Cenla Idol

Cenla Idol is a local singing talent contest, conducted each year by local Fox affiliate WNTZ-TV in Natchez, Mississippi. The series of off-air singing competitions are based on the Fox television show American Idol.

History

The local competition began in late 2002 exclusively on local radio station KQID-FM, but eventually broadened with WNTZ-TV as the controlling partner (due to its Fox television affiliation), and a radio station {KHFX (2003); KQID (2004–2006, 2010-2011); KLAA (2009)} as the secondary partner. WNTZ legally sanctioned Cenla Idol with Fox as the official local American Idol competition beginning in the summer of 2003, and must legally sanction the competition each television season. With the TV/radio partnership, winners are rewarded with airfare and hotel accommodation to a locale where the American Idol auditions are held each season and given a guaranteed front-of-line audition for the show's producers.

Format

Cenla Idol has varied in format over the years. Auditions are open to the public within the Alexandria, Louisiana media market under American Idol's age guidelines. Contestants compete and are judged by a panel of local dignataries in an initial audition, a sing-off quarterfinal (2003–2006), and a two-part semifinal and final (known as the "Finale").

From 2003-2006, a sing-off quarterfinal round aired on the partner radio station. Started in 2010, contestants now sing on the radio in a non-elimination exhibition round in order to garner support for their fans to attend the Finale.

In 2003 and 2004, the "Idol Twist" format was originated and introduced, sending the highest-scored individual from the auditions immediately to the competition's Finale. In 2005, 2011, and 2012, the ten semifinalists were immediately selected to the Finale. In 2006 and 2010, the auditions were expanded to "audition cities" around the market, mimicking the American Idol format in which contestants are allowed to audition multiple times (once in each "city") and given more opportunities to advance in the competition.

In 2012, the final round of the Finale was eliminated. The winner was selected after one round.

The competition took a year hiatus in 2007, but returned in the summer of 2008 to send a winner for the American Idol season eight auditions.

One notable Cenla Idol judge in 2010 was Scott Savol, fifth-place finisher during season four of American Idol.

Successes

Cenla Idol has proved to be a publicity, marketing, and commercial success for WNTZ as two notable contestants from the competition made it past the initial audition rounds to advance to the Hollywood rounds of American Idol.

Pineville native Dezmond Meeks, finishing third in 2003's Cenla Idol, auditioned in Orlando for season four of American Idol. In one of the show's more memorable auditions from season four, Meeks auditioned to James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)", where judge Paula Abdul said to fellow judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, "I quit!", if he did not advance to Hollywood. Meeks awaits an answer, and after about a minute of debating, Meeks made it through the audition after Randy Jackson folded.

After a sub-par trio audition with season four finalist Constantine Maroulis in the Hollywood rounds phase, Meeks was eliminated prior to naming the Top 45 contestants. Meeks was among four contestants who were either born or lived in the Alexandria market who made it to the Hollywood rounds phase of American Idol, the most from any market in the U.S. for season four.

In 2011, Meeks auditioned for season six of America's Got Talent. He eventually made it to the live performance rounds, but was eliminated in the first week of the quarterfinal round.

Shreveport native Jenny Snider, who won the Cenla Idol competition in 2006, made it past the judges in the Memphis audition for season six of American Idol to go to Hollywood and was lightly featured on the show. Her Hollywood auditions were also cut short after two rounds.

The local television ratings for American Idol in Alexandria has remained high, due in part to Cenla Idol.

Cenla Idol Winners

Of the twelve winners of WNTZ's local American Idol audition contest, ten won in their first attempt. Jacey Cornell won in 2008 after competing three times prior to her win. Jonas Augustine won in 2012 after being a semifinalist in 2011.

† Winner of "Natchez Idol" competition, produced by WNTZ prior to "Cenla Idol" in 2004. Even though Allen was sent to American Idol to audition, she did not receive guaranteed audition spot since it was designated for the "Cenla Idol" winner. "Natchez Idol" competition held only one time.

External links

• WNTZ: "Cenla Idol" official website