So, American Idol is on its last leg, promising to end its run with the fifteenth and final upcoming season, and they’re looking to go out with a bang. A show that once dominated the entire American cultural from TV to the music charts has fallen on hard times and tough ratings as shows like The Voice and others have moved into the Reality TV competition space and gobbled up viewers.
But American Idol is not going down without a fight, and is looking to field their strongest roster of participants yet. No stone is being left unturned apparently, and they’ve even resorted to reaching out to some quite unusual individuals with special VIP invitations for private tryouts, proving just how clueless the show’s talent scouts are, while also offering an interesting insight into how they actually find contestants. Not since Jason Isbell was asked to try out for The Voice have we seen such a ridiculous scenario unfold from a reality show.
And it looks like Kevin Sekahni’s name can be added to the list of cool old roots musicians being asked to participate. Kevin as you know is the frontman for the Louisiana-based old-time tent revival and rowdy honky tonk band The Mercy Brothers and recently released a new solo album called, Day Ain’t Done—has received an invitation. But like other musicians that were invited he’s just a little too old to qualify. Check out a part of the email sent to Kevin…
Hi Kevin
Thought you might be interested in this:
We are in the final week of casting for our final
VIP audition for the final season of American Idol!indie
Interested??
Whether he was interested or not, the problem came in the next paragraph:
We are looking for singers and artists of all
styles, male and female, ages 15 to 28. These VIP
auditions are for ‘industry and personal
referrals’ only, NOT for the general public!
Sounds like a lack of research on the casting company’s part to me… These special VIP invitations aren’t coming from American Idol directly, but a company representing American Idol called Tami B Casting. Tami Brandel boasts that she is the “real casting director of Hollywood,” and also casts for other reality shows such as Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Hell’s Kitchen. It’s through such agencies that contestants are put at the front of the line for auditions, while the throngs of people who show up to the publicized auditions are mostly for show.
It’s just a shame Kevin Sekhani doesn’t qualify. It would give all of us a reason to tune in.
-Matt@1063RL
