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Took me forever to get this finished - sorry!

Tapings, especially of hit shows like American Idol, appear as if they would be a glamorous and elaborate operation - a fine-tuned machine of sorts. In reality, how things appear on TV is not exactly how they are when experiencing it in real life.

This first part will just be about the process - for those who are interested in going sometime - skip below this and I’ll put my thoughts about last week’s taping for everyone who’d asked.

So You Want to Go to a Taping?

Attending a Live Show taping, particularly if coming up from San Diego, can easily be a 12-16 hour event from start to finish (especially if you go before it’s down to about the Final 8 and it’s a shorter Live Show) - but it’s well worth doing at least once! I find it so intriguing I’d go whenever I have the chance - each experience is different, plus it makes the people involved more “real” to you.

If you sign up for tickets (at ocatv.com), be sure you keep your eyes out over the next year (or so) from emails from tickets@ocatv.com and noreply@ocatv.com - in many cases they wind up in your spam mail unless you add the address to your address book - basically the more quickly you reply the better your shot at getting tickets to the Live Show versus the Dress Rehearsal (taped earlier in the day - identical to the Live Show, but with stand-in judges, and more starts/stops as they need to make changes) or the Results Show.

Emails typically come the Thursday or Friday before the shows the NEXT week. It doesn’t give you a lot of time to plan ahead and rearrange schedules. Keep reading as to why I’d always accept them, and then figure out the details after you sign up.

The person who signs up for tickets MUST go - and theoretically, everyone must be over the age of 14. I’d suggest you have anyone in your household who watches the show sign up, maybe a day or two apart, and that way if you can’t go, it gives you all another shot - as well as if just the person who signed up was able to go. They don’t necessarily always enforce the age thing, but it’d be a serious bummer to drive all the way up, wait the entire time, and then have your whole group not be able to go in, so just a heads up about the age thing.

I’d suggest going if you get an offer for any of the shows - even if the Live Show is filled, it’s a different experience at each type, and just worth doing, even if it’s not your first choice show. I’d also ALWAYS take the max allowed 4 tickets, and figure out who may/may not be going with you afterwards. Don’t call people and deliberate before accepting tickets, just take them and work out the details later! You’ll always find SOMEONE willing to go!

IF YOU DECLINE the tickets they offer you OR just don’t get the email quickly enough to reply then you MUST sign up again, as you do not automatically get “deferred” to another week and they do not sign you up again themselves. That means, if you can’t go, for any reason, you will likely be waiting until a year from the current date minus 6 or so weeks for another chance at tickets.

Also, tickets are NOT guaranteed, therefore it’s first-come, first-serve. For Live Shows, or Finale Shows, far more VIPs, friends/family/etc. want to go and/or get priority. Additionally, the earlier in the season you go, the more contestants there are, therefore the more friends/family automatically get tickets, making it imperative you get there early if you really want to be sure you don’t do the entire process - the drive, waiting in line, etc. - all for nothing. Talk about a bummer!

For the Dress Rehearsal with an “arrival time of 1 PM” last season, we were there by about 8:45 am. For the Live Show with an “arrival time of 3:30 PM” last week we were there a bit after 11.

Basically you come, only with photo ID, and food and anything else you want in line but don’t mind throwing away before you go in, and you hang out along the streets of the CBS Studio near The Grove in Los Angeles (sort of near the La Brea Tar Pits). You can’t take anything with you into the studio (except signs and anything you can take in your pockets) - they will confiscate cell phones/cameras/etc. outside and give you a “claim check” for after the taping is over. Be prepared for a lot of waiting around - if you know that’ll be the case in advance it’s really much more enjoyable!

After the waiting around outside, they check IDs, you go through two different security points, then you are placed into a patio “holding tank” where at last there are port-a-potties and somewhere to sit (depending on where in line you were!) while you wait again.

Last Week’s Taping

When we arrived last week, we were numbers 18-21 in line - so we knew we’d get in - and, really, we wound up somewhere pretty great seats wise.

They “sort” people into “cool” and “uncool” - that sounds bad, but basically it’s what they do - if you’re very young looking and “hip” they put you in the “pit” area where you stand (the entire time) and where you’re on camera far more often by the edge of the stage area. They also put especially photogenic people (but slightly older and dressed up more) in the area right behind the judges and by the VIP/special guests and families - the very “on camera” areas. Since we aren’t 14-20ish, we were in the seated area, BUT because we were there early, we were in the first row, and behind all the families and VIP/special guests (of judges, producers, performers, etc.)

In the “holding tank” we were in the area where all the families, VIP/special guest types. All those sorts of people get to come in a different entrance, have guaranteed tickets, and don’t have to obey the dress code and “absolutely no anything with you” rules. Some were there quite early, others came walking in not long before we finally entered (about 4:30 for the 5 o’clock Live Show beginning to tape - the Dress Rehearsal went quite long).

Anoop’s parents are absolutely adorable, and of all of the families, they seemed the most interactive with everyone around and talking with all of the fans while in the “holding tank.” Scott’s family was in that area for awhile, but it seemed like his sister was perhaps a little on overload (it’s a loud, slightly chaotic, crowded “mob” while you’re in the “holding tank”) so they moved outside a bit. Lil’s family was there quite early (along with Anoop’s group) although they kept more to themselves.

When we were finally let in to the studio, I think I did more watching J and S than looking around initially. I remember the three of us last year being so shocked at how small the studio really is compared to how it appears on TV, so I was curious to see if J and S would have the same reaction (the stage was different from what K and I had seen last year, but it’s more just reconfigured than anything really changed significantly).

Our seats were four rows back from the front, and we were basically diagonal from Randy Jackson (or three seats behind where Olivia Newton John was, and a couple seats over from her).

The families and VIP/special guests were right next to us, and a few seats away were some other VIP reality show stars. This early in the season (when there are so many contestants) the families are rotated up to the “front row” or “on camera” seats when their contestant is performing. The entire performance a camera is just inches away from them watching their every reaction and preparing for anything they might determine as “good TV” to show spliced into the performance clips and while the judges comment. Allison’s family was right in front of us (parents, I think a sister, and what must have been a cousin or friend) until she was going to perform and they moved them to the front and Lil’s family in front of us instead. Allison’s mom was adorable. In the commercial break after Adam’s performance she turned around to me (right before they moved Allison’s family up) and had this adorably worried look on her face and said, “I’m nervous for her!” and then grinned. She exuded pride and love for her daughter the entire time, and, like Scott, Allison’s mom just seemed in awe of where they all are and what is happening with her daughter.

The real VIP sorts (other Hollywood stars, the guest mentors of the week, etc.) are ushered in immediately before taping begins. As people are being seated, an MC type guy did some things to get the crowd “warmed up” and they pass out iTunes gift cards (with enough credits to buy each of the performances for whichever week you attend) and generally try to get people jazzed about the performances.

Bodyguards are at the edge of the “pit” area and then also seated in the areas behind the judges. Each judge has their own bodyguard/escort who follows them around if they are greeting people in the crowd, as well as escorting them on and off set for each commercial break.

For the most part, the judges all leave at each commercial break (at this point that meant after every performance) and they were off to the side of the stage getting “powdered” or getting drinks and generally escaping the horde of fans calling out to them and wanting to talk to them or hug them, etc. Mom commented that she was surprised about how short Simon really is - his personality makes him seem “bigger” than he really is. And Ryan, obviously, is quite a little guy. On their way in and out each time the judges would often greet some people - especially VIP or special guest people - and it was often easy to tell who some of the “biggest names” were by who got the most visits or the friendliest visits. Ha ha! Also during commercial breaks the MC would talk to people in the crowd, giving away more iTunes cards and even a few of the special Idol iPod Touch things they have.

When the show first started and Ryan was in the audience, he was actually standing on a box just two people away from us! Funny how they try to make him look taller all the time! Later in the show you see him seated in the audience, and that was just the row in front of us.

The acoustics in the studio are not great. It is very loud and hard to hear the nuances of everything vocally. When you see Simon leaning backward it’s to get closer to the monitor behind him and he’s often plugging the other ear to drown out the crowd and room noise. When the judges speak, it’s also quite difficult to hear the comments real clearly. Much of what they say is based off of what they hear during the Dress Rehearsal as they are in their trailers getting ready. The combination of the difficult acoustics and their comments being (at least largely partially formulated) from the Dress Rehearsal help explain why some of what they say seems so different than what you think you hear on TV - and why sometimes they’ll “re-comment” on the Results Show and say “when hearing the performance back ______.” When the performers are “talking back” and sometimes keep droning on - or sometimes saying something that doesn’t seem to fit - again that’s largely because of the difficulty in sometimes hearing clearly ESPECIALLY when you have the crowd reacting.

With that said, although it is TOTALLY different experiencing it live, and there are some ‘negatives’ it is DEFINITELY worth doing - but I would certainly suggest also taping it - especially because it allows you to see things that come across very differently from “real life” to TV.

I found it interesting how interactive the judges often were with one another during the performances. Simon and Paula often leaned over and whispered to one another, and a few times Randy or Kara got up entirely and went over to Simon. Kara and Paula were up dancing during many of the performances - including Michael and Scott - who they then immediately criticized. LOL.

I believe it was Lil’s performance that Paula turned to Simon and grinned immediately, and simultaneously (and which they couldn’t see, obviously) Kara turned to Randy and grimaced/cringed. The visible discrepancy in their reactions right off the bat was interesting, especially as it “fit” with what the girls each said after her performance.

Simon and Paula really seem truly friendly with one another. They were much more “touchy feely” than they showed on TV and were often laughing and teasing one another. I’ve found Kara to be a bit “useless” this season, and not felt like she added much, but for several performers last week I thought she really was the most insightful in her comments.

The crowd was VERY into Matt, Allison, and Danny’s performances - both during and after. They were QUITE into Kris and Adam’s performances (just slightly less than the other three in my opinion). Then, interestingly, Scott and Michael’s performances - and the comments from the judges didn’t play especially well about those two - although I think they were generally accepted as the not as stronger performers from the get-go). Anoop as a person got good response, but his performance only moderately received and interacted with during it (and very forgettable afterwards) followed by Megan and Lil, who have their fans, but...yeah.

Each Performer

Matt was great - he had the crowd into it from the beginning, which can be a hard thing about the first spot. Simon was grinning and nodding throughout, and looking remarkably more pleased than I saw him in many, if any, others, although his comments were as over-the-top as his clear reaction during the performance. To be honest, I think Matt in the B3 was totally a producer stunt (which they can do) to make sure people don’t take for granted that he is safe - the judges clearly liked him and the fans did, as well.

Kris struck us as very confident - but in a quiet, self-assured way - not the outward swagger/cockiness that Simon wanted him to have. He’s definitely cute and the girls all go ga-ga over him. He draws people into his performance differently than Danny, Adam, Allison and Matt, which is just a different thing not a bad thing. He definitely had the crowd into it and it seemed far better received than it came across than the judges.

Scott - what to say about him? He’s not one of the strongest and I think he knows it, but he is awkwardly loveable, and, honestly, did a better job of getting people into it than Megan or Lil, and even more than Anoop. Poor guy got ‘punked’ with those flesh covered pants he didn’t know about until he walked out there, and it’s hard to know why someone (his brother maybe since he has close access to Scott throughout everything) else isn’t able to make wardrobe choices for him instead of whoever is currently doing it and not telling him what he’s wearing! Scott, unlike many of the others who convey an attitude of entitlement, just seems in awe of even being there. He seems to be taking it all in and appreciating it. When they were out there for the Ruben performance afterwards, having changed clothes into their Results Show outfits, Matt and Scott were animatedly talking, and Matt was clearly telling Scott what all was going on, etc. and Scott just grinned and was soaking it all in. He just seems thrilled to be a part of it, and I think that attitude may help him over some of the “I deserve it all” attitudes of a few other performers. And, like I said, he played to the crowd really quite well - he just isn’t the strongest. I felt like he made me want to root for him to succeed - wherever it takes him - even though he obviously won’t (and shouldn’t) win.

Megan - Well, she has some diehard fans, and Vote for the Worst has chosen her as their candidate until she gets eliminated (Sanjaya anyone?) and she’s definitely quirky, but...it was quite a trainwreck. Megan is absolutely stunning in real life - and like Carly last year with all the tattoos, that’ll probably prove to be a stumbling block sooner rather than later (never mind the very unique vocals). The song choice did nothing to help her, and she was just screamy/screechy and hard to take - and the volume in the room only made it worse!

Michael - Another who was obviously not a strong performer compared to many of the others, but I don’t know that most of us thought he was truly the worst of the night. He certainly had the crowd into it more than several others did, and the female judges, as well...I think it was a rather mixed response, not only among our group, but also the crowd - and thus the results! I think he clearly knew he was in trouble, and he certainly seemed resigned to his fate both as soon as the performances ended and they came out and the “clips” were shown at the end, and also during the Ruben taping of the mock Results Show.

Anoop - You know, it’s hard to know what to say about him. He seems sweet, but he seems a bit over his head in this whole thing, though he can have these shining moments. I didn’t think his performance was nearly as great as a few of the judges, nor others in our group. He definitely didn’t draw the crowd in like many of the others (including Scott and Michael who most of our voting block identified as in trouble this past week - along with Megan - about 90% of our group had those 3 as their B3 in some various order combinations). Personally I (and our group) found him quite forgettable - and that could be trouble depending on how he does upcoming weeks. When he’s good he’s good, but when he’s not, his mediocrity could be trouble.

Lil - Oh man...I don’t know if it came across as badly on TV as it did in real life, but it was painful. Painful. Like Megan, she was screamy, screechy, but also off the music most of the time. It was b-a-d. Allison’s mom was cheering for her afterward (I got the impression there’s a special camaraderie among the female contestants and their families) and then looked back at me and had an “uh oh” look on her face. Lil has a Fantasia-esque thing about her, and that same air of entitlement. Combine that with the very early “judge love” and that isn’t often something the fans like a whole lot. She needs to “bring it” or she may find all of that coming to haunt her, even though she has more potential than some others who may outlast her. Oh, she looked much lovelier in person than she did on tv.

Adam - He really is a love him or hate him polarizing type. He did have the crowd into it, but as I said in the earlier assessment when I ranked crowd reaction during and after the performance, a few others beat him out (in my opinion) and as people were walking out talking about their favorites, he followed several others. He and Danny have an entirely different performance style than the rest. Both clearly have more experience and a different air of confidence. Adam, to me, seems over-done at times. And, truthfully, I don’t think a) winning Idol would be the best thing for him, b) he’s the type that would “represent” American Idol as the producers want. Personally I didn’t like him nearly as much as the judges did (or a few others in my group) and found it interesting that people who really liked the week before didn’t like this week as much and vice versa. Our friend talked to him afterwards when he was in The Grove parking lot leaving with his family and found him to be gracious and friendly.

Danny - As I said about Adam, he and Danny have a very different air and performance style about them, and I think their significantly greater experience in general is a large part of that. Both I think are also more extroverted than Matt, for instance, and that also adds to it. Danny drew the crowd in much more than Adam, and people were much more responsive than it seemed on TV. And while most didn’t think it was Danny’s personal best, listening to others around me, most still liked him more than most of the rest, and definitely disagreed with Simon (simply agreeing that no, it wasn’t Danny’s actual best, just not on the rest of what Simon said). I have no clue why they rushed through it - there was 15 minutes left for just Allison and the recaps - it was honestly a little odd. Danny is a great performer and was very enjoyable to see in real life.

Allison - She has a better personality than comes across on TV, I felt. I know she’s struggled with fan base issues because of it, and so it was interesting to see how different she was in person, plus she just obviously also had a particularly great week. She is unique and the way she carries herself is far beyond her years. She clearly LOVES performing and LOVES what she is doing and I think her sour look the week prior when she was in the bottom was a fluke, because it just seemed out of her nature. Oh, and she and Simon and Paula were seriously laughing more than you could see on TV about the whole crayon/face drawing thing! Allison was trying not to lose it from laughing! I wish she’d change the hair, but otherwise, really enjoyed everything about her - performance, confidence but not cockiness, personality, etc.

After the performers, during the time when the show gives the 2 minute recap clip thing, the performers were on stage as that airs (what you see on TV is actually taking from the Dress Rehearsal, the reason why sometimes someone seems far better or far worse than the performance you saw during the show!).

When they were all coming out on stage, it was immediately following the comments from the judges for Allison, and Kris (and, to a lesser extent, Matt) nearly bowled Allison over with a huge, huge bear hug, almost sweeping her off her feet. They were clearly elated for her, and Kris seemed like a beaming big brother or something. It was totally cute, and, despite Simon’s contrary sentiments about it in seasons past, it’s clear these contestants form a very close and unique bond, and Kris and Matt demonstrated that with Allison (among other moments we saw).
With, yet again, a whole slew of Christians among the finalists, that surely adds to the relational bonds some of them form, as well. Scott was ADORABLE during that recap time- smiling, singing along with everything, sort of bouncing around ‘dancing’ a bit - once again taking it all in as best as he could. Overall, it seemed the guys were all pretty good about helping him when his brother isn’t around to do so. I’m sure by the time they do the tour, they’ll be old hands at guiding him and “being his eyes” telling him details he obviously can’t pick up. It was neat to see that dynamic.

Bonus Footage

After the show was over, there was time for the performers to change into Result Show clothes to make it appear things were taped the next night (for those who weren’t really paying attention - nearly the entire Results Show this week was pre-recorded - except for the actual naming of the Bottom 3 and elimination - actually, it was pretty poorly done pre-recording if you ask me as it was incredibly blatant! But they didn’t ask what I thought! ha!)

During that time, the MC who was there pre-show and each commercial did a mini-competition and had three people come up on stage and sing. One was a 14 year old girl from (ack, anyone remember? Diamond Bar? She said it during that commercial outside) somewhere up in the general area and her name was Nia. I’m telling you because you need to remember the name! She was in line outside behind us and had a greatly personality and was just darn adorable - and man can that girl SING! Tremendously different than Allison, but definitely better than most any of the other girls we even heard during the Top 36. Unbelievable voice on her. She won. By a landslide. And was told to try out in two years when she’ll be 16. I have little doubt she will - to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got her information and contacted HER!

Ruben - I wasn’t the biggest Ruben fan during his season...thought he was fine, but wasn’t bowled over by him at all...or at least not every week like many were. I thought his outfit was awful and he was only a few notes in before he was sweating horrendously. I think I was the only of our group who even had seen his season and I think the other three were sure he’d keel over and die before he finished the song. Honestly, it didn’t seem like a Ruben-esque song to me at all. And as much as they tried, it didn’t seem that the performers were all that awed either unless the camera was on them - they do seem to just like the ‘history’ though. Oh, and Michael Sarver looked like he was sure of his fate when he was out there - guy looked like he was ready to be home then!

Jennifer Hudson - They didn’t say when exactly Jennifer’s performance will air (I think, truth be told, it’ll go wherever they don’t have another that fits better! Ha!) She struck me as a little disconnected from it all, but it was one of her first performances since the tragedy she’s endured this last year, and it was after an incredibly long day. At this point, most of the audience had been around and “on” for about 6 hours, and had been standing or on less than comfortable seats for close to 4 hours, and people were tired and hungry and ready to go. So as great as it was to get to see her in person, had there been time prior, I think for her sake, as well as the audience enjoying and appreciating her properly, they really should have filmed her segment prior to the Live Show and after the Dress Rehearsal, instead of after EVERYTHING. But man the girl can obviously sing. I’m interested to hear it when it airs, as I, like everyone, was pretty wiped out by then! Jennifer just seemed like it was all a little surreal. Oh, and she’s recently engaged and has set a date but said it’s a secret. Ryan said to “whisper it” and she kind of cutely said “they’ll all hear anyway!”

After that it was time to go trek back to the parking structure at The Grove, and then try to find food (Cheesecake Factory, the stable for after tapings, was way too mobbed for our tired crowd with a longer-ish drive back than most of the locals) so we opted for a much quieter, quicker, and less crowded option an hour or so away from the city.

All in all a great time - and, like I said, for any fan of the show, well worth doing, as long as you go prepared to realize there’s a lot of waiting around and that it’s not as glamorous as it appears on TV!