Road ends for Sooner Idols

Road ends for Sooner Idols
Three OU students cut from American Idol competition
By Althea Peterson
The Norman Transcript

They watched the television in anticipation, wondering if they had made it-- while the rest of America watched for a different reason.

OU communication sophomore Michael Preston, vocal music education alumna Laura Gossett and journalism and music sophomore Tony Foster Jr. gathered with friends Tuesday night to watch American Idol. However, while others wondered if the three remaining of the "Oklahoma Five" had made it to the next round, they wanted to know if they made it on television.

Except for background shots, they hadn't.

"We made American Idol history," Foster said of Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From," which his group performed a capella. "Our story was the best story out of group day and they didn't show it."

However, the crowded apartment room still had its moments of excitement, as the three reflected back on their time in Hollywood among more than 100 auditioning hopefuls from across the country.

Gossett, who auditioned with the other female vocalists on the first day in Hollywood, said watching the other hopefuls on the stage made many around her nervous.

"It was really intimidating," she said. "We watched each other go, and by the time I went, they'd only taken, like, 18 girls."

Gossett, who was cut on the first day of Hollywood auditions, remembers seeing the first six auditioners on stage, all being told at once that they were being sent home, causing many in the room to gasp.

Gossett, in a British voice, said judge Simon Cowell then turned to the girls waiting to audition and stated, "This is the most disappointing start of the auditions that I've ever seen."

Preston and Foster spent the entire first day sightseeing around Hollywood. However, it wasn't all relaxing, Preston said.

"We relaxed until we got calls from girls (who hadn't auditioned yet) saying 'Oh my, they've cut almost everyone,'" Preston recalled. "But I was still enjoying myself. We saw a lot of stuff -- a lot."

Preston, who sang "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," was cut from the first round of Hollywood auditions. Foster, however, made it through the next round of Hollywood, which included group singing.

When they split the remaining hopefuls into three rooms -- two rooms containing people who were going on to the next round, one room of people going home -- Foster had a bad feeling.

"I knew based on the people in my room what the decision was going to be," he said. "The producers told us that anything could happen, but I sort of knew.'

Foster's room being sent home was the ending shot of Tuesday's American Idol broadcast, which actually happened in November. Gossett said she is working on a CD and a possible recording career on her own -- but hasn't ruled out a return to Idol.

"I don't know, I might (audition again)," she said. "I'm just going to continue working on my music. We'll see."

Foster and Preston, however, remain optimistic about a return trip to auditions -- and, they hope, Hollywood.

"It's like football season-- you have to make your muscles big, getting ready for next season," Foster said.

Preston said even if it means taking trips to multiple audition cities, he will try to get another shot at being named "American Idol."

"As soon as they said 'We're sorry, you're going home,' I knew I was coming back," Preston said. "I just want that opportunity again. Hopefully the next time they see me, I'll blow them away."

Althea Peterson 366-3539 apeterson@normantranscript.com