Justin Guarini's Star May Already Be Born
Naila Francis
phillyBurbs.com,
August 7, 2002
www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/81-06162003-108567.html
He's on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and People magazine.
Last week, he was on the cover of USA Today.
But even though popular opinion seems to be pushing Doylestown Township's Justin
Guarini toward the title of "American Idol," the 23-year-old Central Bucks East
High School graduate last Wednesday proved he may not be the shoo-in to win the
$1 million recording contract on the summer's hit TV show.
Since the show's premiere, pundits of all types - as well as gaggles of adoring
fans, young and old - have pegged Guarini - who boasts looks, talent and
charisma, all wrapped into the show's sought after "X factor" - to be the
winner.
A week ago, however, his much-touted star power took a beating when he was among
the three contestants to get the least votes.
Nineteen-year-old Ryan Starr was bounced off instead, but the show's hosts claim
the votes between the two were close enough to warrant Guarini's unease.
When he made the cover of the Philadelphia Daily News on Tuesday, it was not
because of the adoration he's generated in the past as some sort of Philadelphia
area folk hero.
The publication instead wondered whether his idol glory was fading.
On Tuesday night, Guarini seemed to redeem himself. Backed by a big band and
dressed in a tuxedo - minus the bow tie - he sang "Route 66" and received praise
from the judges.
Paula Abdul said, "You commanded the audience."
But even if the audience bids farewell to the would-be pop star, can Guarini
really lose?
Several people in the music business think his exposure on "American Idol" has
made him a celebrity, regardless of his fate.
"He's already famous," said Alison Mayhew, publicity coordinator for Vanguard
Records, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based independent record label. "At this point,
I don't think it matters if you win or lose. He's on the cover of Entertainment
Weekly, for Pete's sake."
In Entertainment Weekly, David McPherson, an executive with Epic Records
interviewed for the article, "Performance Anxiety," suggests Guarini could be
the next George Michael or Michael Bolton.
Bruce Garfield, manager of the pop trio LFO, however, believes him best suited
for musical theater while Johnny Wright, manager for Britney Spears and 'N Sync,
offered that Guarini needs to define his image instead of straddling the line
between pop and urban flair.
Still, whatever his future, it's gotten a boost that most can only dream of.
Last week, his mother, Kathy Guarini, in an interview on WXTU 92.5 FM, a
Delaware Valley country music station, noted someone from the hit show "Friends"
had contacted her about having her son on the show.
Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol," this week told the Los Angeles Times
he is discussing with several studios the possibility of developing a musical
starring the top two finalists.
The film - about Britain's "Gap Year," the time between college graduation and
the start of work - would be completed and released by next May or June to
coincide with the conclusion of "Idol's" second installment.
Jane Covner of the Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based JAG Entertainment, a public
relations, marketing and celebrity booking company whose clients include David
Cassidy, believes it is "quite possible" for Guarini to receive a deal elsewhere
if he doesn't walk away with the BMG recording contract or the movie deal.
"Any and all television exposure for music artists has great potential to launch
someone into stardom," says Emily Deaderick of Vector Management, a
Nashville-based publicity company.
"Many times television exposure breeds celebrity, which breeds sales. It is for
this reason that I also believe many of 'American Idol's' runners-up or
near-finalists have a similar chance at becoming a star."
Deaderick notes "Temptation Island" landed Mandy Lauderdale a gig as an MTV VJ
while many of the cast members of MTV's "The Real World" have gotten a
jump-start on their careers because of the show. Kyle from the show's Chicago
cast recently received an offer to star in a daytime soap opera.
Covner, who has been a publicist for a variety of music acts from rock to
country for 30 years, can vouch for Guarini's "X factor" appeal.
But whether that quality will ensure enduring popularity once the show has faded
from the public's consciousness remains to be seen.
"Unfortunately," says Mayhew, "I think that outside of the 'pop world,' the rest
of the music biz will see him as a joke. And he has to realize that he is losing
some credibility the way he is going about his search for pop stardom."
But then again, "Pop Idol" - the British show that spawned its American
counterpart - already has created stars of its winner, Will Young, and the
runner-up, Gareth Gates, both of whom have had hits on the British singles
charts.
Darius Danesh, one of the show's oft-ridiculed contestants, just recently
debuted at No. 1 on the singles charts with "Colourblind," beating out
competition from Gates himself.
And let's not forget America's previous success with a group of boys who
appeared on the reality series "Making the Band." "Most people," says Mayhew,
"see O-Town as a joke, too - and they haven't done too shabby."