Weekly Wednesday wait is toughest for Hawai'i's 'Idol'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Wednesdays are the worst.

Photo courtesy Jasmine Trias 'American Idol' 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday (four compete) 7:54 to 9 p.m. Wednesday (one eliminated) May 18, 7 to 8 p.m. (three compete) May 19, 8 to 9 p.m. (one eliminated) May 25, 7 to 8 p.m. (two compete) May 26, 7 to 9 p.m. (winner named) Fox (KHON-2)

For Jasmine Trias, 17, the surviving "American Idol" finalist, hump day is the most agonizing, the most worrisome, the most exasperating day of the week.

"I think about the voting a lot," Trias said in a phone interview from Hollywood yesterday. "I don't get nightmares about the weekly competition. But on Wednesday I mostly just try to get through the day. Go to the studio, get hair and makeup done, hear the briefings for the next show."

Mainly, she tries to keep her mind off the night's show, where the field is pared down by one, and either she or a new close friend will be going home. She has survived the cut eight times so far — sometimes in the bottom two, sometimes safe. Always, there's a bit of sadness about having to say goodbye to a fellow hopeful who has been sharing a Hollywood mansion for two-plus months.

Yesterday, breaking a silence mandated by Fox-TV producers, Trias opened up and spoke about her roller-coaster ride.

Yes, she misses home, but she wants to carry the Hawai'i banner through to the end.

"The journey has been quite a ride so far," Trias said. "The most you can do is take one week at a time."

Clearly, there are huge bumps in the road leading to the May 25-26 finale.

One is LaToya London, 25. Another is Fantasia Barrino, 19. The third is Diana DeGarmo, 16. In recent weeks, they've performed better than Trias, who has taken on the underdog role.

But she's ready. She's prepared to sing, eager to grab the gold ring on a merry-go-round that hasn't stopped spinning since March.

"On Tuesday, I'm giving 110 percent," Trias said.

This week's competition will have a disco theme.

"Donna Summer will be there. We're all doing two songs, uptempo," said Trias, who has adhered mostly to ballads.

She'll need to pull out the stops — or, in the words of judge Simon Cowell, "pull it out of the hat" — to stay alive.

"I think I've accomplished a lot. Here on out, I'm going to have fun," she said.

The 17-year-old Maryknoll High School senior is the last of three Hawai'i competitors who advanced to the final 32. Jonah Moananu, a 22-year-old part-time teacher, was the first to be eliminated, when the final 12 were announced. Maui's Camile Velasco, 18, made it to the final nine before being voted off.

The way Trias has handled the weekly ups and downs has led the entire state to embrace her, hitting the phone lines in record numbers each Tuesday night, then tuning in Wednesdays to sweat out the outcome.

"If I go out this week, I've already had such a great opportunity. Doors have opened; a lot of everything's coming my way," she said. "I'm very grateful."

Last week, for example, she was side by side with George Huff, 22, the New Orleans native, awaiting the ax from host Ryan Seacrest, whose role has become one of executioner on Wednesday nights. As always, a commercial precedes the final verdict, giving both singers a chance to reflect on how they'll handle the outcome.

There was a calm about Trias during that time.

"I was thinking what an accomplishment it's been already, to make the top five," Trias said. "If I went home, it would have been fine. George whispered to me, 'I love you, Jasmine,' and I said, 'I love you, too — I will miss you,' and I told him he'll go far.

"We get to be so close; it's really tough when one of us gets sent home."

She learned early on to take criticism with a smile and convert the hurt into something positive. In the past few months, judges have called her "pitchy" and "vulnerable," mixing in comments like "pleasant isn't good enough" to "you didn't wow me."

Anyone lesser might have had a meltdown or thrown in the towel.

"Sure, it does hurt — definitely," said Trias, "because you give it your all, week after week, and when you get bashed it is painful. But you have to take it as part of the mission."

She has had nervous fun, she said, but she promised herself to skip the worry part and concentrate on the fun part now.

"This week I will have fun. Give my best performance. Show I can do it," she said.

As one of two minors in the final four, she dismisses the too-young bricks thrown her way earlier. "I don't think age is a big factor," she said. "Age is a state of mind. I think the age issue has been blown out of proportion."

The disadvantage might surface with particular theme nights, like big band or disco or even Barry Manilow, she said, when material often is older.

"You simply have to practice and learn," she said. "It may be a little disadvantage, but it's part of what we have to do."

Since anyone and everyone is a critic, and venom is right there alongside the cheers, Trias avoids Web chat rooms, where support and dissing run rampant.

"I can't believe what's posted. People are going to like you or hate you, so it depends on how you take it," she said. "Those who do the message boards like talking to computers, perhaps because there's nobody else to talk to."

She finds solace and comfort in prayer.

"I pray every day. I pray Tuesday night," she said. "I pray, 'Please make the people vote for me.' "

She is overwhelmed by the continuing support Hawai'i viewers and fans have shown her and Velasco week after week.

"I can't begin to thank everyone — but I am so very grateful," she said. "The fan support has been incredible, something I shall never forget."

If her bid to make it all the way ends this week or next, Trias is prepared simply to appreciate all she has been blessed with since she was "the Maryknoll mystery girl."

Before she falls off the radar, there's an "American Idol 3" tour starting in July, with the top 10 finalists participating.

"Hawai'i is not part of that tour, and I sure hope I can do something to add Honolulu to the list."

Her life in a fishbowl means a whole lifestyle change when all is done.

"It's been stressful at times," she said. "To be an 'Idol' contestant, you're living life in such an abnormal situation. And often weird. My life has forever changed. I don't think I'm the same person who walked into the doors two or three months ago."

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