If I watched a full hour’s worth during the first couple of seasons, that would be a stretch.
However, a few years ago, I got a small freelance job (PA) that ran a camera and did some setup and teardown over a weekend for auditions to be screened later.
None of the big names were there, in fact no celebrities at all. Everyone was a production person of some kind. I was treated well and liked the experience overall. There was a lady producer/director in the group who was one of the higher ones that told me I was welcome anytime again if the opportunity arose.
A few weeks went by and I hadn’t seen my check yet. I did a little checking and got a contact point. A day or two went by with a couple of email replies. One evening I got a phone call from some VP out there saying my check was on the way. It showed up a few days later. The guy was super nice and apologetic as all get out.
Good to know my decade in TV was appreciated by someone. Most of the yo-yo’s I worked with ETV land in my last years didn’t but expected me to do the job of 2 or 3 others.
The celebrity judges do not go to the first round of auditions. Those shows where there are huge crowds “outside” are lies. Their flunkies ask the best and worst flunkies to come back and audition at a later time.
Yes, they purposely ask the really bad, stupid and weird to come back for the second round.