Cenla Idol

Contest Description

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. As part of the agreement, local competitions including and similar to Cenla Idol across the country are not allowed to broadcast the event on television for its viewers.

Winners are rewarded with travel and hotel accommodation to a locale where the American Idol auditions are held each season and given a guaranteed first round front-of-line audition for the show's producers.

History

Cenla Idol has varied its format over the years. The competition is 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 dignitaries 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. From 2010-2012, contestants sing on the radio in a non-elimination exhibition round in order to garner support for their fans to attend the Finale, until FOX and the producers of American Idol denied live broadcasts of local competitions on both television and radio altogether.

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.

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

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

The competition has taken two one-year hiatuses in its history, in 2007 and 2013. Even though not officially announced by WNTZ, it is suspected the 2013 competition was put on its second hiatus possibly due to the upcoming changes for season 13 of American Idol as a result of the show's decline for national television ratings.

Those struggles and changes continued for American Idol in 2014, as show producers entice their local stations with a new incentive to give winners of local Idol competitions. Cenla Idol returned to give away the first-ever "Silver Ticket," which permitted the winner to bypass the first round of American Idol auditions completely plus offer a special meet-and-greet with the celebrity judges for the show (Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr.).

The 2014 Cenla Idol contest was held in its most condensed version since WNTZ's takeover of the competition in 2003. A one-day, two-round Audition and Finale format was used to select the winner.

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 thirteen winners of WNTZ's local American Idol audition contest, eleven 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.