Pinoy Idol


Pinoy Idol is a 2008 Philippine television interactive reality competition show broadcast by GMA Network. Created and developed by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the program is a franchise of Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, the show is the second incarnation of Philippine Idol.
Hosted by Raymond Gutierrez, with Ogie Alcasid, Jolina Magdangal, and Wyngard Tracy as judges, it premiered on April 4, 2008. The show concluded on August 17, 2008, with a total of 37 episodes.

Development

ABC 5 had previously announced that they are considering producing a second season of the show. However, many reports claim that ABC management was slowly abandoning that plan. Sources claimed that ABC incurred heavy losses in the previous season, primarily because of the low number of advertisement slots despite being a widely followed show. ABC asserted that it was still under negotiation with FremantleMedia about the second season and had earmarked Asian Idol as its "big launch", although there was a possibility that GMA was negotiating about Idol as well since the network already had local versions of Celebrity Duets and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?—both FremantleMedia franchises.
After several negotiations, FremantleMedia had officially decided to move and to have the second season aired on GMA Network, which premiered on April 5, 2008. FremantleMedia's representative Geraldine Bravo said that it is "very fortunate" to find a new partner, while GMA Network's Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante added that both parties have agreed that the network "has the experience, the resources, and the people to mount talent-search programs".

Overview

Auditions

Auditions for Pinoy Idol were held in the following cities: Cagayan de Oro, Batangas City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Davao City, Pasay, Dagupan, and Angeles City. During the Pasay auditions, Ida Henares, head of the GMA Artist Center, took over Magdangal's seat in the judges' panel as the latter was in the United States at the time. Out of thousands of aspirants, 179 passed through the next round of eliminations.

Theater rounds

The 179 audition passers gathered in Manila for the theater rounds in Cinema 6 of SM City North EDSA. The first round saw the hopefuls divided into groups of 10 and they each performed their pieces in front of the judges. Ninety contestants were chosen for the second round. In the second round, the ninety aspirants formed pairs and each pair had duets to perform together; they were judged separately. Half of the ninety were virtually cut. The final forty-five each performed a song of their choice for a final time in front of the judges. Afterwards, they were divided into three groups of fifteen. One group was eliminated, bringing the number down to thirty.
In April 2008, the judges re-examined the performances of the final thirty survivors, starting from their audition pieces down to their final ones in the theater round. Then, in the GMA Network Center, the judges announced the fates of the thirty. It is from this final group that the Top 24 were chosen.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics song "Ready to Fly" by Amy Pearson was used extensively throughout the audition and theatre phases of the competition.

Semi-finalists

The 24 semi-finalists were announced on May 17, 2008. Some of their names were changed or shortened so it would be easier for viewers to remember. Their names and short biographies were also published the day after the announcement. The semifinals, or "workshop phase," began on May 23, 2008, with the Top 12 male contestants performing first and the Top 12 female contestants performing the next day. Eliminations were on a weekly basis beginning May 25, 2008, until the Top 12 was finalized.

Male semi-finalists

Joselindo Pimpino Jr., also known as JJ Jr., is 17 from Bataan. He currently studies in Baguio where his parents live. He also claims to be Pinoy Pop Superstars youngest competitor at age 14. He auditioned in Dagupan.
  1. "You to Me Are Everything"
  2. "King of Wishful Thinking"
  3. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
  4. "When I Need You" - Eliminated, June 15, 2008
Walton Zerrudo is 25 from Laguna. He considers standards as his forte and describes his son as his inspiration. He auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "She's out of My Life"
  2. "Every Breath You Take"
  3. "Hello" - Eliminated, June 8, 2008
Ryan "Rye" Estrada is 28 from Iloilo. He is a band vocalist and a self-confessed Robbie Williams fan. During the theater rounds, his third performance piece was dedicated to his mother. He auditioned in Iloilo.
  1. "Your Love"
  2. "Babe" - Eliminated, June 1, 2008
Sherwin Bayangan, who goes under the name of Sherwin Marquez, is 26 from Dagupan. He currently lives with his parents in Tuguegarao. He auditioned in Dagupan.
  1. "How Do You Heal a Broken Heart"
  2. "The Old Songs" - Eliminated, June 1, 2008
Paulo Dio Maghari, also known as Dio Paolo, is 24 from Bacolod. He is a call center agent and a son of a receptionist. He has sung in concerts and has even acted in a musical. He auditioned in Iloilo.
  1. "Angels Brought Me Here" - Eliminated, May 25, 2008
Eleuterio "Elliot" Andal is 24 from Batangas. A son of a jeepney driver, he worked as a choral trainer and conductor and has won plums in several choral competitions. He was also a contestant on Pinoy Pop Superstar. He auditioned in Batangas.
  1. "Sana Ay Ikaw na Nga" - ''Eliminated, May 25, 2008''

Female semi-finalists

Carol Leus is 17 from Batangas, currently studying in the College of St. Benilde. In 2004, she joined and topped the Pop Star Search in Dubai, organized by The Filipino Channel. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "I Believe In You and Me"
  2. "It Must Have Been Love"
  3. "The Voice Within"
  4. "I Turn to You" - Eliminated, June 15, 2008
Meryl David is 23 from the Bicol Region. She is the daughter of a former singer and a real estate broker whose achievement is finishing her course in nursing while singing in a band. She auditioned in Angeles.
  1. "You Mean The World To Me"
  2. "I Feel for You"
  3. "Killing Me Softly with His Song" - Eliminated, June 8, 2008
Regene Ong is 20 from Quezon City. She impressed the judges by singing a wide range of songs, and is equally known for her self-made vintage dresses. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "Fever"
  2. "With Or Without You" - Eliminated, June 1, 2008
Vrenilyn "Vren" Villaflor is 17 from Quezon City. A daughter of a police officer, she joined several singing tilts as a child, including Ang Batang Kampeon and Tuklas Talino. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "Fame"
  2. "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Eliminated, June 1, 2008
Beverly "Bev" Ejercito is 18 from Davao. She is a daughter of a company driver and is proud of graduating from high school and winning pageants. She also matches her big hair with her big voice. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "Crazy" - Eliminated, May 25, 2008
Drizzle Muñiz is 28 from Quezon City. She is a professional songwriter who penned one of Sarah Geronimo's songs from the latter's album. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "My Immortal" - ''Eliminated, May 25, 2008''

Semifinals weekly song themes

Week 1 : Own choice of songsWeek 2 : Hit songs from year of birthWeek 3 : Greatest musical influencesWeek 4 : Songs for fathers

Top 12 finalists

After the eliminating the eleventh and twelfth semi-finalists from the competition, the Final 12 was formally announced on June 15, 2008. The finals, or "gala night" stage, started on June 21, 2008, with eliminations the next night. Like the semi-finals, eliminations during the finals are on a weekly basis for the first seven weeks.
In the eighth week, two finalists were cut from the competition in a single night to accommodate the final three finalists for the finale; that elimination took place on August 10, 2008. The finale shows took place on August 16 and August 17, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center.
Gretchen Espina is 20 from Biliran. She is the daughter of Rogelio J. Espina, the governor of the said province. She is studying in the University of the Philippines, Diliman where she is a member of the internationally acclaimed University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors. During the competition, she was never in the bottom group. She auditioned in Pasay accompanied by a bodyguard.
  1. "Neither One Of Us "
  2. "The Way You Make Me Feel"
  3. "Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig?"
  4. "Try It On My Own"
  5. "Respect"
  6. "A House Is Not a Home"
  7. "Follow Your Road"
  8. "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang"
  9. "You Lift Me Up"
  10. "Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal"
  11. "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan"
  12. "I'm Here"
  13. "For Your Eyes Only" - Winner, August 17, 2008
  14. "Stand Up for Love" - Winner, August 17, 2008
  15. "Ngayon" - Winner, August 17, 2008
  16. "To You" - Winner, August 17, 2008
Jay Ann "Jayann" Bautista is 21 from Pampanga. She studies in the University of the Philippines, Diliman and her parents run their own businesses. She was formerly a talent of VIVA Entertainment and had released two albums under its record label. Like Espina, she was never placed in the bottom group during the competition. She auditioned in Angeles.
  1. "Secret"
  2. "Kiss"
  3. "Bleeding Love"
  4. "I Am Changing"
  5. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
  6. "Whine Up"
  7. "Better Days"
  8. "Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka"
  9. "Laging Naroon Ka"
  10. "Akin Ka Na Lang"
  11. "You"
  12. "Finally"
  13. "I'll Never [Love This Way Again]" - Second place, August 17, 2008
  14. "You'll Never Walk Alone" - - Second place, August 17, 2008
  15. "Proud Mary - - Second place, August 17, 2008
  16. "To You" - Second place, August 17, 2008
Ramon "Ram" Chaves III is 25 from Cagayan de Oro. He considers fatherhood as his most cherished accomplishment as his audition in Pasay coincided with his wife giving birth.
  1. "My Hero"
  2. "Boys Don't Cry"
  3. "Kung Ayaw Mo, 'Wag Mo"
  4. "My Sacrifice"
  5. "With Arms Wide Open"
  6. "Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo"
  7. "Yugyugan Na"
  8. "Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka"
  9. "Honesty"
  10. "Sandalan"
  11. "Ngayon at Kailanman"
  12. "Bahay Yugyugan"
  13. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Third place, August 17, 2008
  14. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" - Third place, August 17, 2008
  15. "Handog" - Third place, August 17, 2008
Daryl Celis is 21 from Rizal. He is a son of an OFW, a bar owner in Japan. He auditioned in Pasay with his grandmother, whom he calls his lucky charm.
  1. "Still with You"
  2. "True Colors"
  3. "Because of You"
  4. "Right Here Waiting"
  5. "Superstar"
  6. "Basta't Kasama Kita"
  7. "Kung Kailangan Mo Ako"
  8. "Sa Piling Mo"
  9. "Ikaw Lamang"
  10. "Nasaan Ka"
  11. "Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan"
  12. "The Promise" - Eliminated, August 10, 2008
Elizalde "Kid" Camaya is 24 from Pampanga, as iterated by the program. He currently works for a BPI branch in Quezon City, to which his introductory profile refers as his residence. He says that the show is his "dream and passion." He auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "A Song for You"
  2. "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"
  3. "Love Always Finds A Way"
  4. "Gone Too Soon"
  5. "Ordinary People"
  6. "I'll Never Love This Way Again"
  7. "The Warrior Is A Child"
  8. "Narito Ako"
  9. "Kung Wala Na"
  10. "Stay"
  11. "Paano Ba Ang Mangarap"
  12. "Careless Whisper" - Eliminated, August 10, 2008
Warren Antig is 25 from Baguio. He also goes under the nickname of "Bordado" because of his tattoos. He became notorious for his decision to back out of the competition during the Theater rounds, only to change his mind in the last minute, irking judges Alcasid and Magdangal in the process and causing delays in the taping of those rounds. He auditioned in Dagupan.
  1. "Ulitin"
  2. "Open Arms"
  3. "Billie Jean"
  4. "Panaginip"
  5. "Shout"
  6. "You Give Love a Bad Name"
  7. "Balong Malalim"
  8. "Urong Sulong"
  9. "Cool Change"
  10. "Kahit Kailan"
  11. "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo" - Eliminated, August 3, 2008
Penelope Ann Matanguihan, known only as Penelope in the show, is 16 from Batangas. She is perennial singing champion who is "raring to fight for her family." She auditioned in Batangas.
  1. "Wild Horses"
  2. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
  3. "One Step at a Time"
  4. "Papa, Can You Hear Me?"
  5. "Alone"
  6. "So Sick"
  7. "This Is My Now"
  8. "What Kind of Fool Am I?"
  9. "Beauty and Madness"
  10. "Weak" - Eliminated, July 27, 2008
Kristoffer Rei Tragico, or Toffer Rei in the show, is 23 from Marikina. He is the son of a driver and a housewife. Despite being from Luzon, he auditioned in Iloilo.
  1. "Stigmatized"
  2. "I Want to Break Free"
  3. "Something to Say"
  4. "I Could Not Ask for More"
  5. "Honestly"
  6. "Changes In My Life"
  7. "It's My Life"
  8. "You Made Me Stronger"
  9. "Sometimes You Just Know" - Eliminated, July 20, 2008
Sue Ellen Cubing, known only as Sue Ellen, is 16 from Iloilo. She is a daughter of a pastor and beauty pageant runner-up. She and her sister, Genevieve, auditioned together in Iloilo and made it through the theater rounds, where Genevieve was among those eliminated.
  1. "Love Thang"
  2. "More Than Words"
  3. "Love Like This"
  4. "Thank You"
  5. "Survivor"
  6. "In the End"
  7. "Jesus Take the Wheel"
  8. "Dadalhin" - Eliminated, July 13, 2008
Roberto "Robby" Navarro, Jr. is 28 from Pampanga. He was once part of a singing group called the Wise Guys, but made a difficult decision to go solo, which he claims is paying off. He released an eponymous solo album way back in 1999 under Sony BMG. He auditioned in Angeles.
  1. "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever"
  2. "What You Won't Do for Love"
  3. "Wildflower"
  4. "If Tomorrow Never Comes"
  5. "One Last Cry"
  6. "Someone That I Used To Love"
  7. "Greatest Love of All" - Eliminated, July 6, 2008
Mae Flores is 18 from Marikina. She competed in the talent show Star for a Night, the same one in which Sarah Geronimo and Mau Marcelo participated. She auditioned in Angeles.
  1. "Love Will Show You Everything"
  2. "Listen To Your Heart"
  3. "Walk Away"
  4. "Angels"
  5. "You Oughta Know"
  6. "If I Didn't Love You" - Eliminated, June 29, 2008
Jenifer "Jeni" Rawolle is 20 from Paco, Manila. She previously competed in Pinoy Pop Superstar. She auditioned in Pasay.
  1. "For Once in My Life"
  2. "Lean On Me"
  3. "Too Darn Hot"
  4. "You Raise Me Up"
  5. "Inseparable" - ''Eliminated, June 22, 2008''

Finals weekly song themes

Week 1 : Songs from their greatest pre-Idol performancesWeek 2 : Song dedicationsWeek 3 : Songs of their livesWeek 4 : Songs sung by Regine VelasquezWeek 5 : Songs sung by JayaWeek 6 : Songs by OPM bandsWeek 7 : Songs sung by Basil ValdezWeek 8 : Greatest Idol performancesWeek 9 : Judges' choice, favorite mentor's choice, and personal choice

Special guests

The following have become mentors for the finalists. The mentors in Weeks 4, 5, and 7 also supplanted the jury as a special guest judge, while in Week 6, several of the members, if not all members, of each mentor band appeared on stage to oversee the performance of the apprentice finalist.Week 4: Regine VelasquezWeek 5: JayaWeek 6 : 6 Cycle Mind, Itchyworms, Pupil, Brownman Revival, Cueshé, South Border and FreestyleWeek 7: Basil Valdez

Finale

Pinoy Idol held its Performance Night Finale on August 17, 2008, at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay. Each of the three remaining contenders performed three songs, one personally chosen by the contestant, one by one of the judges and one by the contestant's favorite mentor. Gutierrez hosted most of the program while joining him in the sidelines were Rhian Ramos and Karylle. Each song was performed with Tan's band and the group The Opera as back-up singers, just as always. They were also joined in each of two joint performances by Basil Valdez and Regine Velasquez. The bands Freestyle, South Border, Cueshé, and Itchyworms also have performances of their own.
In an unusual instance, the judges held off their comments for each of the finalists' performances until after the last performance of the last finalist. Each of the three judges told one of the three finalists about his comments on the performances as well as those of the other judges.
The next night at the same venue, the star-studded results show was held, headlined by Bautista, Chaves, and Espina together with the rest of the Top 24, performing together with Hajji Alejandro, Jett Pangan, Luke Mejares, Verne Varga, and Duncan Ramos. The third placer was immediately announced soon after with Chaves shut out of the final two, leaving Bautista and Espina in the running for the title.
There were also performances by the bands Pupil, Callalily, and Rivermaya.
For their final performance before the announcement of the winner, Bautista and Espina each performed an original composition "To You" by resident judge Alcasid and with the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus as back-up choir.
Espina was voted as the first Pinoy Idol, although no figures were announced for all three finalists. Aside from the title, Espina received P1 million, a condominium unit, a brand new car, a recording contract with Sony BMG Music Philippines, and a television contract with GMA Network.
To date, Valdez and Cueshé were the only acts so far that have performances in both Philippine Idol grand finals shows. They, Alejandro and Mejares were also the only ones to appear in both Philippine Idol shows per se as Alejandro and Mejares appeared as guest judges in Philippine Idol.

Reception

Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of Pinoy Idol earned a 16.3% rating.

Critical response

Early into the development of Pinoy Idol, an online campaign requested Ignacio's removal as program director primarily because of his frequent use of butterflies on every project he has directed with critics finding the idea "tacky and definitely not Idol-material". He commented that he would still stick to his "lucky trademark" and even taunted petitioners to direct the show and put beetles or mosquitoes on the set if that is what they want - a statement which only added to the collective anger of fans. However, no butterfly-inspired designs were used in the program.
In an article published before Pinoy Idol's premiere, noted film and television critic Nestor U. Torre hoped that the lapses that occurred in Philippine Idol would be remedied in Pinoy Idol. However, once the show went underway, those hopes seem to dampen as Torre noted on the first episode alone some mediocre talent and Gutierrez not yet becoming his own as host. Torre did laud the judging styles of Alcasid and Magdangal and Tracy's emerging Simon Cowell-like demeanor. One viewer, who wrote to the Philippine Daily Inquirer about the show, was not as impressed when comparing it to Philippine Idol, complaining about Gutierrez's nasal and unnatural hosting style, Magdangal's immaturity as a judge and Tracy seemingly imitating Cowell more as compared to Cayabyab.
Entertainment writer Jean Oli wrote that Pinoy Idol does not have that "Idol feel" despite high expectations towards GMA Network, calling it "an ordinary singing contest." She even stated that the network's previous singing contests such as Pinoy Pop Superstar and Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition were more interesting to watch than Pinoy Idol.
In a post-mortem article written six days after the finale, Torre wrote that the entire Finals phase of the competition came out less exciting than Philippine Idols because of several factors, namely some of the finalists were not even star-material, the entire audition process that put them in the competition in the process, and the early elimination of the better singers from the competition. He even doubts if the winners and others in the competition were really talented and versatile enough to take advantage of the strong support that they had during the competition.

Cancellation

GMA Network was initially deciding on whether to produce a second season of Pinoy Idol. GMA's Senior Vice President for Entertainment, Wilma Galvante said that GMA and Fremantle were accessing "learnings" from the first season, such as the text-voting mechanisms, which she said is "different for the Philippine ." Eventually, GMA Network did not renew the franchise in 2009.