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HSM: Get in the Picture Live Blog: "I Hope I'm on the Right Road"

Hey everyone so I decided tonight to try out the new High School Musical reality show. I'm one of the few people in this country who has never seen either of the films, but I love singing/dancing reality shows so I decided to give this a whirl!

Of course the beginning of the show is basically spent bragging about how successful HSM has been. Apparently it's been reproduced around the world and seen by over 400 million people! Hmmm maybe I should see it one of these days.

For this show six "faculty members" were tipped off by home videos as to some potential candidates for the show. Then they traveled the country and put the contestants to the test in on-the-spot auditions to see who has what it takes. So that means... no bad auditions on this show!! Oh wait there were open casting calls... oh well maybe they won't show some of the bad people (hopefully!) Anyway the top 12 will go to an HSM school to learn the tricks of the trade and meet some of the HSM stars. The winner gets to appear in a music video at the end of HSM 3 and will get a contract with ABC I think I read.

Nick Lachey (aka former boy bander and brother of DWTS finalist Drew) hosts this show. Good to see he's moved on from Jessica Simpson and is joining his bro in the reality TV world.

We start out with the open call in Orlando. Like AI contestants came from all over and lined up early in the morning to audition. Nick first meets with the six "faculty members"- Chris Prinzo, a dance and vocal coach, Regina Williams, a dance instructor, Jen Malenke, a vocal coach, Rob Adler, and acting coach, Montre Burton, a performing arts instructor, and a mystery woman whose name was not given. They basically all say they want someone with spunk and spirit to win the contest. Don't all musical reality shows want that?

So first up is Amy Hooker, a 20-year old former pageant girl. I read a lot of pageant girl audition for this, although I don't know if they will be any good or not. She impresses the unnamed judge by calling her "Ma'am". The singing started out really painful but once her nerves got out of her system she didn't sound that bad. The judge won't let her through but gives her good advice, telling her to believe what she sings.

Next is Matthew Scott, who auditioned for Montre. His aunt told him to audition. His voice is pleasant enough but not really amazing in my opinion. Montre says he doesn't have the vocal control yet and politely tells him no. And good for Matthew! Rather than cursing and crying like some rejected contestants on other shows, he stays positive and says it's not the end for him no matter what. I love that attitude!

Will Jordan Kauffman, a high school quarterback, be the first to get through to the next round? He has the looks although says he's a bit under the weather. He auditions for Rob. I wonder why only one judge watches each audition- maybe to prevent some of the fighting among the judges that inevitably occurs in the early rounds? Well if he is sick I can't tell because he sounds great! Definitely the best so far! Rob loves it too and sends him to the semifinals.

However a lot of other people are not getting through, leading to plenty of tears.

So this show basically skips through many of the open auditions and goes right to the on-the-spot auditions. Basically teachers or other people nominate contestants for the show. The faculty judges picked out their favorites and went to watch them audition. This is good for those who maybe can't afford to travel long ways to try out. The contestants know they are being filmed but not that they were actually nominated for the show, however, so it might be hard to judge how well the auditioners handle pressure. Then the best part- the faculty members who liked the auditions would tell the contestants on the spot that they made it to the next round of a competition they didn't know they had entered! That will surely lead to some surprised and happy faces!

Montre heads up to Madison, WI to see a guy named Domingo who was nominated by his drama teacher. Montre could tell by the submission tape that Domingo could act but he needed to make sure Domingo could sing as well. So he sneaks in and watches his solo from the audience. Domingo sounds really good! I personally like Jordan's audition better but Domingo has skills as well! Plus he's singing "Go the Distance" from Hercules, one of my favorite songs! Montre then comes up onstage and introduces himself and tells Domingo he made the cut. His classmates around him go nuts while Domingo just stands there in disbelief! Meanwhile a girl in the chorus in a red dress named Tierney had sung a brief duet with Domingo and sounded good as well. Montre then on the spot asks her to audition too! Wow she's amazing! And she sings "Reflection", another great Disney song. Montre asks her to come to the semifinals as well, and she and Domingo share a hug! Aw...

Meanwhile Rob Adler goes to Maine to check out another pageant girl named Kristen, who was nominated by her voice teacher. Rob walks in to hear her duet with some guy with a really high and not as good voice. Kristen sounds pretty decent, but not as good as Tierney. Indeed Rob thinks Kristen needs to use her body more in her singing (I agree) and walks out without offering her the part. In his car he says how if she does this she'll be on the right road, and then hopes to himself that he's on the right road to the next destination. Funny line of the night so far!

The mystery faculty member, whose name we learn is Tiana Brown, a choreographer, then goes to see a girl named Lauren from PA. Tiana liked her fresh face and voice but feared she might be too shy to sing in public. For a show like this that might be a problem. Tiana shows up at a public concert, where Lauren sings with her band in front of a small crowd. Lauren has a country-type voice that may not be right for this show but is still pretty good. Tiana is impressed and comes up to introduce herself and tell her she made the semifinals! She's subdued but excited.

Now back to open auditions. Apparently these and the on-the-spot auditions are for the Eastern semifinals. I'm guessing tomorrow we'll see the auditions for the Western semifinals. First up now is Cosmo Clemens, who came here as his graduation gift! Wow that's a better gift than I got when I graduated high school! He is a self-proclaimed peppy and funny guy, and when he opens his mouth a beautiful voice comes out. His audition judge Tiana, though thinks he isn't good enough, and sends him on his way. I thought he was pretty good although his voice isn't stand-out amazing. At least these judges are nice to their rejected contestants, unlike some other judges.

Next is Joel Vazquez, who is a young 16 and auditions for Montre. He sings Stevie Wonder. He sounds okay but not great and then forgets the words. Big no-no at an audition. Montre says he's not ready and sends him off with a no as well. These judges are tough.

Hoping to make it through next is John Honaker, a self proclaimed class clown with a cute southern accent! He sings for Rob and looks really nervous. His voice is again decent but not spectacular. Rob says he needs some training but moves him through anyway to see how he can improve. I admit he has potential but I think Rob might be the nice judge of the group since I don't think Montre or Tiana would have let him through.

Now back to on-the-road auditions, in Amish Country of all places! Here Tiana hopes to meet James Wolpert, nominated by his dad. He is a member of a "raw" rock band according to Talia but James stands out. He's also only been singing for a year, which could hurt him. Talia comes to his concert and he does have a real good rocker voice. Again, not sure how that fits in to this contest but he certainly has potential. Tiana comes up on stage after his concert, which of course means he's getting to the semis because if he wasn't she'd have left by now. Sure enough he goes to the semis and gives Tiana a big hug!

Rob then goes off to Quincy, MA, home to a fun kid named Anthony nominated by his mom. Aw I loved these kids nominated by their parents! Rob sneaks in to see Anthony lead a pep rally to see if he's this fun-loving in person. He certainly has ton of energy. Then he starts singing the national anthem and is only okay, but his energy might be enough to get him through. Then we find out that his mother a while ago was hurt and couldn't work while his dad was laid off, so he and his family had to survive on little money. Well he won't have to worry about that if he wins this (not that I think he will- his voice isn't strong enough). And I guess Rob saw enough in Anthony's voice, as he comes out from the stands and gives Anthony a place in the semis. Anthony goes nuts, sliding across the gym floor! He may not have a great voice but he sure is fun!

And now back to the open auditions. Cesar De La Rosa is really nervous to sing in front of Montre. He immediately starts sweating and Montre tells him to relax. He sings "A Whole New World" (more Disney songs!). He sounds good but Montre says he's not ready because of the nerves. I guess I understand that- if he can't handle this how will he handle the semis?

A dancer named Aly Foster goes up next. She is a hip-hop dancer and shows Montre some good moves. She should go on So You Think You Can Dance! She sings another Disney song (I'm sensing a theme here)- "Colors of the Wind". Another great song! The high notes are really hoarse and offkey, and Montre says the song didn't fit her voice. Aly nods in agreement as Montre sends her on her way. These contestants really do take rejection well.

Next is a cheerleader named Brooke Aquirre. She's cute and auditions for Rob. She has an odd song choice in the theme to "The Jeffersons" but it shouldn't matter since she sounds great! One of the best girls so far! Rob loves it too and moves her up to the semifinals. When she comes out host Nick asks her to give the others some advice, and she says to "Be Yourself". Nick agrees, and he actually said a similar thing in an interview I read. He said that personality is what sets the contestants apart.

Tiana now goes on the road to Pittsburgh to meet Isiah, an athlete who plays flute. Well that's a combo you don't see everyday. She wants to hear him sing. She goes to his school play to see him sing and act and he sounds pretty good, but again he doesn't blow me away. He does hit a great high note at the end though. Tiana must like it too as she goes to his dressing room after the show and invites him to the semis in Disney World. Isiah doesn't believe it but is really happy.

We pick up in Georgia with Montre, who is meeting a guy named Coby, an honors student. His school is putting on HSM, so of course Montre goes right in to see how Coby plays (I believe) the role made famous by Zac Efron. The show itself seems really corny, but I think Coby sounds good. Montre though felt it was inconsistent and thus leaves without offering a spot in the semis.

Back at the open call we meet a nervous girl named Alyssa, who was in her local production of HSM, playing Gabriella even though she was late to the audition. Wow she must have been good! And she's dating the guy who played Troy in the show with her. Aww... Anyway she auditions for Rob and acts the song really well but I think she didn't quite hit the high notes. Rob notes these bum notes and again attributes it to nerves. He too refuses to let her pass on, even though he let another nervous contestant (John) go through before. Although to be fair John did not sing offkey like Alyssa did.

Briana Vega then steps in, and has never auditioned in her life. She fears rejection and actually is homeschooled. She went to visit the school once and saw unruly kids and decided it wasn't for her. A bit harsh to judge high school based on one experience but maybe it's for the best. Anyway she sings for Tiana ("Reflection" again) and is really good although not as good as the one who did that song before. Tiana agrees and sends her to the next round!

We next see Estefania Alegria (ooh her last name means "happiness). She's from Peru and just moved to the US a few years ago. Drama Club helped her learn English. She sings for Montre and sounds really great! She seems to have the personality too! Montre loves her positive quality but isn't sure she connected with the song. I don't know I agree. But it doesn't matter, as after the break she is put through to the semis. She screams loudly, prompting Nick to wonder what is going on. He goes to investigate and gets a huge hyper hug from Estefania.

And now "on the road again" After running from some gators in Louisiana, Rob goes to see Bailey in her school play. Her mom says that she always wants her way. In other words, she's perfect for reality TV! She looks and sounds a lot older than I thought in her play (in a good way!) She sounds fantastic! Rob then comes up onstage and sends her to the semis! This tough girl breaks down crying on stage.

Tiana then in in PA, a cute tomboy named Jeana. She first played sports and only auditioned for dance when her friend urged her to. Tiana watches her sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" really maturely although I think I've heard better singers tonight. Tiana though is impressed and sends her to the semis!

Back in the open auditions we meet Stephen Russell, who drove down from Mississppi. He sings "I'll Be" for Rob and sounds nervous but certainly has potential. Rob loves his effortlessness and sends him to the semis.

In the audition room one girl reveals that it's her birthday and asks Nick to sing for her. He sings and he's still got some pipes!! I forgot how great his voice is. Birthday girl aka Jessalyn comes in to audition for Rob. She has a pure, sweet voice, and Rob loves it too. He sends her off to the semis as a great birthday gift!

We end with some shots of rejected contestants crying (but not angrily, surprisingly). Nick seems to genuinely care for these people, telling one distraught girl that no one likes auditions, and that even he has been turned away. He tells her to learn from this and be better prepared for next time. Good advice all around!

So I enjoyed this show and can't wait to watch it tomorrow night! Anyone else like it too? And any early favorites? Post your comments below.

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HSM: Get in the Picture Live Blog: "I Hope I'm on the Right Road"