From the Magazine: Tarnished Idol
When it comes to TV’s most popular show, how come Philly hits all the wrong notes?
While American Idol fans across the country count down the weeks to the coronation of the newest pop-star pinup this month, Philadelphians watch with broken hearts. Even after our city hosted Idol auditions (for the first time in the show’s seven-year history), not one local out of the 20,000 who auditioned at the Wachovia Center squeaked past Randy, Paula and Simon to make it to the Top 24.
Bypassed Idol glory is something of a trend for us. Since the show’s debut, only four locals have made it as far as the semis. And two of those four have proved as dispensable as Simon’s black tees. Philadelphia’s Nicole Tranquillo and Point Pleasant’s Antonella Barba (both from Season 6) quietly returned to school after getting the boot. Tranquillo still has her local hip hop/R&B band, Soul School; Barba still has, well, those Internet pictures.
Doylestown’s Justin Guarini (Season 1) and pride of Neshaminy High Anthony Fedorov (Season 4) — who lost at the heels of eventual Idol all-stars Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, respectfully and respectively — fared better: Guarini made it to the finale, and Fedorov cracked the Top 4. For them, the show opened doors. While neither is opening for Bon Jovi (like famed Season 5 fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry), they’re not serving sundaes at TGI Friday’s, either. “The exposure alone was worth its weight. It would have taken me years to achieve what I did in that summer,” says Guarini, who is working on his third album, hosts a TV Guide Channel show and blogs for Comcast. Fedorov, now touring with a Debbie Reynolds dance spectacular, agrees. “Every performer, every singer, dreams of a chance — that one-in-a-billion chance. That small window you can slip into somehow,” he says. “Without the show, I wouldn’t have had that chance.”
Hoofing with Debbie? Blogging for Comcast? Okay, not exactly the same as climbing the Billboard charts. But look at it this way: We’ll always have Jill Scott. — Amy Strauss
May 1st, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Sure, touring with Debbie Reynolds isn’t the Billboard chart- but considering the Billboard chart is comprised almost entirely of mindless drivel now anyway, I’d much prefer touring with Debbie. Kudos to both Anthony and Justin for continuing to follow their dreams.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
We have not heard the last of Anthony Fedorov. He is now recording his debut album after having written several great songs. Check out his myspace http://www.myspace.com/anthonyfedorovmusic and while you are on his MySpace check out the Anthony Street Team Myspace.
Anthony has never given up on his dream.
There is a lot more to come.
His fans are known as The Fedoration and www.anthonyfanclub.com is his website where you can read his posts and all that is happening.