Popstars 2: Searching For Success
"Popstars 2" producers are trying to repeat the first series' solid gold success, this time with a mixed band of young women and men.
The first "Popstars" last season was a big success story. AOL Time Warner, which owns The WB, saw big ratings for the TV show and success for the single "Get Over Yourself," released by sister company 143 Records.
Eden's Crush, the band picked from thousands of women in America, went on to open for 'N Sync this summer. In fact, the new group, a mix of Hawaiian and Latino singers, has a richer musical texture than most pop groups. Maybe more bands should be formed from this kind of audition process.
Will corporate synergy lead to another hit group? That's the question when "Popstars 2" premieres at 8 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 18) on The WB.
"We have decided to go with boys and girls," executive producer Scott A. Stone said at a Pasadena, Calif. news conference. "It's been a long time since there's been a mixed-gender band that has really hit it in the pop music world. So we are kind of putting our necks out there a little bit in order to do this."
"Popstars 2" auditioned about 5,000 women and men (ages 18-25) in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Miami. This time, they were singing a Destiny's Child song.
"We've heard 'Say My Name' way too many times," co-executive producer David Perler said. "And we hear it in our sleep."
Perler and others got a break when the singers auditioned with another song, "I'm Like a Bird."
The singers must survive each round of auditions, learning choreography and vocal styles along the way. The first "Popstars" was more positive than most "reality" shows, with the contestants appearing to support each other.
Still, even if everyone's hugging one another, the show is first and foremost about competition.
"It's the American way," Stone said. "People love winners. You either have a winner or loser in a political campaign, sporting events, beauty pageants _ you name it; they're all about eliminating and having a winner. And people enjoy watching it. And so why should that be any different on these (reality) shows?"
Like Eden's Crush, the new band will live together in a Los Angeles house and get a crash course in becoming stars.
