Post by Forever Xena on Jan 17, 2006 15:18:24 GMT -6
Maroulis Reflects as 'Idol' Returns
By Jay Bobbin
Sunday, January 15, 2006
12:00 AM PT
What a difference a year -- and "American Idol" -- can make.
As 2005 began, few people outside her hometown knew Carrie Underwood's name. Upon being declared the winner of the talent contest May 2005, Underwood joined the exclusive club that included Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino.
During the next four months, viewers' votes will determine the next member to be added. The process begins as FOX launches the fifth year of "American Idol" Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Ryan Seacrest returns as host, and judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are back. As usual, the show's year begins with highlights of the initial auditions. For the new season, those were staged in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Greensboro, N.C., and Austin, Texas. Also as usual, some wannabes are virtually laughed out of the room, while others get the coveted invitation to proceed to the next round in Hollywood.
Among those who got the thumbs-up last time was Constantine Maroulis, who became a fan favorite and crooned his way through many eliminations, until it came down to the last six contenders. His surprisingly early dismissal provoked outcries from many "Idol" devotees, but in retrospect, Maroulis deems his exit from the series "the best thing that ever happened to me."
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he says, "and it certainly changed my life. I'm a pretty busy man as a result of it, and I'm very grateful." Indeed, Maroulis reports increased attendance at performances by his music group Pray for the Soul of Betty, and he's currently developing an ABC sitcom with Kelsey Grammer's production company.
"There's definitely a lot of fun stuff that happens when you've been part of such a big show," says Maroulis, who also walked the red carpet at the White House Correspondents' Dinner within days of leaving "American Idol." Being in such demand, then participating in last summer's "Idol" concert tour, kept Maroulis away from his band.
"I had to put things on hold a bit with the guys, but they were all happy for me. They knew how hard I had worked for a long time, doing stage tours and school and crappy jobs."
Although he'll be crossing the country with Pray for the Soul of Betty as the new "Idol" season starts, Brooklyn-born Maroulis intends to keep an eye on the latest contestants. " 'American Idol' is my new favorite television show," he says, "so I'll definitely tune in. I'll probably record it on my DVR and catch up with it when I can. I'm looking forward to it, and I wish them all the best. It's an exciting process, and I hope the hopefuls enjoy it."
Maroulis has specific advice for them. "Be yourself and keep it real, seriously," he says. "You're being watched all the time, and if you want to do well, you have to play your cards right. Just be humble, definitely sing great, and be unique. [Viewers] have seen a lot already. They've had their country girl, their rockers, all kinds of singers. Look at what's happened for Kelly. The bar has been set high already, so you really need to bring it."
Maintaining he has always felt fine about not making it into last season's Final Five, Maroulis says, "I got to prove what I could do, and to show I'm the man for the job. I grew up in the theater with that mentality. I just want to work, I want a job, so I looked at ['Idol'] as a big job opportunity.
"I got as far as I did, and people saw me, and I was approached to work on some new projects. The shock of my leaving the show left people wanting more, so I've managed to still be out there. I open a magazine and see my ugly face every week."
Change is inevitable for any series that runs a while, and in terms of "American Idol," Maroulis is looking forward to "seeing how they 'pop' it this year. Opening up the age limit last year was huge for the show; that brought guys like Bo (Bice, who finished as runner-up to Underwood) and me into it. You just know they're going to tweak it somehow. They have to."
As a sign of that, "American Idol" will have an extra airing for several weeks. In late February and early March, additional Thursday broadcasts will serve as those weeks' "results" shows, whittling the finalists from 10 males and 10 females to eight of each gender, then to six of each.
Even after an "American Idol" season and the subsequent concert tour, the link continues for those who endured to the finals, at least in Maroulis' view. "We'll always have that bond," he says. "We're family. We're all like brothers and sisters, and I wish them all the best in this new year."
By Jay Bobbin
Sunday, January 15, 2006
12:00 AM PT
What a difference a year -- and "American Idol" -- can make.
As 2005 began, few people outside her hometown knew Carrie Underwood's name. Upon being declared the winner of the talent contest May 2005, Underwood joined the exclusive club that included Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino.
During the next four months, viewers' votes will determine the next member to be added. The process begins as FOX launches the fifth year of "American Idol" Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Ryan Seacrest returns as host, and judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are back. As usual, the show's year begins with highlights of the initial auditions. For the new season, those were staged in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Greensboro, N.C., and Austin, Texas. Also as usual, some wannabes are virtually laughed out of the room, while others get the coveted invitation to proceed to the next round in Hollywood.
Among those who got the thumbs-up last time was Constantine Maroulis, who became a fan favorite and crooned his way through many eliminations, until it came down to the last six contenders. His surprisingly early dismissal provoked outcries from many "Idol" devotees, but in retrospect, Maroulis deems his exit from the series "the best thing that ever happened to me."
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he says, "and it certainly changed my life. I'm a pretty busy man as a result of it, and I'm very grateful." Indeed, Maroulis reports increased attendance at performances by his music group Pray for the Soul of Betty, and he's currently developing an ABC sitcom with Kelsey Grammer's production company.
"There's definitely a lot of fun stuff that happens when you've been part of such a big show," says Maroulis, who also walked the red carpet at the White House Correspondents' Dinner within days of leaving "American Idol." Being in such demand, then participating in last summer's "Idol" concert tour, kept Maroulis away from his band.
"I had to put things on hold a bit with the guys, but they were all happy for me. They knew how hard I had worked for a long time, doing stage tours and school and crappy jobs."
Although he'll be crossing the country with Pray for the Soul of Betty as the new "Idol" season starts, Brooklyn-born Maroulis intends to keep an eye on the latest contestants. " 'American Idol' is my new favorite television show," he says, "so I'll definitely tune in. I'll probably record it on my DVR and catch up with it when I can. I'm looking forward to it, and I wish them all the best. It's an exciting process, and I hope the hopefuls enjoy it."
Maroulis has specific advice for them. "Be yourself and keep it real, seriously," he says. "You're being watched all the time, and if you want to do well, you have to play your cards right. Just be humble, definitely sing great, and be unique. [Viewers] have seen a lot already. They've had their country girl, their rockers, all kinds of singers. Look at what's happened for Kelly. The bar has been set high already, so you really need to bring it."
Maintaining he has always felt fine about not making it into last season's Final Five, Maroulis says, "I got to prove what I could do, and to show I'm the man for the job. I grew up in the theater with that mentality. I just want to work, I want a job, so I looked at ['Idol'] as a big job opportunity.
"I got as far as I did, and people saw me, and I was approached to work on some new projects. The shock of my leaving the show left people wanting more, so I've managed to still be out there. I open a magazine and see my ugly face every week."
Change is inevitable for any series that runs a while, and in terms of "American Idol," Maroulis is looking forward to "seeing how they 'pop' it this year. Opening up the age limit last year was huge for the show; that brought guys like Bo (Bice, who finished as runner-up to Underwood) and me into it. You just know they're going to tweak it somehow. They have to."
As a sign of that, "American Idol" will have an extra airing for several weeks. In late February and early March, additional Thursday broadcasts will serve as those weeks' "results" shows, whittling the finalists from 10 males and 10 females to eight of each gender, then to six of each.
Even after an "American Idol" season and the subsequent concert tour, the link continues for those who endured to the finals, at least in Maroulis' view. "We'll always have that bond," he says. "We're family. We're all like brothers and sisters, and I wish them all the best in this new year."
Source Zap2it