‘ Idol’ ticks down to its final bow
TUESDAY, MARCH 22
Wardrobe and dry blocking
10: 30 a. m. — Wardrobe room
La’Porsha Renae lets out a giddy squeal while eyeing the six swatches of fabric one of the show’s wardrobe assistants, Jo Castellanos, has handpicked for her upcoming performance. The 22- year- old powerhouse singer is jubilant about the gold shimmery leggings and trench coat Castellanos has detailed. From a nearby dressing room, fellow contestant Dalton Rapattoni emerges wearing a black suit. The 22- year- old rocker Dalton wants the suit ravished with neon paint: “I really want to show the juxtaposition of formality and chaos.”
1: 40 p. m. — Office of Trish Kinane, “Idol” executive producer
Kinane huddles with coexecutive producers Jessica Castro and Megan Michaels Wolflick around a storyboard, discussing where to place segments. In addition to the finalists’ performances, they must juggle the customary video tie- in with sponsor Ford, a performance by mentor Sia, the finalists’ trip to NASCAR, guest performances from “Idol” alums Katharine McPhee and David Cook and a crossover promotion for “The Angry Birds Movie.” 2: 12 p. m. — Idol stage
Trent Harmon is practicing a bluesy take on ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” After a take, the soulful crooner gets a few notes from associate musical director/ vocal coach Michael Orland, who guides him through the opening melody by tapping his hand on his chest as Trent, 25, follows the pace. After a second take, he gets more notes from in- house mentor and Big Machine Records founder Scott Borchetta.
3: 44 p. m. — Idol stage
“Next victim … you’re up,” stage manager Debbie Williams shouts as finalist Sonika Vaid, who was watch- ing rehearsals with her mother, walks onstage. The band begins Celine Dion’s “Love Me Back to Life.” Sonika’s mother wipes away tears as the 20- year- old nails the first take. She goes through the song a few more times, getting notes from musical director Rickey Minor in- between.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
Rehearsals
11: 42 a. m. — Idol stage
Rehearsals are running behind schedule. Onstage, the band tinkers with the arrangement of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Singersongwriter MacKenzie Bourg is in the audience playing his guitar. Dalton emerges on set with a wide smile, elated his wardrobe idea from yesterday came together. His suit is covered in bright paint spanning from his waist to his ankles. When the lights go down, the splashes of orange, green and red paint give him a trippy glow.
12: 33 p. m. — Idol stage
La’Porsha enters the soundstage with wardrobe stylist Laury Smith. Her hair falls in long, golden twists down her back — the result of 15 hours of work from her mother. She’s wearing an olive trench coat, and shimmery gold leggings peek out from underneath. Dalton sneaks up from behind the stage and spooks her before wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug. Among the contestants, these two appear the closest.
2: 50 p. m. — Contestant’s lounge
Associate producer Kate Tucci delivers fan mail. Threatening/ negative notes, food and fan- written lyrics are off- limits. Sonika unwraps an action figure of WWE star John Cena, which confuses everyone. Dalton whoops when he opens a Harry Potter mug. La’Porsha is moved by a handwritten note that reads “You are beautiful inside and out,” along with a T- shirt with a drawing of her likeness and the words “My hair is art.” “It’s kinda cool to see that the fans pick up on what they like,” Tucci says. “They get a lot of stuff, but the letters are always the greatest.”
THURSDAY, MARCH 24
Show day 10 a. m. — Stage 36 at CBS Television City
It’s hectic on set — the amount of people present seems to have tripled from the day before as entourages buzz about and production works to set up soundcheck.
10: 05 a. m. — Contestant’s lounge
La’Porsha and Sonika are getting their makeup done. Across the room, Dalton stretches out on a couch, going over his song before squeezing in a short nap. MacKenzie, 23, strums his guitar in the corner.
11 a. m. — Kinane’s office
“American Idol” home- visit stories always have huge emotions. “How do we keep it fresh and get what we need while doing something that feels right for this farewell season?” Kinane asks the producers who are meeting to talk about what the final four will do in their hometowns over the weekend. Food is a common thread. Pot roast and jelly meatballs for Dalton, Southern food for La’Porsha, crawfish for MacKenzie, pastries for Sonika. Trent will visit his parent’s restaurant to serve patrons. “Are we not feeding them right?” Kinane says, laughing. “It’s interesting these kids come from where they come from and we stick them in Hollywood where you have to eat quinoa and kale and sushi, and they’re craving their home foods.”
11: 23 a. m. — Control room
Kinane arrives at the control room ahead of dress rehearsal. The show begins with a stand- in for host Ryan Seacrest reading Seacrest’s lines from a teleprompter. The show’s director, Phil Heyes, is bouncing to La’Porsha’s take of “Wanted Dead or Alive” as he calls camera cues. Nearly 30 screens capture every angle of the action. Kinane pulls her headset aside to offer some insight on the f low of the dress rehearsal, noting the contestants pick names out of a hat beforehand to determine the order they sing because voting results are live.
11: 32 a. m. — Idol stage
The audience is packed with family and friends of the crew. Also present are local youth groups and students. Ryan Seacrest, dressed in joggers and a hooded sweatshirt, enters to cheers. He introduces Season 7 winner David Cook, who performs his new rock ballad, “Heartbeat.” A video montage of “Idol” victors throughout the years plays behind him. Seacrest later admits getting emotional and choked up. MacKenzie and Trent run through their songs, much to the joy of the young crowd — particularly the girls. Producers run through the rest of the show, replete with improvised judge comments from stand- ins and a fake elimination, which sends Trent offstage.
4: 15 p. m. — Idol stage
Sia takes the stage to pretape her performance of “Cheap Thrills” in front of the judges and audience. The finalists crowd a backstage monitor to watch. After Sia’s performance, she’s escorted to the finalists and gives them more words of encouragement. Kinane has left her post in the control room to venture to the judge’s trailers. She goes from trailer to trailer to have one- on- one briefing meetings about the night’s show. Harry Connick Jr. doesn’t like a lot of details on the show, Kinane says. After meeting with Jennifer Lopez, the superstar remains in her trailer to spend time with her twins — after the show, she’s off to Russia to do a private performance at a wedding. Kinane then pops into Keith Urban’s trailer for a quick chat about the show.
5 p. m. — Idol stage
“Welcome to the incredible, nationwide talent competition we call ‘ American Idol,’ ” Ryan Seacrest says to kick off the live show. A few things viewers at home don’t see on TV: Production members coming out to greet “Idol” alum Blake Lewis and Elliott Yamin. During commercial breaks, Urban takes numerous selfies with fans standing in the pit. Lopez focuses on having reading time with son Max.
7: 11 p. m.— Kinane’s office
With the live show over, Kinane, along with the show’s director, Phil Heyes, longtime “Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and the show’s creator, Simon Fuller, gather to toast another week — the beverage of choice is Fuller’s own wine named after his daughter, Grace. Digital and social producer Carly Segal has arrived to discuss the buzz she’s seeing after the East Coast airing of the show. Senior supervising producer Patrick Lynn pokes his head in but only briefly — he’s off to a party for the crew across town.