Hi, all. Had to record the show last night and just finished watching.
Could someone explain the early process to me? I’m a newbie...have watched on and off over the years. Last year I got hooked, but only after they got down to 12. I’ve never watched the auditions round (didn’t know what I was missing!)
Once they “go to Hollywood”, how do they go through so many people so quickly? Would appreciate a short lesson in how it works at this stage. Thanks!
When we see them in the stadium, each person sings in front of someone from the AI staff. Then from there, people who are either good singers or good TV can move on to the Simon, Randy, Kara round. Those judges give the Hollywood yes or no.
Usually less then 200 people are picked to move on to Hollywood. In Hollywood they sing individually and in groups. Multiple people are eliminated at once several times each day. They get it down to about 50.
In the last few years, they have done this episode where the top 50 meet individually with the judges and find out if they are in the top 24. We call it the Elevator Episode (because they are constantly shown riding up to the room in an elevator).
When the top 24 are selected, that is when the audience can start voting. It’s again knocked down to 12 people and that is when they go to the big stage.
>>Once they “go to Hollywood”, how do they go through so many people so quickly? Would appreciate a short lesson in how it works at this stage. Thanks!<<
There are actually 10 or 15 teams of evaluators. The actual judges (Simon, Randy and them chicks), don’t see anyone until the producers select the ones bad, good or strange enough to be seen on TV.
It is 100% sure that someone seen on TV will be in the finals. If you are one of the “all told, 31 people from City X” and never get on camera, you will be gone soon.
Once they “go to Hollywood”, how do they go through so many people so quickly?
There are usually around 130 or so singers at that point. They're put into groups of 4 (usually). They take turns singing and peforming as a group and solo.
The judges cut several at once during this phase.
Finally they widdle the suriving singers down to around 36 or so and they will compete in the semi-finals which will allow the viewers to vote for the first time. This lasts around 3 weeks until they have 12 left.
He can sing and she's going to Hollywood.
Next is a deluded guy named Lamar. He's looking forward to impressing Mary J. Blige with his vocal skills.
But he thinks repeating "Laalalalalalalala" is good singing.
It isn't.
Lamar won't take no for an answer. He won't even take criticism.
As the judges try to tell him why they won't send him to Hollywood, he sings over them "Lalalalalalalala!"
Security escorts Lamar out--he says f-yaw'll! f'yaw'll! over his shoulder.
Kara: Oh very nice!
Randy: He's crazy.
Mary J: I didn't know what he was gonna do! I started to get my duck on!
LOL!
Lamar: Mary J. Blige can't sing worth a damn lick! Lalalalalalala! F-yawll!!