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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 28
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Male crooners tune up pipes for MTV show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“American Idol” hasn’t been to Atlanta for auditions since 2003, but MTV’s “Making the Band 4” believed the ATL is the place to find the next New Edition or Boyz II Men. The show, produced by frequent Atlanta visitor Diddy, screened more than 300 male crooners at Verve Lounge downtown on Saturday.
The judges were pleased with the a capella performances, saying the talent was better than Houston, Orlando or Los Angeles, the three previous audition cities.
“They came out, they represented, they could sing, they could dance,” said choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson after the first round.
Ultimately, they let through a generous 100 people on Day One but were much tougher Sunday, culling the talent down with a dance routine and singing to backing tracks. Only a handful will go to Hollywood for the semifinals.
Buzz watched a couple dozen of the wannabes perform before the judges. Three things got folks eliminated within seconds: a look they didn’t like, bad singing and forgetting the words.
“Learn the lyrics!” judge Ankh Ra Amenhetep would say over and over.
Among the songs some contestants mauled were “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men, “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition and “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder.
Michael Woodard of Palm Beach, Fla., had gotten cut in Orlando and came to Atlanta to try again. Gibson remembered him from the previous audition, noting, “Eye of the tiger, heart of a lion!” She then had him take off his choker, thinking it was constricting his singing.
The choker-less Woodard started tentatively but ended strong. The judges gave him a second chance. “You’ve got to get your energy up,” she advised. “I need more eye of the tiger!”
Fugees popular
Clarkston’s Fugees youth soccer team got a warm welcome at the Coastal Georgia Soccer Assocation tournament in Savannah this past weekend.
News of The New York Times’ recent story about the team and a subsequent $3 million movie deal had everyone in Savannah asking, “Where are the Fugees at?” said Beth Wasdin, tournament program director.
“Several have called wanting to have them over for dinner,” she said. “They’re like the most popular team here.”
Savannah residents came out with handmade signs welcoming the team, which is made up of refugee children from many countries, including Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Sudan and Iraq.
New York Times reporter Warren St. John plans to write a book about the Fugees, and the proposed movie will follow the struggles of coach Luma Mufleh, 31, in building the team and finding a permanent soccer field to use in Clarkston.
St. John, taking a break from reporting, was cheering the team on at the tournament. He declined to discuss statements by the mayor of Clarkston, who issued a release saying that the Times article had taken comments out of context. “I’m confident our story is accurate,” St. John said.
Mufleh clarified previous reports, saying the $500,000 from the movie deal will not go to buy real estate for a soccer field but instead will go to the Fugee Families Foundation, which will help not only with soccer, but with the greater needs of refugee families, such as education, health, employment and affordable housing.
Whitney’s prizes
That classy publication the National Enquirer picked up a few baubles from the recent Whitney Houston auction in New Jersey and is giving them away as prizes to lucky readers. The former Alpharetta resident had allegedly owed a storage facility more than $150,000. Among the prizes: pink silk-floral-print cropped pants by Dolce & Gabbana, an elegant white, crystal-studded belt and a thin crystal belt with matching choker.
The tabloid lawyers included this disclamer: “Not affiliated, sponsored, endorsed or associated with Whitney Houston.”
High Five
Top 5 search terms on Yahoo
For the week of Jan. 22
1. Paris Hilton
2. Britney Spears
3. Internal Revenue Service
4. Beyoncé Knowles
5. Lindsay Lohan
— Yahoo!
Late night jokes
“Is everyone excited about the Academy Awards? Helen Mirren was nominated for a tremendous role. She plays a stubborn, out-of-touch queen … I believe it’s based on the story of Elton John.”
— David Letterman
” A recent survey of drivers and their distractions found that 68 percent of drivers eat meals while driving; 73 percent talk on the phone while driving. Here’s the scary part: 98 percent filled out the survey while driving.”
— Jay Leno
Celebrity birthdays
Actor John Forsythe is 89. Actor Tom Selleck is 62. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey is 53. Actor Nicholas Turturro (“NYPD Blue”) is 45. Actress Sara Gilbert (“ER,” “Roseanne”) is 32.
Contributing: Reagan Walker and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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