'Idols On Tour'
TV Week Website - February
What happens when the Idols – including one gender illusionist and one cranky judge – hit the road together? TV WEEK went behind the scenes to find out.
The Idols are relaxing before their big Sydney show. Levi Kereama and Lauren
Buckley are sitting down to a pre-show meal at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
cafeteria.
No one can wipe the smile off Levi’s face these days. The 19-year-old’s band,
Lethbridge, have just scored a plum record deal with Sony Music.
Between bites he reveals that the group will soon be heading to the US to record
their first single with powerhouse hip-hop producers The Neptunes, the team
behind much of Justin Timberlake’s Justified album.
“It’s all happening,” says the 19-year-old. “We are going to fly to Virginia and
do some stuff. It’s all original and they are going to mix it up for us.”
On another table the glamorous Courtney Act, a special guest on the tour, tucks
into a man-sized steak and chats to new best friend Sophie Monk – who is here to
swap make-up tips with Courtney and catch the show.
Guy Sebastian enters the room, chatting on his mobile phone. He sits by himself
at the dining table, enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet.
Things are rowdier in the girls’ dressing-room, where Kelly Cavuoto and Paulini
Curuenavuli gossip and Cosima De Vito tries on outfits.
“This whole tour is great,” says Kelly, the new co-host of Network Ten’s Video
Hits. “It’s way more chilled. There is no more competition, it’s better this
way”.
In the boys’ dressing-room, imposter Cle Wootten is harassing a tired-looking
Rob “Millsy” Mills. “I can’t even speak,” groans the party boy. “I had a big
night last night.”
Millsy also scored a record deal after Idol and is set to record an album. “It’s
going to be rocky sort of stuff,” he says.
The Idols are interrupted by a producer for the “meet and greet”. This is where
VIPs and competition winners meet the Idols, have autographs signed and pictures
taken.
Outside, the crowds are gathering for the show and a muffled screaming noise can
be heard coming from the other side of the door.
The always-inquisitive Cle decides to open it. The Idols are deafened by
high-pitched screams from hundreds of young female fans who are behind a
12-foot-high gate. One by one the Idols peek their heads around the door,
sending the fans into a frenzy.
As they prepare to go on stage, Shannon reflects on the huge success of the
tour.
“To be honest, I was a dubious about how it would go but it’s been terrific. I
knew it would be big just because the show was, but they (the fans) are
amazing."
“You could trip over and fall on your forehead on stage and they would cheer!”