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Friday, December 13, 2002
Talent Show's Star Is Born -- Once Again
By Leanne Potts
Of the Journal
All of you who want to become famous but would rather skip the day job, the garret apartment and the years of struggle that generally precede pop star fame will be happy to learn that "American Idol" wasn't your only shot at an express ride to the top.
More talent shows are coming soon to a TV near you.
CBS has announced it will revive "Star Search," the '80s kitsch classic. Fox is planning an "American Idol 2." And USA Network is at this moment auditioning thousands of people across the nation for a spot on its "Nashville Star" talent show.
Everyone loves the idea that all that stands between a young singer and stardom is winning a TV contest. But do these shows really unearth new artists or just ladle up pop star poseurs?
John Wagner, owner of an Albuquerque recording studio and 40-year veteran of the music business, says the current wave of talent shows are more about entertaining the audience than finding new talent.
"It's almost like a game show," said Wagner, who was a judge in KBQI-FM's semifinals last month for "Nashville Star." "People (at home) can participate, and it touches everyone's secret little desire to sing."
Bob Dylan would never have won a talent show, Wagner said. Neither would Willie Nelson.
And both Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly were turned away from a 1950s talent show called "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts."
That's because talent contests generally don't reward contestants who bring their own interpretations to songs.
"These contests are set up to find people that can sing other people's songs really well," he said. "They can copy anything. But if you give them a new song they won't know how to bring it any personality and character."
Brock Goodwin of Albuquerque took it a step further at the Big I's "Nashville Star" finals at Cowboys nightclub last Friday. Goodwin, of Albuquerque, wowed the crowd and won the contest with his original song, "Your Love Stands Alone," and by nailing Dwight Yoakam's "Guitars, Cadillacs."
Covers are fine, but it's the ability to bring a song to life, to imbue its lyrics with power that wasn't there before, Wagner said, that separates star-quality talent from someone with just a really good voice. "There are lots of people who can copy art that they could never have created," Wagner said.
"American Idol" appeared at an opportune time for both the music and television industries. The music industry is suffering from sagging sales and no clear sense of where the next New Thing will come from.
Television also seems to be out of new ideas and under the umbrella of reality TV has been dipping into old genres like game shows and now talent shows for new programming.
Talent shows are appealing to both industries because they are centered on unknown (and thus cheap) performers whose success will benefit the industries that catapult them to stardom.
Talent shows have a long history on TV. Before "American Idol" there was "Star Search." "The Gong Show" aired from 1976 to 1980. That was preceded by "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" show, which aired from 1948 to 1958, and "Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour," which aired from 1948 to 1970 and was a descendant of "Major Bowles' Original Amateur Hour" which began airing on radio in 1936.
"Nashville Star" will eventually feature 100 contestants chosen from 47 radio stations across the country and from an open, nationwide casting call. They will compete for a Sony Music recording contract.
Goodwin, the Albuquerque winner, will compete at a regional contest next month in either Los Angeles or Houston for a chance to be on the show.
During its eight-episode run beginning next March, contestants will work with talent coaches, stylists, choreographers and songwriters.
As in "American Idol," a panel of judges and the viewing audience will choose a contestant to be eliminated each week.
But "Nashville Star" will differ in that it will require contestants to sing an original song. The show's producers say that will keep the contestants from doing nothing more than mimicking an established star's style.
After last summer's "American Idol" juggernaut, the revival of "Star Search" seemed inevitable. The original, hosted by Ed McMahon, aired from 1983 to 1995 and featured struggling professionals — not amateurs — looking for a break. Drew Carey, Rosie O'Donnell, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears all got early exposure on "Star Search."
The new "Star Search" will air in January on CBS with a yet-unnamed host. Hopefuls will compete in four categories: adult singers (ages 18 and up), comedians (ages 18 and up), supermodels (women aged 18 to 28) and junior singers (ages 8 to 17).
A panel of four judges and the public will choose winners, and the winners will eventually compete in a final showdown. The judges won't be dishing out harsh criticism on air, like the "American Idol" judges did.
Which makes one wonder if the new "Star Search" will draw viewers in "Idol" quantities. Most "Idol" fans tuned in to see evil judge Simon deliver acerbic tongue lashings to contestants, not to hear Kelly Clarkson impersonate Aretha Franklin.
Talent show veterans
Here are some celebrities whose first fame came from national talent contests:
FRANK SINATRA: He was one of the Hoboken Four singing group on "Major Bowles' Original Amateur Hour" radio show in 1937.
GLADYS KNIGHT: A 4-year-old Gladys appeared sans Pips on "Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour" in 1948. She won.
TONY BENNETT: He sang on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" in the 1940s.
PATSY CLINE: Sang "Walkin' After Midnight" on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" in 1957.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: This member of 'N Sync appeared on "Star Search" in 1992 when he was 11 and still going by his real name, Justin Randall. He lost.
BRITNEY SPEARS: An 11-year-old Britney appeared on "Star Search" in 1992 — and lost.