THIS is American Idol

Over a year ago I signed up to get tickets to the taping of American Idol. I love this show and I love watching it with my kids, they are just as into it as me. Its one of my silly little addictions but it is so fun to watch and discuss and dissect with friends. Can you imagine how stoked I was when that little email came through from On Camera Audiences? Hayley (you had to be 14 - she is almost and sure looks it), Chelsea (my sis in law) and Su (because we signed up together and promised each other) all headed up on Tuesday determined to make the taping and get good seats. When we finally got there we were told that my ticket was for the dress rehearsal (WHAT??????) - I was so upset and confused - I knew I pressed the live taping link, I know it - but my ticket had the time for the dress rehearsal. I was frustrated and then I was determined to do both.

After getting up to the security where they take away your phone and camera (NOOOO), we found the guy to talk to about standby. He told us to step aside from all the other hundreds of people and wait in a special spot. Can I just tell you that we got all sorts of stares and people looking at us. We didn't know what was happening but guessed it was something good. After awhile this older lady came up to him and started ranting about how long she had been there, dont you think we know what you are doing and on and on. He politely told her that she was going to get a seat and these ladies (US) would be standing and to calm down. After which he turned to us and made a crazy face and then whispered to us that we are going to the live taping as well - YESS - aah so happy! They took us in and we got to stand in the front of the mosh pit for the dress rehearsal. So fun. Its just like the real thing, taped, with fake judges who look just like the real ones, give their critiques and all. They also do some filming for the next nights show. So interesting. We were so close to them it was really cool and fun. After the show we found our guy and told us again to step aside while they got all the people off the lot and had all the people for the taping get in place. This stud of a guy brings us over these tickets and we were stoked - we didn't know where we were seated and we didn't care. That is until we went into the studio and found our seats - AAAH, couldn't even believe it.

So seated to the left of us was Anoop dogs family, to the left of us literally were Adams family and boyfriend. In front of us was Colbie Caillet, her mom, Kristen Bell, her friend, Vince Neil, his hoe. Behind us were Vonzell Solamen (past season AI), Jillian Barbarie and Terri (Simons old girlfriend). Cant even explain how exciting it all was. Also there was a desperate housewife and Camryn Manheim. It was beyond cool, we could read their texts hear all their conversations. We met Colbie, spoke to Adams family, smiled at the others. Then the judges came in and we were right behind Simon. Simon winked at me, Paula blew a kiss to Hayley and Kara did the 2 hand shake with me.

Some observations
1. The studio is so much smaller than you think
2. They are all so much skinnier than on T.V. - really Allison is so skinny, so is Danny and on T.V. I swear it adds at least 10 pounds, I couldn't believe it. Lil still has a big booty.
3. The judges left the show pretty much every commercial break, it was weird - to do what we dont know.
4. They have security in the audience posing as audience members and the second it is a commercial they put on their head set thing and follow the judges around.
5. There is ZERO doubt in my mind about Adam and his boyfriend - ZERO!
6. They all actually sounded better live.



Us with our golden, well blue tickets!

After the show we went over to the GROVE - hello coolest mall ever! We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory hoping some of the people from the show would too. No such luck the closest we got was Kris Allens family. We kept stalling hoping he would come in but sadly he didnt, I did get a wave during the dress rehearsal from him though. It was there at 8.05 that the first call came in about us on the show - you could totally see us - right behind Paula and Simon everytime they were shown - yay, we couldn't believe it. Then it was just hilarious, everyone kept getting texts and phone calls saying that they could see us - especially Hayley she got so many it was a joke. That was really fun cause we still hadnt seen it. We walked out side and heard a band playing - when we checked it out we realized it was Derek Hough and Mark Ballas from Dancing with the stars whose show was taping in the studio next door to AI. They were good. We saw there girlfriends off to the side - Shannon Elizabeth and one of the American Idol rejects. It was so fun there were also some other of the celebrities from the show. So Fun




Fun-nest night -I love the show. I came straight home and signed up to get tickets again. It was the first time I had ever been to a taping of something and thought it was really interesting. GT's for sure. The whole drive home we were singing Dannys song September (because we couldn't get it out of our heads) and making up new lyrics about our day. My stomach literally hurt the next day from laughing so hard.