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July 25, 2008 - 11:43AM
'Idol time’: Talent show hopefuls flood Glendale
Chris Hansen Orf, Tribune
It was so early that drivers still needed headlights, but thousands of singers had already lined up on Friday morning outside Jobing.com Arena in Glendale to audition for “American Idol.”
Slideshow: American Idol auditions
“This is my third year trying out,” said independent R&B singer Jeremia Lipsey, who previously had auditioned in San Diego and Seattle. “Never give up!”
With a sign that read “3x is a charm,” the 25-year-old from Phoenix stood in the front of a line that by 5:30 a.m. already contained about 2,000 people — and had more than tripled by 7 a.m.
The enthusiasm was palpable — and produced. Cameramen and producers buzzed up and down the lines getting footage for the program, and past contestants Brandon Rogers (season six) and David Hernandez (season seven) conducted interviews, signed autographs and took pictures with other “Idol” hopefuls.
Many contestants cheered and sang, but a few kept quiet.
“I’m sorry, I’m saving my voice,” one man told a local TV crew who asked to interview him.
“Idol” senior producer Patrick Lynn said he was impressed with the long lines of singers waiting to audition.
"I am overjoyed and surprised at what people will put up with in terms of heat (to audition),” Lynn said. “It is hotter than Hades out here.”
It was so hot and humid, in fact, that crowds were let into the arena early — at 7 a.m. instead of the expected 8 a.m.
“I have a few (jitters),” said Christianne Jones of Las Cruces, N.M., as the line began to move into the arena for the auditions. “But’s that good — it keeps me focused.”
The 20-year-old said she showed up at 4 a.m. in cowboy boots and hat — “I’m a country girl” — and planned to sing the Patsy Cline classic “Crazy” for the judges.
Friday’s auditions were only a preliminary round: Producers will whittle down the contestants, who will return in September to audition for “American Idol” star judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. That round will be filmed and aired when season eight begins in January, and finalists will be invited to Hollywood to be systematically weeded out until the next champ is crowned.
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