news articles 1 may 2005

[Inside Australian Idol]

1000 ignore rain and cold for a shot at stardom
Sunday, 1 May 2005

MORE than 1000 people lined up in the rain and cold yesterday for the chance to be the nation's next Australian Idol.

The hit reality TV series Australian Idol held auditions in Hobart, looking for contestants for its third series, due to go to air in July.

Six girls and three boys were selected yesterday to go on to the next round of auditions in Melbourne on May 17.

The last round will be held in Sydney in late June with the final 100 competing for just 12 spots.

Hobart was the second stop for the Idol crew, which will spend more than six weeks on the road searching for talented singers.

Next stop is Adelaide, then Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney.

More than 50,000 auditioned for a spot on the TV show last series and organisers are confident a similar number will turn out for this series.

Tasmanian schoolgirl Amali Ward of Hobart was among the final 12 last year.

The Australian Idol will win a record contract and national exposure.


www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=285699

[Inside Australian Idol]

Vocalists make a bid for stardom
By HEATHER LOW CHOY and NATASHA RUDRA
01may05

HUNDREDS of aspiring superstars gave stardom their best shot at yesterday's Australian Idol auditions in Hobart.

The television talent show's producers said they had identified several potential finalists among the many accomplished performers who auditioned.

New Town schoolgirl Amali Ward spent several months in the spotlight last year after becoming one of 12 finalists on the popular show.

Executive producer Stephen Tate said scores of talented teenagers fronted up to yesterday's auditions, inspired by Amali's success.

"As part of the audition process they have to nominate their idol, and a lot of them were nominating Amali," Mr Tate said.

He said Amali had deferred a career in the entertainment industry to complete her schooling in Hobart.

"She's concentrating on her education this year, but I understand she has a number of offers she's considering for next year," Mr Tate said.

He nominated a female jazz singer and a male rock vocalist as Tasmanians with the potential to make this year's Australian Idol top 12.

Mr Tate said the Hobart auditions were likely to unearth more standout performers as the day went on.

"While last year's Hobart auditions were disappointing, this year we're impressed," he said.

"Word about the auditions has filtered into the circles where you want it to go and we're seeing some excellent vocalists."

Idol's celebrity judging panel -- singer Marcia Hines, record producer Mark Holden and radio personality Kyle Sandilands -- did not preside over yesterday's proceedings. Those who made the grade will be flown interstate for an audience with the judging panel at the Melbourne auditions.

Performers who impressed early yesterday were asked to returned at 4pm for a second audition.

Courtney Hayes, 19, drove from Launceston for her shot at stardom and was rewarded with a 4pm callback.

Ms Hayes said she had not done much by way of formal training but regularly sang with band The Vans at pub gigs around Launceston.

She courted the judges with her own interpretation of Stevie Wonder's I Wish.

Teenager Pagan Newman, 17, of Melbourne, also won a callback.

"I came down from Melbourne for this because it's my dream," she said.

"If I don't make it here, I'll queue at the Melbourne audition and if I don't make it there, I'll audition in another city."


www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,15141397%255E3462,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Caring Casey calls on NT fans
By PAUL STEWART in Katherine
01may05

IN the eyes of the kids at remote Beswick Community School in the Northern Territory, Casey Donovan will always be a winner.


Mobbed by fans: Surrounded by children from the Wugularr School, smiling Casey Donovan loves being overshadowed by the young stars of tomorrow.
Picture: Tim Carrafa

Donovan, winner of the second series of Australian Idol, has just spent a week as a guest of Fred Hollows Foundation in the Top End to promote the organisation's invaluable work in indigenous communities.

She saw first-hand the foundation's ground-breaking operations at Beswick and communities at Burunga and Manyallaluk, much to the delight of her fans. She also visited Kakadu National Park.

There was no five-star accommodation for Donovan; instead, she cuddled up with the mosquitoes under the stars.

Donovan, still only 16, uses her fame in such a positive way, while Idol rival Anthony Callea is probably best known for jumping into a pool of whipped cream on Rove and Delta Goodrem's love life makes more headlines than her music.

Donovan, whose father is Aboriginal from the NSW coast, said she knew little of indigenous culture before visiting Melbourne's Koori Heritage Trust.

"I really wanted to learn about Aboriginal culture, so when the chance arose to see the work of Fred Hollows Foundation in the Northern Territory, I jumped at it," Donovan said.

"It has been great to see all the positive stories up here (in the Territory). Too often the only stories you read about Aboriginal people are about riots in Redfern and the like.

"The kids up here are just great. They are shy at first and then, once they know you a little, they come right out of their shells."

Teachers highlighted Donovan's success as an example to their pupils that 'anything is possible for young Aborigines" .

"If I can use my Australian Idol win to help them in any way, then it is a real bonus," Donovan said.

"I will always look back on this week as something really special."

While in the Top End, Donovan shot a video in Kakadu for her new single, Flow.

While in Beswick, she met veteran Australian actor Tom E. Lewis, star of The Chant Of Jimmy Blacksmith.

The actor told Donovan he had recently starred in Nick Cave movie, which was shot in Queensland.

"I play Two Bob and I get to kill the actor John Hurt," he laughed.

A film on Lewis, Yella Fella won an award at the Cannes Film Festival in France, the first time a film about Australian Aboriginals has won such an honour.

He told Donovan about the positive work of the Fred Hollows Foundation.

"Fred was a treasure for me and my community," Lewis said.

"Kids here have good food and our health services are good thanks to his foundation.

"Fred Hollows stood alongside Aboriginal people and listened," he said.

"That's the big difference and governments all around Australia could learn a lot from what he set up."


www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,15133733%255E2902,00.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Hunt on for a community idol
By Muriel Reddy
May 1, 2005

First, we voted for the singing idols Guy Sebastian and Casey Donovan. Now we're about to look for an idol who may not sing or dance but who will, nonetheless, earn the right to join the pantheon of 21st century Australian idols.

The search for this particular idol will also wield a bit of political clout (the quest is supported by the Victorian Government). And while the prizemoney may be modest ($3000), the glory will be in wearing the mantle of 2005 Community Group Idol.

The call has gone out to the country's 700,000 community groups to find one that stands out from the pack. The judges are looking for a group that is "innovative, vibrant, effective and representative" - a beacon of community leadership.

The quest is the brainchild of Rhonda Galbally and Denis Moriarty, the founders of ourcommunity.com.au, the national resource centre for the country's community groups. "The idea came from my shameful enjoyment of the Idol shows and from voting at least 20 times for Casey Donovan," Ms Galbally said. "On a more serious note, it is an effort to get some recognition for the wonderful community groups out there who really are the unsung heroes of society because they are reaching out to people and offering them a place to belong."

The competition is open to all groups, including historical societies, self-help groups, church groups, arts groups and neighbourhood watch groups.

Nominations close on May 16, when entries will be judged by a panel of community sector leaders on criteria that include the group's record in promoting access and participation, the dynamism and vision of its board, its fund-raising ability, local business partnerships and its leadership record.

The three finalists will be flown to Melbourne and put through their paces before a crowd of 1500 attending the Communities in Control Conference on June 6 and 7. In an event hosted by ABC personality James O'Loghlin, the audience will then vote for the 2005 Idol.

Communities Minister John Thwaites said the essence of the quest was to find the group that really enhanced the community. "The competition will be tough, but that's what makes it worth winning," he said.


www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Hunt-on-for-a-community-idol/2005/04/30/1114635788548.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

TV stars take home coveted Logies
23:47 AEST Sun May 1 2005
AAP

Rove McManus took out his third consecutive Gold Logie for the Most Popular Personality on Australian television.

"Thank you, that's all I can say," said McManus who received his gong from veteran actor Sam Neill.

"It's very humbling. I work in an industry which I love and cherish."

He beat multiple Gold Logie nominee John Wood, Georgie Parker, Bec Cartwright and Bridie Carter for the top gong.

Earlier, Neighbours star Natalie Blair took out the first Logie of the night, winning Most Popular New Talent Female.

Blair, who plays Carmella in the long-running Channel 10 show, thanked the fans who voted for her, the cast of Neighbours, and her family.

"Oh my God I have a Logie," an excited Blair said when accepting her award.

Shortly after, Home and Away hunk Chris Hemsworth accepted the male Most Popular New Talent Logie.

Hemsworth plays Kim in the Channel 7 soap.

They were the first awards of the 2005 TV Week Logie Awards, being broadcast on Channel Nine.

For the first time, the awards are being jointly hosted by identities from the three commercial networks - Channel 7's Andrew O'Keefe, Channel 9's Eddie McGuire and Channel 10's Rove McManus.

Logie stalwart John Wood, the star of Channel Seven's long running police drama, Blue Heelers, picked up the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor.

Wood was given a standing ovation by his peers as he picked the award, voted for by TV Week readers.

"This is a turn up for the books, I really didn't expect this," he said.

"I've never won a popular award before and I'm very proud to have done so."

He also used his speech to encourage governments to put more money into the ABC.

Reigning television sweetheart, Bec Cartwright, picked up the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress.

The Home and Away starlet's profile has lifted over the past year with her win on Seven's Dancing with the Stars program and her recent engagement to tennis star Lleyton Hewitt.

"I didn't ever, ever, ever expect to get one of these, so this is really amazing," she said of her first Logie.

She thanked the cast and crew of the soap, where she has played Hayley for several years, and her family and friends.

"Also a huge thank you to Lleyton and his family, you've been nothing but supportive."

Channel Nine's rural drama, McLeod's Daughters, won the Logie for Most Popular Australian Drama for the second year in a row.

ABC TV's Out There, Series Two, won the Most Outstanding Children's Program.

Swimming superstar Ian Thorpe and Kath and Kim's sporting star, Sharon Strzelecki (Magda Szubanski), presented the Logie for Most Popular Sports Program to the Footy Show NRL.

It was the second Logie for the Channel 9 program, now in its 12th year.

The Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst 1000, on Channel 10, won the Logie for Most Outstanding Sports Coverage. It beat the Athens Olympics on Channel 7, the AFL Grand Final on Channel 10, the State of Origin on Channel Nine, and the Melbourne Cup carnival on the Seven Network.

Rove McManus' program on Channel 10, Rove Live, picked up the gong for the Most Popular Light Entertainment Program.

Australian Idol II, also on Channel 10, won the Most Popular Reality Program award.

Channel Nine's Backyard Blitz won the Logie for Most Popular Lifestyle Program.

The ABC's The Chaser Decides won the Logie for Most Outstanding Comedy.

Rove McManus picked up the Silver Logie for the Most Popular TV Presenter.

"It's is such a joy to get to do what I love doing each and every week, and to accept this award I'm very, very thankful," McManus said.

The Channel 10 soap opera, Neighbours, was inducted into the TV Week Hall of Fame.

The show, which celebrates its 20th year this year, launched the careers of, among others, Kylie Minogue, Grant Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem, Jason Donovan, Craig McLachlan, and even Russell Crowe who had a short stint on the program.

Neighbours is shown in 57 countries, and the suburban Melbourne cul-de-sac where its outdoor scenes are shot is a tourist attraction.

Sam Neill won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his role as the drunken lawyer in the Channel 10 mini-series Jessica, based on the Bryce Courtney novel.

The New Zealand-born actor thanked the producers of the show and his family.

Jessica also won the Logie for the Most Outstanding Mini-Series/Telemovie.

Miranda Otto, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, won the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain in the Seven mini-series Through My Eyes.

"Wow, thank you, I'm really thrilled, I'm really honoured to be nominated," she said from Sydney.

Love My Way became the first pay television production to win the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Drama Series.

A second series of the Fox 8: Foxtel show, starring Claudia Karvan, will go into production.


news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=47535