'Idol'ized by the faming and the flaming

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Judges Randy Jackson, left, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul will decide the final contestant cut here. Fox Hawai'i auditions Aloha Stadium From 9 a.m. tomorrow, for all contestants; Must be in line by 8 a.m. Tuesday; for contestants selected on first day, plus all others. Parking opens at 7 a.m. tomorrow (access through Tuesday morning). In Sheraton Waikiki's Hanohano Room Oct. 1-2, times to be announced; for contestants who pass the stadium tryouts; auditions will be before producers. Oct. 4-5, times to be announced; for the final cut; auditions will be before the judges.

The short version is that the raggedy Opie look-alike turned out to be "Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, whose booming voice so impressed Cowell that the two actually bantered — with Cowell saying he'd give him a shot only because of his voice and not his appearance, and Aiken predicting that if he had gotten a shot the first time around (he was a wild card returnee), he would have been the first "Idol" winner ahead of Kelly Clarkson.

"I think the results kind of worked out for everybody; a close vote meant neither was a loser. Sounds like a cliché, but both were winners," said a mild-mannered, even gentle Cowell, speaking in his famous British clip, in a phone conversation from his London home on Friday.

Somewhere in the mix, between the critiques and banter on season two's finale, you know Paula Abdul was finding a way to offer support and counter Cowell's venom.

It is the former pop star/Laker Girl's calling card: find a wannabe and help him or her become a gonnabe.

Star, that is.

"It really starts the moment you waltz through the door," said Abdul of America's most celebrated dance with destiny. She was chatting via cell phone, which often went kaput. She called back.

"It's your carriage, your inner confidence, your humility, your humbleness on line. Sure, you need a little bit of cockiness, because you have to believe in yourself. But the moment you open your mouth, you're being judged. Sometimes, we get diamonds in the rough, which need polishing; sometimes, the diamond is shining and the fun and thrill is to watch it grow and glow. This makes us all feel good — Simon will cringe when I say that — because it's all part of the process. We're there to help nurture and steer the talent, from wannabes to gonnabes."

All three judges are revved up about the "Idol" auditions tomorrow and Tuesday at Aloha Stadium, the first ever in Honolulu. Huge turnouts are expected, though realistically, the judges don't meet and grade contestants till this weekend at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The prelims are done by producers.

The show's host, Ryan Seacrest, thinks Hawai'i will add appeal to TV viewers when Fox launches "Idol 3" in January.

"The show has confounded the experts and the cynics alikes," said Seacrest. "The show is watched by 4- and 84-year-olds, because it's designed to appeal to everyone. It's a family show, and the (TV) industry always says you can't do a show that appeals to all demographics. I know kids watch us, teens, older people, too. And my mother."

Perceived as the nasty one, Cowell really is charming and convivial in conversation. "I think it's tough to say mean things when it's expected of you," he said. "What I'm paid to do is to judge a talent competition; what I say, or how I say it, depends on who's standing in front of me. It's easy to say cruel things when somebody does something ridiculous."

For the record, he doesn't have an automatic mean streak; "it would be fantastic if everyone was brilliant; that's not so," he said. "Maybe in Hawai'i?"

Abdul, the judge most candidates gravitate to because of her motherly diplomacy, said the show has turned Americans into "couch judges; everyone's a critic and I love that. For the first time, we've created a cultural phenom, involving viewers in hard decision-making."

Randy Jackson said everything considered, talent ultimately decides who's in. "It comes down to what I call the 'it' factor. You either have it or you don't."

Cowell said America is caught in a fame epidemic. "Celebrities have a great time; being rich ... well I can understand that," he said. With his caustic comments, Cowell himself has earned celeb status. "I do have a normal life," he chuckled. "The only difference is, when I'm out, people ask me to insult them."

Which never happens to Abdul.

"Having achieved success in the exact arena that these contestants are vying for, I know how vulnerable performers are, so encouragement plays a big part in the role of a judge," she said. (Her 1980s career included six No. 1 singles — such hits as "Rush, Rush," "Straight Up," "Forever Your Girl," and "Cold Hearted" — totalling sales of 42 million).

"I look at contestants in a different way than Randy and Simon. I know how demoralizing a put-down can be and there's a fine line between mean-spirited ridicule, which is what Simon does, to constructive criticism. This in-your-face style is mean; I am perceived to be a nice judge, but to me, nice sounds pollyannaish. I prefer to be kind."

The drill is simple, say the judges and producer. Be true to yourself. Come early. Give it your best shot. Promptness supercedes talent. "If you're not in line by 8 a.m. (Tuesday), don't even bother coming," said David Goffin, who runs the on-site auditions in each city.

"I think I'm perfect for this job," Abdul said. "This is what I do in my life: I make people feel good, I help people realized their dreams. I've been doing this for 18 years, running dance camps, cheerleader camps (she worked with the Los Angeles Lakers). I've been teacher and mentor, star and choreographer, overcoming hurdles and challenges all my life, and here on this show, I am simply Paula, being judged by my integrity."

Indeed, contestants favor her over the others. "You don't see 'em hanging out in the dressing rooms of Simon or Randy," said Abdul. "I provide that soft shoulder."

Abdul is the judge who bonds with the candidates, and therein lies her toughest challenge.

"I hate having to say goodbye," said Abdul. "I know the whole tableaux of emotions that run through the contestants. It's one moment, one second, one experience they'll remember for a lifetime.

"Sure, it's only a TV show, but it stays with you forever. I tell the contestants that they weren't voted off; they just fell short of the (voting) percentage to stay on. That moment is the beginning of the rest of their lives. I mean, the audience has been rooting for them; they've made it to the point where they are performing; you can't go back to becoming a checker at Wal-Mart. You move on and get your career going. You pursue that dream. That's what the show is all about."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.