Idol executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe is in Pasadena for Day 2 of the Hollywood Rounds today! He tweeted this photo today, “We have the most #American Idol finalists ever. Some remarkably talented ones too. ”
A record 325 hopefuls are participating in the Season 10 Hollywood Round. According to spoiler extraordinaire, JoesPlace, yesterday and today the kids sing a’capella. Half the kids could be gone by tonight. Thursday is reportedly group day, and Friday the kids sing solos. There is also the possibility of a sidetrip to Vegas to sing Beatles songs with the cast of the Cirque Du Soleil Love show.
Keep your eyes on this post. I’ll post spoilers here as they come in!
UPDATE: According to Joe’s Place, 75 contestants (about half that sang) were cut at the end of Day 1. She names some names. Check it out HERE.
Update2: TMZ has a Day One update HERE (TMZ’s spy is probably Ryan Seacrest. LOL. Can you say producer planted?)
Read an excerpt after the jump
Those who got the boot yesterday include a female contestant from New York State who lost her job in order to come out to L.A. Another booted contestant, a male from Louisiana, raised $1, 000 from his co-workers to spend while in L.A. And a third hopeful who’s returning home today, is partly happy, since his wife is about to give birth very soon.
Once even more hopefuls are eliminated, the remaining twelve will leave their Pasadena hotel and live together in a huge Mediterranean-style mansion in L.A.
The solo performances kicked off on Tuesday, but will continue on Wednesday. Sources say the hopefuls sang for seven to thirty seconds in front of judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, but didn’t receive a critique from them then. After the performance, say sources, the executive producer briefly collaborated with the judges and a decision was made.
But making the decision isn’t that tough, says one source. “You can tell the ones that have the right energy.” And “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest tweeted on Tuesday, “good first day of idol hwood week today. Lots of good voices but who can set themselves apart and rise above all the voices? That is a star!”
Sources tell TooFab that as part of the process, contestants also tape a “confessional, ” during which they identify themselves, say why they want to be the next “Idol, ” and then if cut, offer a final thought on being booted.
