Who are all these people in town? Walking around in a daze? Singing?
They are the wannabes, in Denver this weekend for the “American Idol 5” tryouts.
Here’s the skinny on the auditions coming down today.
Hopefuls showed up at dawn Saturday to get wristbands and then stand around, maybe get filmed by Fox singing something. Those who so desired could spend the night in the stadium. That’s going to be a haunting image, thousands camped out in a stadium.
You can still register early this morning, so get outta bed and get down to Invesco at Mile High, gate 10.
“Idol” rep George Cabico would not say how many registrants are expected – but I expect thousands. Maybe tens of thousands. Denver is one of six regional tryout centers this year – San Fran, Austin, Boston, Memphis, Denver and Chicago. But Memphis was canceled last Monday in the wake of Katrina.
The singing starts this morning – as they warble for about a dozen of the show’s producers. Those good (or bad) enough to go forward, head to a local hotel Monday and sing for the executive producers of the show, Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe.
If you make it that far, you get to return to Denver on Sept. 29 to sing for the dudes: Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. And then – “You’re going to Hollywood!”
Fire!
Fans of firefighters went to Market 41 in LoDo Friday night for the unveiling of the 2006 Colorado Firefighter Calendar. No matter how hot you find these guys, the cover warns everyone: “The fires in the following photographs were controlled by professional firefighters. Do not attempt to re-create.”
Heck, I don’t even take my shirt off! You can chop carrots on these three female and 14 male stomachs. The $14.95 goes to the Children’s Hospital Burn Center.
Steak au Tender
With raves reviews just in from Newsweek, New York Observer, Entertainment Weekly and N.Y. Times, L.A. Times correspondent J.R. Moehringer kicks off his national book tour for “The Tender Bar” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tattered Cover Cherry Creek. And that fits, because he lives a few blocks away and spent time there reading proofs of the book.
He’ll speak and sign – then there’s a reception/party following at Steak au Poirve at 231 Milwaukee. Everybody’s welcome.
Play ball
Charles Master’s Brix restaurant is the anti- anti-bistro on Sunday nights. Master hates sports and outlaws it from the bar’s TV. But he’s off Sundays, so the game is on and Brix serves sliders, hot wings and chili dogs. Urp.
City spirit
Aaron Whitcomb at Table 6 makes a mean bouillabaisse sandwich in the new Food & Wine … Denver School of the Arts kid Akil LuQman starred as Simba in the touring company of “The Lion King” – and now his family needs some help, because their home burned to the ground last week. See John Moore’s Theater column on Page 4F for details … Sez who: “Start every day with a smile and get it over with.” W.C. Fields
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
