American Idol 12 Hollywood Round Preview! (VIDEO)

By On 02/06/2013 · 32 Comments · In American Idol, American Idol 12

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AMERICAN IDOL: Drama and desperation escalate behind the scenes as the pressure mounts during the intense “Hollywood Rounds” which kick off with the guys, competing on Wednesday, Feb. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Feb. 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The girls get their chance to win over the judges beginning Wednesday, Feb. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) ©2013 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Becker / FOX.

Entertainment Weekly reveals details of what we can expect in the Hollywood Round that pretty much confirms what we reported back in December.

The boys and girls auditioned separately in Hollywood–well, actually, the auditions took place at the Valley Performance Arts Center in Northridge, CA in mid-December. More at Entertainment Weekly

  • The Hollywood round has 3 parts – a cappella solos, group rounds and solos with the band. “There are kids who’ve walked out of here devastated who could quite legitimately have been in the Top 10 or even more,” said producer, Ken Warwick.
  • For the first time, producers chose the groups.  “Voices — we [arranged the groups] with voices. We did it with the keys that they were in,” said producer, Nigel Lythgoe. “There’s one couple who share a room, and the big guy snores, and the little guy didn’t get any sleep — so we made sure we put them together.” (Pretty certain those roommates were Matheus Fernandes and Gabe Brown.)
  • Each group chose it’s own song from a group of 20. “A lot of them don’t know the songs, which is really important to us,” said Nigel. “Because when you do ‘Music from the Movies,’ normally most of these kids don’t know songs from five years ago. If you’re in a part of the country where the radio stations don’t actually play that kind of music, you’re at a terrible disadvantage. So it’s fascinating.”
  • During the solo round, the kids were instructed NOT to play an instrument unless it was second nature to do so.

A couple more tidbits:

  • Sometimes personality and charisma were the determining factor when whittling down the girls, says Nigel, “It was tougher with the girls, who are all very strong voices,” he said. “With the boys, there were real standouts.”
  • “There are kids who were not in the audition shows who are turning out to be fabulous,” said Ken. “We’re going back and telling the producers, ‘Find out where this kid was standing in the line. Find out where they were in the auditorium, in the football stadium. Dig up that footage. Let’s find out what – because we interview every kid that comes in before the judges – find out where there first interview was, what they’re about, what’s their story, is there a story? Is there not a story?”
  • Also, if the judges were split on a contestant, and it’s someone with a “big story,” Nigel would jump in and fight for the person.  It occasionally becomes a “casting vote” says Ken.  Hm.  I heard that Nigel conferred with the judges quite a bit during Hollywood.  The producers have more of a say in who gets cast than they will ever let on, methinks…
  • The American Idol Hollywood Rounds begin today. The guys compete this week, with a 2 hour episode tonight beginning at 8 pm and a 1 hour episode tomorrow on FOX. It’s the girls’ turn next week.

Hollywood Round Photo Gallery

 
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  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    That doesn’t sound like you want “personality”, which to me just means someone who doesn’t come across bland or generic when they speak or in the little video packages. You are looking for a specific type of person who is strong in who they are – which is more about character and maturity I think. But it’s all just semantics I suppose. To me, Lauren came on uber confident and flirting with older men while dressing like a grown up pageant kid. LOL. I got a kick out of her, that was certainly not a bland of generic girl IMO.

    Now as the contest went on she got less confident and OTT, and that was about maturity and the contest playing head games on her I think. I agree she, Hollie and Elise were all victims of that same phenomenon.

  • http://twitter.com/MissGolightly22 No Thanks

    I agree, the competition can screw with your head.  And the less mature and confident one is before they show, the more the show can throw you off your game.  And I have no doubt reading Twitter and other social media messes with their heads as well.

    I often wonder what I would do as a contestant. 

    After all these years, I would research the show and the common theme weeks.  I’d familiarize myself with those themes so I wouldn’t be caught off guard.  Especially if I was a younger contestant.  They should know by now golden oldies rule the day.  I’m amazed that some don’t try to familiarize themselves with the classics.  Maybe if they did, they could start thinking of ways they can re-work them to suit their style.

    I would study the typical moves the producers make and work out potential solutions, reactions ahead of time. And mentally prepare myself. I mean, after all these years, Nigel and companies play book hasn’t changed all that much.  Most should see it coming.

    I’d stay away from Twitter, Facebook and message boards.  Or, I’d get a family member to be my gatekeeper there and just allow them to filter through the supportive, positive and constructive comments.

    I dunno.  I know one can easily get swept up in it all but, as I’ve said before, there are examples of Idols who came to the show well prepared and it paid off for them.

  • Incipit

    I see that no one will keep these children after the show in the flask, if they can’t withstand the pressure, stress, and that no one will do the thinking for them and feed them with a spoon, possible this kids must choose other games. This is not a very good business and no one will tell you constantly that you are princess, and if they will, you must check your personal account, baby.

    That ought to be true, Anny_nanny, but the last two years, instead of picking people for the cast who could withstand the stress, or knew about music, and how to survive in the music marketplace,  - the show picked a lot of children, and, in the person of Iovine and the mentors and arrangers, were doing their thinking for many of them, and feeding some of them songs with a spoon, and telling them constantly how wonderful they were – (Standing ovations devalued to mean nothing), or conversely, judges telling some people who did sing well, and did know how to deal without interference that there was something wrong with their performance.

    It all left me with the feeling that this show was in an alternate universe somewhere – where none of the rules applied any longer, and i could not hear what they heard, or vice versa.

    It remains to be seen what this new panel of judges will do or say, besides whatever Nigel wants them to…or what this cast will look like…but there have been no stand outs in the auditions I have seen…and that’s Deja Vu.

    …the way it is quoted it almost sounds like Nigel is bragging about trying to trip up the contestants and giggling about how he hazed them… 

    And Tom22- That’s exactly what is happening. No ‘almost’ about it. Nigel thinks that is good fun (Or Good TV). IMO. Of Course.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/5HGXDY5SA4QJRME7OQJXRJYE4M James M.

    Sometimes personality and charisma were the determining factor when whittling down the girls, says Nigel, “It was tougher with the girls, who are all very strong voices,” he said. “With the boys, there were real standouts.”

    Sad but true. I almost never see stronger personality or charisma in the girls as a whole than I do with the guys. Since S7, it seems like only S9 holds that honor, and that’s because the guys were mostly dull. It was especially noticeable in S7 and S10.

    It also seems to be a determining factor in the past two winners. Now, I really loved Scotty’s voice and his singing, but his personality certainly helped. Phillip wouldn’t have even contended if it were just a singing competition.

  • LeahKittyS

    I love your optimism. I can’t tell you how much it’s lacking on so many Idol message boards.

  • MyDailyComment

    I think that they are saying that you need personality clashes and drama or the whole  show would just be people with good voices singing.

  • Incipit

    I think that they are saying that you need personality clashes and drama or the whole  show would just be people with good voices singing.

    *snerk* Oh, how terrible that would be, like Season 7 – where all the nasty snide comments and mean little digs and cruel toying w/the contestants, and airheaded mistakes and outright mendacity had to come from the judges, because the contestants just wouldn’t step up to the plate and create that “Good TV” for the audience…they were too busy singing for the audience…fancy that.  Thank God for the judges, somebody had to do it. 

    (Maybe)

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