Wanted: A new idol

Spotlights on. The stage is ready. A meter or so above the audience, and yet whoever comes onstage can possibly rise even higher to public consciousness — or sink lower to ridicule. That’s why the term stage fright was birthed. But stars are born only when they choose to shine amidst the darkness, and surge into the glare of the klieg lights.

You get a grip not just of the microphone, but also of yourself. And then you capture your audience. You are after all, the master of this particular ceremony. The four walls of the studio is your laboratory, and each stimulus is an experiment. Introductions are necessary, of course. While the stage is higher ground for your audience, it is middle ground for the judgment that occurs after every soul wrenching performance.

Raymond Gutierrez is on this higher ground slash middle ground. As the master of the mic for this pilot season of the most ubiquitous talent show on earth, Raymond has the sole responsibility of infusing soul — the fairness and fickleness that each and every spectator and fame famished celebrity aspirant harbors — in a reality-popularity-singing search, such as Pinoy Idol.

Here on our shores, reality AND popularity AND singing are taken way too seriously. So much so, as what we saw on tv, it seemed like almost everybody wanted a piece of the action, and actually auditioned. Who cares if it was the worst performance of your life? Worse and worst make for good tv. But let’s not forget, so do good, better and best — that’s why they show the bad ones first, and the good ones are saved for last.

The real Raymond Gutierrez

“I’ve worked so hard for this,” shares Mond on his role as host for Pinoy Idol. “We went to far flung places all over the Philippines to really give everyone that chance — and I’m proud to say that we’ve all worked hard to give you guys a good show,” always the magnanimous Mond, the same Mond I watched onstage accepting his PMPC Star Award as Best Host two times that night. Such an achievement goes to show that those who give respect receive respect. Props to Hall of Famer Boy Abunda, for keeping it real and respectful — paving the way for how hosts should be.

On the Idol front, consider this — the whole Pinoy Idol crew traveled to eight major cities around the country with over 25,000 people who gave it their best shot to drum up their decibels. Whew! Raymond’s videofile and resume had to be pre-approved by Fremantle in London (the franchise owners of this global phenomenon), already a feat on its own. Now, Mond shares the distinction with 84 select individuals all over the world, including the inimitable Mr. Seacrest — to be called an Idol host. That is as “limited edition” as limited edition can get.

As a host, it is imperative to give, to acknowledge both your audience and your co-hosts. I’ve been lucky enough to have shared hosting chores with Mond, with our weekly Living It Up antics on QTV and I must say, when the four (Issa Litton, Sam Oh and before, Gaby dela Merced) of us are together, there is no dull moment, no one trying to upstage one another. A harmony of hosts, just a cast of characters means a show would flow. There is nothing more painful to watch than a host who thinks he is the most. As with any art form, generosity and inspiration are most vital in creating a masterpiece.

I am excited to see what this motley crew of artists have cooked up for us in Pinoy Idol. I can’t wait to hear Wyngard Tracy dish it out to the contestants. Wyngard is as harsh reality as harsh reality can be. And sometimes, we really need to hear the truth. We’ll surely hear it from him. Ogie Alcasid deserves a Grammy for all his Pinoy musical achievements and Jolina Magdangal is the Philippines’ undisputed sweetheart.

Directed by Louie Ignacio — the man who put concert tv notches higher and elevated it to mass prestige level — it is bound to be one hell, or shall I say heaven of a singing spectacle.

And as true blue Pinoys, don’t we all just LOVE spectacles?