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‘American Idol’ on MySpace: Blake Lewis reacts to the news of video tryouts

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In honor of “American Idol’s” 10th anniversary, the show’s producers are bringing the competition closer to home. From now through Oct. 6, aspiring Kelly Clarksons and couch potatoes alike can submit their own video auditions via MySpace, meaning they can belt to their heart’s delight from the comfort of their own living rooms or anywhere that’s “non-descript or with a plain backdrop,” as the rules dictate.

Out of these digital tryouts, which require those who enter to sing a 40-second a capella snippet from an “Idol”-approved song list (see below), a “select number” will be chosen to advance to a callback round in Los Angeles. Just how many is unclear, but it’s anticipated to be on par with the typical city audition, which yields anywhere from 200 to 400 prospective contestants.

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The online contest marks the latest twist to America’s most popular singing show. It was recently revealed that Kara DioGuardi would not be returning to the judges’ table next season, and an announcement about the new panel lineup -- which reportedly includes Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez -- is expected any day now.

But it brings to mind a complaint often lodged last season about the Top 24’s lack of diversity. Perhaps in sensing that, the producers have opted to gather the largest talent pool yet from which to choose.

“I think it’s the best idea they’ve had for the show,” says “Idol” album Blake Lewis, the Season 6 runner-up. “This season needs a lot of things, and having these MySpace auditions will put a little more luster into a show that isn’t quite the same as it used to be. It worked for ‘Glee,’ so hopefully it will have the same kind of impact for ‘Idol.’”

Indeed, a similar performance contest for “Glee” back in May, which awarded a much coveted role to the best video uploaded to MySpace, garnered over 35,000 submissions that, at last count, were viewed 23 million times, according to a spokesperson for the site. Likewise, the “Idol” hopefuls’ videos -- good, bad and freaky -- will be viewable to anyone. Says Lewis, who called the audition rounds “the best comedy on TV -- William Hung, watch out!” Whether any of the less-than-stellar auditions will wind up on the show is in discussions right now, says a source familiar with the process.

In the meantime, a special “American Idol” MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/americanidol/) has been created which outlines the myriad requirements for submission. Those who pass muster with the producers will be notified via phone or e-mail and asked to appear at the L.A. callbacks, currently scheduled for Nov. 2, 3 and 4. Check out the song list after the jump.

(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You - ‘N SYNC
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
A Song For You - The Temptations
A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) - The Four Tops
All By Myself - Eric Carmen
All Out Of Love - Air Supply
And I am Telling You I’m Not Going - Dreamgirls
Baby, I Love Your Way - Peter Frampton
Back At One - Brian McKnight
Ballroom Blitz - The Sweet
Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
Borderline - Madonna
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
California Dreamin’ - The Mamas & The Papas
Copacabana - Barry Manilow
Don’t Pull Your Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Don’t Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Don’t Talk To Strangers - Rick Springfield
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Even The Nights Are Better - Air Supply
Every Rose Has Its - Thorn Poison
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
Hard To Handle - The Black Crowes
Harder To Breathe - Maroon 5
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) - Fuel
Here I Am (Come And Take Me) - Al Green
Hold Me - Fleetwood Mac
Home - Daughtry
I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
It s All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion
Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield
Joy To The World - Three Dog Night
Just One Look - The Hollies
Kiss A Girl - Keith Urban
Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
Loser - 3 Doors Down
Love Will Find A Way - Christina Aguilera
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
Mickey - Toni Basil
Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm - Crash Test Dummies
More Than Words - Extreme
Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
New Attitude - Patti LaBelle
Nothin’ But A Good Time - Poison
Now And Forever - Richard Marx
Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
One Last Cry - Brian McKnight
Physical Attraction - Madonna
Rainy Days And Mondays - Carpenters
Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross
Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Sailing - Christopher Cross
Sara - Starship
Screaming Infidelities - Dashboard Confessional
She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton
Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Something To Believe In - Poison
Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Thing - Rufus & Chaka Khan
Talk Dirty To Me - Poison
Tearin’ Up My Heart - ‘N SYNC
That’s Life - Frank Sinatra
The First Cut Is The Deepest - Sheryl Crow
The One That You Love - Air Supply
The World’s Greatest - R. Kelly
This Love - Maroon 5
We Got The Beat - The Go Go’s
We’re Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
We’ve Only Just Begun - Carpenters
What I Am - Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians
Where Does My Heart Beat Now - Celine Dion
You Are Not Alone - Michael Jackson
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
You Give Good Love - Whitney Houston
Your Body’s Callin’ - R. Kelly
Finally - CeCe Peniston

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