Will Good Orlando Magic Juju Wear Off on Idol Contestants?

FOX television’s American Idol is holding their 9th season auditions in Orlando this year at Amway Arena, the home of the NBA Basketball team, the Orlando Magic. Over the next two days, hopeful Idol contestants can register for a chance to audition in front of the show’s producers on Thursday, July 9. Of those, a few will be chosen to perform later this summer in front of Idol’s Fabulous Four: judges Simon Cowell (sigh!), Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi McCuddy (recently married, Kara McCuddy has a nice ring to it and is easier to spell).

In a city built up by Disney, “where dreams really do come true,” and where the Cinderella team, the Orlando Magic surprised many critics by making it all the way to the NBA finals this year, could Orlando, maybe even Amway Arena itself, actually be truly “magical?”

Although talent is the first requirement, luck does play a part in getting to audition live in front of the famous Idol judges. You have to stand out – have a magnetic personality, be cute or gorgeous, dress outrageously, or sing phenomenally for the producers as they survey the crowd.

Sadly, TVgrrrrl is too old to audition this year (over 28). Boo hoo! I wouldn’t make the cut, anyway (As Simon says, I’m “too ordinary”). But, it would be fun to just “be there” amidst all the excitement at Amway Arena.

If you are planning to stand in line for a ticket, there’s no magic which will protect you from the sun and the heat – bring your sunscreen, lots of bottled water (no coolers allowed within a certain area), a hat, a folding chair, a fold-up poncho to stay dry during our wacky 10 minute rain storms; or even better -- a close friend or family member to put up an awning over the sidewalk and watch your cooler and stuff when it’s your turn to go inside. Don’t forget to read the FAQ’s, rules and release form online before showing up.

For the best juju, practice lots of “magic” songs, such as:
Abracadabra -- Steve Miller
A Kind of Magic – Queen
Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac
Blue Magic – Jay-Z
Do You Believe in Magic -- The Lovin’ Spoonful
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – The Police
It’s Magic -- The Fender’s
Magic Man – Heart
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Magic – The Cars
Magic – Pilot
Strange Magic -- ELO
That Old Black Magic – Johnny Mercer
This Magic Moment – The Drifters

When You Wish Upon a Star -- Jiminy Cricket

You Can Do Magic -- America

In your down time, you can also visit the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World. If I were a betting girl, I’d go there when the judges visit later this summer – you never know, they might just show up for a TV promo!

Read the TV Guy column (no relation) online at Orlando Sentinel.com and see photos of competitors waiting outside, by Joe Burbank.

Don’t Miss the NBA Draft --A Reality Show With More Drama than a Soap Opera

Darrell Arthur didn't take his draft pick disappointment lying down. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images)

Last year, despite my grumbling, my husband convinced me that we should watch the NBA Basketball Draft. I assumed it would be more boring than watching golf or tennis. Boy, was I surprised! Talk about drama!

Tonight, the draft will air at 7 PM EST, ESPN (Channel 29 on Brighthouse in Orlando), broadcast live from Madison Square Garden.

Whether you like basketball or not, the draft offers a peak into the world of the celebrations and bitter disappointments of the hopeful soon-to-be-rich-and-famous of the athletic world. Dressed in their Sunday best and surrounded by loving and proud, mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, uncles and aunts, are the players who believe themselves to be the best of the very best.

The 30 NBA teams will get to pick in an order based on their season record, with the worst teams picking first and the best teams picking last in an attempt to even the playing field. The actual order is determined by a complex lottery. (An explanation is on Wikipedia. Here’s the 2009 draft pick team order on the NBA website.) Teams can also sell and trade away their “picks” as is the case with the Orlando Magic, who traded their picks to the Oklahoma Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies. No one knows in advance what exactly will happen.

Although most players have an idea of their potential value, some will sadly be passed over. It can be gut wrenching. Last year, I watched as Darrell Arthur, a 20-year old who had just won the NCAA championship at the University of Kansas, got passed over time and time again. He was expected to be picked first or second. But, Round 1 was almost over and Arthur still had no team. Arthur’s family had come to celebrate with him and were now consoling each other in tears. Everyone at home, watching on TV, was rooting for Arthur. “Why won’t they pick him?” we all wondered.

Sports commentators hypothesized that he was rumored to have a health condition. It would be risky for a team to pick up a player who ends up too unhealthy to play – they would still be required to pay him over the length of his contract.

Arthur was finally picked 27th by the Charlotte Hornets on behalf of the Portland Trailblazers (God Bless team owner, Paul Allen), but then traded away. He’s now a healthy power forward for the Memphis Grizzlies. With Memphis having one of the most dismal records this year, they get the number 2 pick for two rounds, plus one of Orlando’s picks. Surprise, surprise, Arthur could be on a playoff winning team next year.

Some players drop out before the draft rather than face public humiliation. Others take the gamble that they could be picked just to fill up a roster.

From your armchair, you’ll find yourself yelling, “Pick Ty! Pick Jeff!” from your favorite college teams. When another player is chosen, you’ll yell, “No, not him, you idiot!” and throw Cheetos at the screen.

Here’s a great list of who’s who in the draft compiled by Chad Ford of ESPN.

Good Morning America! --You’re Missing a Great Opportunity to Broadcast Live From Orlando!

The NBA Basketball Finals are being held in Orlando this year, thanks to an incredibly talented Orlando Magic basketball team. The City of Orlando, in typical “O-town" entertainment-style has rolled out the blue magic carpets and spared no expense welcoming all of the wonderful NBA fans and reporters with blue and white balloons, banners, manicured gardens, clean streets, fresh paint, free Lymmo buses, and comfortable outdoor seating. Except for the time zone (and no volcanos), you’d think you were in Waikiki!

TVgrrrrl, thanks to a cleverly-worded sign and an ambitious ABC roving camera crew, managed to get herself and her posse of friends on ABC TV last night as the Magic beat the Lakers 108 to 104! How very cool!

However, the ABC presence stops there. Where is the Good Morning America crew? Back at home in NY, safely shielded behind the sterile blue windows of their studio on Broadway with a subdued “live” studio audience standing like statues in the background. Ah, snore… No wonder the show always lags behind NBC’s “Today Show” in ratings. (According to Nielsen, on May 14, 2009 the Today Show marked it’s 700th week as network television’s most popular morning show. Do the math – that’s over 13 years!)

Why isn’t Good Morning America here in Orlando broadcasting live from Amway Arena during the NBA finals? Or perhaps from the quaint brick-lined restaurant and business district, perhaps in the Orange County Historical Museum park at Central and Magnolia? Or on Lake Eola? Or perhaps from outside their own affiliate studios at WFTV Channel 9 in downtown Orlando?

Or, here’s a thought – Disney World?

ABC is owned by Disney. It’s not like they’d have to get permission and pay stiff royalties. It’s the same company. Even their websites show the melding of their identities. (ABC TV, Walt Disney World)

While ABC is broadcasting for the NBA, they might want to look around and think about possibly setting up permanent shop in Orlando. Strategically located on the opposite end of the United States, but still in the eastern time zone, Orlando, a city built around Disney World, is a major entertainment destination, a family-friendly city, and a regular stop on celebrity tours. The cost of living is lower than New York City, so employees can live quite comfortably on lower salaries. ABC Disney already owns several buildings where the network could build their sets. Despite all the bad publicity about hurricanes in Florida, the city of Orlando is actually in the center of the state, far from the coast, and 98 feet above sea level. Yes, it can get quite hot in the summer, but mornings are usually cool and you simply can’t beat our balmy winters and moderate weather 8 months out of the year.

I suppose that at one time, it would have been next to impossible to base a major television network, much less a morning show, in a city other than New York. However, due to improved technology, television shows can now broadcast from the ends of the earth – literally.

Rather than continuously compete for viewership and a live, vivacious audience in densely network-populated New York, why not break the mold and move to Orlando? O-town welcomes you!