'Burgh's 'American Idol' close-up airs this week
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As they so love to say in reality television, the journey begins.
FOX's "American Idol" kicks off Season 11 tonight at 8 with the first of several weeks of audition shows. The premiere features last summer's tryouts in Savannah, Ga., although Pittsburgh is in the spotlight tomorrow.
More than 12,000 would-be singers lined up at Heinz Field in July for their brief shots at fame. Producers listened to snippets of songs from each candidate, and an estimated 100 to 150 eventually were asked to sing for the big-name judges at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Sept. 29 and 30.
Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, along with the show's host, Ryan Seacrest and producer Nigel Lythgoe were ushered in for the famous/infamous "audition" shows that helped set the standard for early rounds in competitive reality shows.
The very good, the bad and the ugly will be center stage -- actually, shown singing in a very small, well-lit area that looks a lot bigger on TV. It's unknown how many from the Pittsburgh auditions will advance to the winnowing process in Hollywood.
This was the first time the city has been part of the audition process.
First Published January 18, 2012 12:00 am
