06-16-2006, 08:31 AM
Like the show or not, this would be great for publicity and would create a nice little burst of tourist spending.
Quote:`Idol' eyes BJCC for doing auditions
Friday, June 16, 2006
ROY L. WILLIAMS
News staff writer
Producers of "American Idol" are considering Birmingham as a possible audition site for the popular Fox television talent show.
Dennis Leonard, general manager of Fox 6 News in Birmingham, said Thursday he thinks there is a "very good possibility" that Birmingham will be selected as one of the cities where "American Idol" holds tryouts this fall for the 2007 season, which kicks off in January.
Leonard said Birmingham would be a natural host since it is the only metro area in the country to produce more than one "Idol" winner. Hoover native Taylor Hicks was voted 2006 "Idol" champ last month, joining 2003 winner Ruben Studdard of Birmingham. Last year's runner-up, Bo Bice, was from Helena.
Jack Fields, executive director of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, said "Idol" officials toured its facilities earlier this week. BJCC officials had worried that space limitations might make it difficult to win a host site.
"We've talked about how we can accommodate their needs," Fields said. "They said they would get back with us. Nothing has been finalized."
Leonard said Simon Lythgoe, son of "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, accompanied Hicks during his visit to Birmingham as a finalist on May 12 and came away impressed with the city.
"I sat with Simon for a long time when he visited our studio and talked about what a great place Birmingham is for `Idol,'" Leonard said. "He also discussed the possibility of coming here with Mayor (Bernard) Kincaid.
Lythgoe sent Leonard an e-mail saying that of all "Idol" programs since its conception, he has never seen such support for any contestant around the world and raved at how the city put together such a well-organized parade within a day of knowing Hicks was one of the top three finalists.
Leonard said another "Idol" producer had similar accolades for the BJCC after overseeing the show's live broadcast shots when Hicks won the contest. Efforts to reach Lythgoe and "Idol" officials Thursday were unsuccessful.
Leonard said Birmingham's talent pool and strong support of the program make it a perfect fit for "American Idol" auditions.
"It says a lot about this community the way they got behind Taylor, Ruben and Bo," he said. "This is a community that feels good about supporting winners. All three of them have been great ambassadors for Birmingham."
"American Idol" has been huge for the economics of Fox 6, with seven out of every 10 televisions in the viewing area watching the station when Taylor won the crown. "It was the equivalent of 10 Super Bowls for us," Leonard said.
The community benefited from "Idol" as Hicks, Studdard and Bice's successes filled many area restaurants and bars with fans attending viewing parties, said Leonard, who added that hosting an "Idol" audition would also be a big economic boost for the city.
Auditions in other cities have typically attracted several thousand people, most from outside the area, who often camp out days ahead of time, he said. Leonard said "Idol" has showcased the new face of Birmingham as a diverse, friendly city and countered negative images of 1960s civil rights unrest.
E-mail: rwilliams@bhamnews.com
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