Pinoy Idol is not just a singing contest; the show also features the contestants' stories behind the performances. This combination of raw competitive excitement and a firsthand glimpse into the lives of the contestants is why Freemantle Media's Idol franchise is the single most watched reality-based talent search worldwide.
This year, Filipinos all over the country are catching the Idol fever as GMA-7 launches the local version of the grandest reality talent search on the planet.
Auditions started in January as Pinoy Idol conducted a nationwide search in Cagayan de Oro, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Dagupan, Clark and Manila. Out of more than 20,000 hopefuls, only 175 went to Manila for the four-day elimination round last April.
And just this May, the Final 24 was introduced to the public. The competition will open with a month-long workshop where the Final 24 are set to perform live every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Each week, two or more contestants will be eliminated through public text voting until only the Top 12 remain. The journey continues in June as the Top 12 battle it out in the gala round.
In the end, only one will be named the first-ever Pinoy Idol.
Pinoy Idol major sponsors include Pantene, Jollibee, Memo Plus Gold, Smart Buddy, Lipton Milk Tea, and Nokia.
Raymond Gutierrez finally set himself apart from his identical twin Richard Gutierrez by choosing his own niche in the entertainment industry-hosting. He started his first gig in S.O.P., followed by StarStruck, Living It Up, Showbiz Central, and even Binibining Pilipinas 2007. But his biggest break came when he was chosen to host Pinoy Idol-a big surprise for the self-confessed "creative twin" who dreams of landing an international hosting gig someday.
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Jolina Magdangal, Ogie Alcasid, and Wyngard Tracy may come from different backgrounds, but one thing's for sure: they're good at what they do, and they'll tell you when you're good, too! All three of them worked their way up from humble beginnings, with Jolina starting out as a child actress, Ogie making it big one hit song at a time, and Wyngard who went from Production Assistant to Talent Manager.
Today, Jolina is a multi-awarded singer, actress, and TV host; Ogie is one of the most respected singer-composers; and Wyngard is the prime mover of a top talent management company. All three of them recognize the value of hard work, reinvention, and sheer talent, because they've all been down the road, and they know what it takes to be on top!
