Idols On The Road: Loser, Nine Semi-Finalists On Tour
Chuck Darrow/Casino Writer
Asbury Park Press, November 1, 2002

'A strange and wonderful thing."

That's how Justin Guarini described the past few months of his young life, which have seen the 23-year-old singer ride a television-propelled rocket called "American Idol" from anonymity to only-one-name-necessary stardom.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything, it's been unbelievable. It's what I thought it would be, and a it's a lot more. It still amazes me. It just blows my mind. I'm so thankful for it," gushed the Doylestown, Pa., product during a recent cell phone chat from San Diego, where he and his nine "A.I." semi-finalists were rehearsing for a cross-country tour that brings them to the Taj Mahal tomorrow.

Once "Idol" caught fire in mid-summer, life was pretty much a blur for Guarini, whose multi-octave vocal range and halo of red ringlets has made him the coast-to-coast object of teen-girl affection, as well as a ubiquitous presence in pop culture gazettes and supermarket tabloids.

Nonetheless, he said he did have a chance, right after the final "Idol" telecast, to take some time off and reflect on recent events. "I had a bit of vacation with my family. We worked very hard toward the end of the show, and it was kind of nice to relax and just take it all in, to think about all I've achieved, and where I take it from here."

A lot of that route has already been mapped out by Guarini and his "American Idol"  handlers. In addition to preparing for the tour, he began work on his debut CD, which "Idol"  judge Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Limited will release next spring.  The first single, which Guarini declined to identify, is due this month.

He has also had to the opportunity to become acquainted with both the perks of celebrity and the nuttiness that often accompanies it. Guarini who, by all accounts is a genuinely warm person given to hugging friends and strangers alike, is enjoying his fame, and grabbing all it offers with both hands. But he has also had a few unusual encounters, the likes of which were unimaginable to him just a few short months ago.

The one that stands out the most, he recalled, was the time a gentleman approached him and proclaimed: "I was talking to ('Idol' judge) Paula Abdul, and I said, "I want to marry Justin and have (his) kids!"

On the plus side, Guarini has been rubbing elbows with the glitterati, who are welcoming him as one of their own. "I went to a benefit at Rod Stewart's house," he related in a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming tone. "So there I am, sitting at the table with Rod Stewart, across from Kelsey Grammer and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was kind of, "I can't believe this is happening ..."

Despite the rush of fame and the prospects of a big-time recording career, Guarini is currently focused on the 'Idol' tour, which, not surprisingly, is one 2002's biggest concert events. Trump casinos entertainment chief Steve Gietka called Saturday's sold-out show the "hottest ticket" he's booked this year.

For Guarini and his tour mates, the live shows offer the opportunity to do what they enjoy most, without any of the distractions of the TV program that launched their careers into the stratosphere. 'It's cool," he said. "We're gonna do all kinds of stuff - some new things, and some standards from the show. There's no competition, no judging. Just us giving back to the audience."

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