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Aaron's Contributions

Aaron is a husband, dad to 2 sweet girls and disaster response coordinator by day. He's a loyal fan of the Spiders, Orioles, Hokies and Spiderman.

This Is American Idol

March 30, 2016 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

Tonight, our Top 11 take on the songs of the cinema, but remember, in this search to find this big star, you are directing the ending. Alright, Louis J, I’m ready for my closeup. This is American Idol.

The lights come up, the music starts pumping, and the audience erupts in applause as Ryan Seacrest walks to the stage.

Jena Irene performs during American Idol's Season 13 in front of judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.
Jena Irene performs during American Idol’s Season 13 in front of judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.

Aside from college basketball or professional baseball games, I had never been in a live television audience. Standing on Beverly Boulevard outside CBS Television City on a sunny March afternoon with a ticket in hand, I wasn’t so sure today would be my chance, either.

When studios give out tickets to a show, they hand out far more tickets than there are seats in the crowd. Between VIP guests and no-shows, they never know how many people will actually show up. We learned this the hard way at a taping of Big Bang Theory. As bus after bus of VIP spectators flowed past us into the studios, I could see our chances diminishing.

Audience members wait outside CBS Television City for their call into the studio.
Audience members wait outside CBS Television City for their call into the studio.

Sometime between 3 and 4 PM, it all changed. They counted off the line and sent the people behind us home, but we had just made a cut. We still did not know if it was the cut, but we had hope. After a little more time waiting on the street, the studio staff led us into the complex and up to the building where American Idol would be filming in a few short hours.

Through the disorganized chaos of waiting in the crowd out back, we were among the first to be ushered into the studio to fill seats. Crews were busy putting the final pieces into place for the evening’s live show, an audience motivator was working the crowd and building up excitement for showtime, and we were led to our seats.

ScreenFish writer Aaron Lee appears in the audience of American Idol
ScreenFish writer Aaron Lee appears (checkered shirt, center) in the audience of American Idol [FOX TV]
These seats, as we would later find out, were in the midst of the family section. Nestled between Jena Irene’s father and Dexter Roberts’ girlfriend Savannah Coker, we sat back to watch Season 13 continue unfolding in front of our eyes.

This is American Idol.

The studio experience was a little eery. To make the sound engineers’ jobs less complex, any pre-recorded segment and anything spoken live in the studio was barely audible through the speakers embedded under our seats. The live music, on the other hand, was rock concert level.

And as soon as a commercial break started, the crowd’s cheerleader was back on the floor to help keep the energy high in the studio during the lengthy commercials.

Ryan Seacrest introduces the next segment during American Idols Season 13.
Ryan Seacrest introduces the next segment during American Idols Season 13.

At one point, they counted down out of a commercial break, the audience was quiet, and then over our shoulders, Seacrest’s un-amplified voice could be heard introducing the next segment.

Being in the same room with Seacrest, Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban did add to the reality of the night. As often as possible, they would hop out of their chairs, chat with fans in the audience, take selfies, and even take phone calls during the breaks.

And just ahead of a short promo for his upcoming FOX show, Chef Gordon Ramsay and his body guard hustled down to their seats a few rows in front of us, where he was quickly greeted by Randy Jackson, an Idol advisor that season.

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest and Harry Connick, Jr. appear in a Season 13 episode of American Idol
Keith Urban (l to r), Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest and Harry Connick, Jr. appear in a Season 13 episode of American Idol [FOX TV]
Seated in the family section meant we made our first appearance on screen within the first 60 seconds of the show. Texts from excited family and friends back home started coming in. It was an exciting 60 minutes, and then it was over.

Except it wasn’t.

The TV magic still had one more trick up their sleeves. In a pre-recorded segment, which was cleverly inserted into the middle of the Wednesday night show, Harry Connick, Jr., performed live in front of the Tuesday night audience.

We sat back and watched while the studio crew moved an entire orchestra into place, before Connick and his band played through his song a few times to get it just right. And then it really was over.

I’m sure sitting through the taping of a favorite sitcom would be fun, too, but there’s a certain excitement from sitting in a studio for a live taping. Aside from Connick’s performance, there are no “take 2’s,” because everything plays out in real time.

As the Idol empire wraps up its 15 year run next week, they celebrate a wide-ranging success from Carrie Underwood to Kelly Clarkson to Chris Daughtry and 11 other winners. They still have one more winner to crown. Though the show may be shutting its doors, the success of their run will continue to grow as each musician continues making music.

And for me, no memory of Idol will surpass that Tuesday night during Season 13.

Jena Irene performs during American Idol's Season 13 in front of judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.
Jena Irene performs during American Idol’s Season 13 in front of judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.
Randy Jackson, former American Idol judge-turned-contestant coach, greets Chef Gordon Ramsay in studio.
Randy Jackson, former American Idol judge-turned-contestant coach, greets Chef Gordon Ramsay in studio.
Ryan Seacrest introduces the next segment during American Idols Season 13.
Ryan Seacrest introduces the next segment during American Idols Season 13.
While the crew prepares the stage, the audience gets revved up thanks to the in-studio motivator who works the crowd in anticipation of showtime.
While the crew prepares the stage, the audience gets revved up thanks to the in-studio motivator who works the crowd in anticipation of showtime.
Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest and Harry Connick, Jr. appear in a Season 13 episode of American Idol
Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest and Harry Connick, Jr. appear in a Season 13 episode of American Idol [FOX TV]
ScreenFish writer Aaron Lee appears in the audience of American Idol
ScreenFish writer Aaron Lee appears in the audience of American Idol in this Season 13 episode between the families of Jena Irene and Dexter Roberts.

Filed Under: Reviews, Television

Podcast: CREED and the Name of the Father

November 30, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

This week on the podcast, Steve Norton and writer Patrick Erskine discuss CREED, the latest entry into the world of Rocky Balboa. Does this franchise still pack a punch? Or is it down for the count? Only on ScreenFish.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/screenfishonline_2015-11-29T19_35_16-08_00.mp3

Show Notes

  • Download

Filed Under: Podcast

Podcast: A Thin Line between Wrath and Grace in SPECTRE

November 20, 2015 by Aaron Lee 1 Comment

This week, we welcome Pastor James Harleman, author of ‘Cinemagogue’, to discuss life, wrath and sinfulness in SPECTRE, the latest entry into the Bond canon.

https://www.screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/screenfishonline_2015-11-16T11_24_08-08_00.mp3

Show Notes

  • Spectre

Filed Under: Podcast

Podcast: The Man Behind the Mac in Steve Jobs

November 3, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

This week, Alan Sharrer and I take a look at Danny Boyle’s new bio-pic, STEVE JOBS. Written by Aaron Sorkin, this character piece asks the question of what it means to set up your legacy and the nature of human frailty.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/screenfishonline_2015-11-03T18_00_13-08_00.mp3

Show Notes

  • Steve Jobs

Filed Under: Podcast

Podcast: Seeking Hope in SICARIO

October 17, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

In the Season 2 premiere, Arnaldo Reyes and Steve Norton examine the battle for good and search for hope in Denis Villeneuve’s thriller, SICARIO.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Seeking%20Hope%20in%20SICARIO.mp3

Show Notes

  • Sicario

Filed Under: Podcast

Happy Sunday!

September 13, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

screenfish logoThe ScreenFish team hopes you’ve had a great weekend and are enjoying your Sunday. We’ll be posting all week with some great interviews, reviews and articles about the latest in movies, TV and more. We’ll see you soon!

Filed Under: Current Events

Podcast: Faith, Film and Brian Godawa

September 5, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

This week, screenwriter and author Brian Godawa drops by to discuss the intersection of faith and film and his new book, JESUS TRIUMPHANT.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/screenfishonline_2015-09-05T04_58_15-07_00.mp3

Show Notes

  • Show Notes [PDF]

Filed Under: Podcast

Podcast: Fantastic Four – But Is It Really?

August 20, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

This week on the podcast, Mikey Fissel of Reel World Theology and I get to clobberin’ Josh Trank’s reboot of the FANTASTIC FOUR. Is there redemption in bad movies? Is this one of them?

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/FANTASTIC-FOUR-But-Is-It-Really.mp3

Show Notes

Download [PDF]

Filed Under: Podcast

Where Hope Grows Giveaway

August 20, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

where hope grows giveaway august 2015

Share our Facebook post and you’ll be entered to win our Where Hope Grows DVD/Digital giveaway!

Read Alan’s take on Where Hope Grows, and then enter the contest.

Sorry, US entries only.

Filed Under: Featured

Podcast: Coming of Age in Paper Towns

August 5, 2015 by Aaron Lee Leave a Comment

This week, we invite Anna Garas, Catherine Kidman and Leila Atta to the podcast to discuss the recent adaptation of John Green’s PAPER TOWNS. Is it worth screening, especially if you’re a fan of the book? We talk about this and more. Only on ScreenFish.

https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-Spiritual-Teeth-of-JAWS-ComicCon-Report.mp3

Show Notes

Download [PDF]

Filed Under: Podcast

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