Fox TV’s “American Idol” has a shortage of judges at the moment, but it’s doing fine with would-be contestants.
Nearly 50,000 people have turned out in the first four cities where tryouts have been held, according to series producers. Auditions for the singing contest’s 10th season started July 15 in Nashville.
The crowds of 16,000 in Nashville and 17,000 in East Rutherford, N.J., are among the biggest the show has ever seen – eclipsed only by the 22,000 that auditioned in Washington, D.C., for season four, a show spokeswoman said. Auditions will conclude at San Francisco’s AT&T Park on Aug. 19.
Earlier this year, “American Idol” expanded the pool by lowering the age eligibility a year, from 16 to 15 years old. The maximum age to audition remains 28.
A ‘historic’ season
Host Ryan Seacrest suggested another reason for the enthusiasm.
“I think people are sensing that season 10 is a historic moment, and they all want to take a shot at being the 10th American Idol,” Seacrest said at the New Jersey audition earlier this week.
The auditions continue in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday before the San Francisco finale.
