because that silence keeps people talking and guessing — but from past contestants, media reports and other sources, there are many answers.
Here, then, are the most frequently asked questions about "American Idol." Once the seventh season begins, make sure to send in your new questions.
Q: How much does it cost to audition for ‘American Idol’?
A: Nothing. However, it can get expensive to travel to an audition location and stay overnight, particularly if you live nowhere near the audition location.
Q: Why does ‘American Idol’ pick bad singers?
A: Because that's what people want to watch. Producers intentionally move awful singers through the audition process. The tens of thousands of people who show up to audition in each city are screened many times before they ever see the judges (who only show up for the final day or two), and those producers get rid of everyone except the good and the very bad, ensuring that both the judges and viewers will see only the most entertaining — or horrifying — performances.
Q: Why do some auditioning contestants appear in montages singing songs that they did not sing in front of the judges?
A: Those performances are recorded well before the contestant ever makes it in front of the judges, although they stand in front of a backdrop that's identical to the one that's set up in front of the judges. Producers ask auditioners — particularly the bad ones — to sing certain songs to create those montages.
‘Idol’ auditions
Thousands turn out in cities across America for a chance at stardom on season 7 of the hit show.
Q: Why are there contestants older than 28 on the show?
A: The show's age limit — currently, contestants must be 28; in earlier seasons, it was 24 — comes into play only when they audition. Thus, turning 29 the day after the audition means a contestant is still eligible to compete.
Q: How do contestants choose their songs?
A: On Thursdays, finalists have about one hour to pick their song after learning the following week's theme. While they're given dozens of options, they're free to choose any song, as long as producers can get permission from the artists, writers and/or record labels.
Q: What is the contestants' weekly schedule?
A: Finalists follow the same schedule each week, as The Washington Post revealed last year. On Thursdays, the day after the elimination, they select their new song and record it to help the composers create the musical accompaniment. Fridays are spent rehearsing with vocal coaches, while on weekends, they shoot commercials and other segments, and go shopping for clothes. On Mondays, they rehearse their own song and the group song, if there is one. On Tuesdays, the day of the live show, they rehearse three times to ensure that everything from sound to camera placement is good, and then they perform live.
Q: How is the performance order decided?
A: Producers arrange the contestants' performances every week, based upon their song choice and other, sometimes more arbitrary criteria.
Q: Why don't the clips at the end of performance episodes match the actual performance?
A: In the past, those clips have been culled from the dress rehearsal earlier in the day, giving producers time to select the best moment and edit them all together.
Q: How do family member's afford to be in the audience?
A: They sacrifice.
continue
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