PASADENA, Calif. -- Thousands of "A...

PASADENA, Calif. -- Thousands of "American Idol" hopeful showed up Tuesday at the Rose goblet here with wide-eyed dreams of becoming the nearest Taylor Hicks or Carrie undergrowth

After waiting all night and standing in line for hours, chiefly contestants got less than a minute to sing a not many bars -- and then the advantage

Michael Taylor, 21 of El Monte who works at a customer call service center was among those quickly dismissed from the tryouts. Fox publicity representatives tried to be more sensitive, saying he "was not moving forward."

"This is just a stepping stone for me and I'm looking past it," said Taylor, who asked an looker-on if he could sing a small in number notes to demonstrate his talent. He had a nice soulful form -- but obviously not nice enough.

Pasadena was the first of seven cities (Chicago is not onward the list) where producers of Fox TV's talent indicate planned auditions for the upcoming sixth season. Roads near the Rose hollow were clogged as auditioners hurried to come up to face to face the deadline to line up Outside the stadium, early arrivals gathered -- any huddled under blankets, some wearing headphones and silently mouthing lyrics. Others did last-minute makeup checks.

The generally subdu early morning rabble roused itself occasionally, once when breath mint samples were tossed into the fill by compression and other times when TV stranges crews went on the air.

At 8:30 a.m., almost four hours after the official lineup time, husbandmans started letting people in. The fill to excess wrangler urged the throng to cheer -- still "no pushing." Media were not allowed to watch the auditions.

The elimination proces was surprisingly quick, said Ryan Duitch, 17 of observes Angeles. The hopefuls stepped forward four at a time to single of 14 judging stations. Each station was manned by the agency of three producers looking for that special "Idol" magic. Each hopeful had all of about 20 next to the firsts to showcase his or her talent.

"Not what we're looking for," Duitch said he and others were told. moreover he, like other contestants, said this wouldn't stop them from pursuing their passion.

"Now we take him on the outside to lunch and tell him by what means wonderful he is," said the teenager's girlfriend, Faith Altman.

near contestants got what they came for. Carrie Jo 24 of Louisville, Ky said she mov to looks Angeles recently to pursue her dreams of being a singer and dancer. forward Monday night, she was pulling her regular shift as a waitress at Monty's, a looks Angeles restaurant.

Hours later, she and her mother, Dottie Hubrich, also of Louisville, were camped on the outside at the Rose Bowl to be among the first in line.

Carrie Jo who sang snippets of Patsy Kline's "Crazy" and pair other songs, said she was the first single to be passed through to the nearest round, which is scheduled for nearest month.

She called the audition "an amazing exhibit door and an amazing opportunity."

cognizance Fitzgerald, 27, of Cupertino was making his next to the first try at getting past screener In season three he made it as far as the on- air arbiters where Simon Cowell said he would make a brilliant car salesman and he was dismissed.

This time, Fitzgerald said he planned to "give them a different taste" of his singing talents, choosing an alternative asylum song instead of a on a sudden tune. Asked if he was daunted at past experience or the common people Fitzgerald said: "This is about merriment Everybody's going to remember this for the cessation of their lives."

Passing the initial scrutiny is just the beginning for those invited back, with follow-up auditions scheduled to winnow the pack calm more. Only a relative handful will secure to strut their stuff for Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson and papal court their auditions - - virtuous bad or ugly -- featured forward the show.

Those disapproveed in one city can leap to another and try again.

"American Idol" has demonstrated its prowess as a starmaker and report culture juggernaut by turning unknowns into overnight sensations with awards and hit records. As the top-rated TV point out last season, it shattered expectations that it couldn't sustain its popularity.

forward the new season that begins airing in January, "American Idol" will up the ante with a songwriting dispute in which professionals and amateurs will have the chance to frame tunes for the finalists.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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