Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Hollywood Week begins Wednesday night on American Idol, and you can expect to meet lots more talented singers for the first time.

That’s the word from executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who talked about Hollywood and all things Idol in a conference call interview Tuesday afternoon.

Asked about whether we’ve already been introduced to the cream of Season 11’s crop of talent, Nigel hesitated for a moment.

After all, in real time, the semifinalists have already been selected.

“We’re constantly trying to make sure everybody in our (semi)finals is seen by the end of the (selection) process,” Nigel said.  “at this moment in time, there’s a great many you haven’t seen yet.”

Having compiled profiles to all of the rumored top 60, let’s just say I’m not surprised.

We haven’t met at least half of them, though you can get an early glimpse with profiles, photos and pre-Idol music here.  (How’s that for an in-blog commercial, American Idol style).

Hollywood Week is also drama-filled, and in some unusual ways.

Apparently, contestants were passing out left and right.  At least that’s the way Nigel made it seem.

And we already know one contestant — Nigel identified her as Symone Black, 16, of Cucamonga, Calif. — dropped right off the stage.

Nigel credited some of that to dehydration.  It’s been a dry, mild winter in the L.A. area, and the kids simply weren’t taking in enough fluids.  To make matters worse, Amy Brumfield — Nigel referred to her as “our tent girl,” if that helps jog your memory — “became ill and passed the bug around.”

Considering Idol has been on the air for 10 years and Hollywood Week really hasn’t changed … well, some of the drama still surprises Nigel.

“I’m shocked to a certain degree that they still don’t realize how tough Hollywood Week is,” he said.  “We haven’t changed it.”

As for group night, “the best ones were going to bed at 11:30 or 12.  The ones who started early and ended up practicing until 3:30 or 4 a.m. were still bad.”