High School Musical: Get In The Picture, Episode 1 – East Coast Auditions

After a lengthy reminder of how successful High School Musical and its sequel are (and much promotion for the upcoming theatrical release of the third film in the franchise), host Nick Lachey tells us we are helping to add a new member to the HSM family. The performer who wins this competition will not only receive a deal with Walt Disney Records to release two singles, but one of these singles will be played at the end of the HSM3 movie. Nick tells us that the winning performer will have equal parts talent, school spirit, and personality.

Now that that’s out of the way, cut to the crack of dawn on a warm summer’s day and we are introduced to a slew of auditioning kids who have traveled from Alaska and Georgia and everywhere in between for the east coast auditions in Disney World. Nick, meanwhile, sits down with the judges, aptly nicknamed “The Faculty,” and boasts that their resumes included Broadway, television, and films, and name-drops working with J Lo, Christina Aguilera, and Outkast.

So what do the faculty members think is important in the winning performer? Regina, the resident hip hop guru, thinks determination and spunk are important, while others use words like spirit, soul, and heart. We get it – I’m inspired! Let’s start the auditions! A bunch of anxious kids sit around popping pimples with their sweaty palms until the first person is finally let in, and her name is Amy Hooker. No joke.

After being complimented on her manners, Amy massacres a song from The Little Mermaid, but rather than letting us enjoy the glorious awfulness of the performance, we get inspirational advice from our faculty member, who lets her down easy. She could have just told her that Disney wouldn’t allow someone with that last name to win.

Next up, Matthew Scott tells his sob story about financing his trip and belts out a rather tame “Proud Mary,” but he is not given the golden ticket either, leaving us with “local jock” and flu victim Jordan Kauffman as our only hope to really get this show underway.

Jordan, looking like a manlier version of Zac Efron, gives the best Edwin McCain this side of Bo Bice, and sure enough he makes it through. Nick is bent on constantly mentioning that Jordan is “the jock,” which is unusual because reality television normally hates stereotyping and creating stock characters.

After a slew of rejected male auditionees that had a little too much Paul Lynde in them, Nick sends the faculty on location around the east coast to spy on kids who were secretly submitted by teachers, family, and friends. The first to be invited to the semi-final round in Walt Disney World is Damingo, a shy but cocky 19-year-old secretly submitted for consideration by his teacher – but when faculty member Montre sees the X Factor in classmate Tierney, he decides to invite her along for the ride as well.

Next up, acting specialist Rob spies on pageant queen Kristin, but he doesn’t think she is ready – and her awful duet partner sure isn’t helping to keep her on key. Next up is small town girl Lauren, an extremely shy high schooler and singer in a local band, and choreography coach Tiana deems her worthy of a spot in the semi-finals, so she gives her a hug and invites her to Florida. After all this trekking around the country, its time to switch back to the Disney World auditions.

The first one up is self-proclaimed “that guy,” Cosmo, whose graduation gift was the trip to this audition. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t make it through, but he was happy for the experience. Should’ve asked for a car instead. Things don’t go much better for 16-year-old Joel, who forgets his lyrics (a cardinal sin in any reality show competition), but simple country boy John gets by with a little help from Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul.”

Montre next has to talk down the charming but insanely nervous Cesar, who is soaking wet with anxious sweat. His nerves get the best of him, and it seems that his chosen song, “A Whole New World,” is the song of death after helping to eliminate two contestants so far.

Next up is fashionista Aly, who shows off some hip hop moves but struggles with “Colors of the Wind” and can’t make it through to the next round. Breathy but peppy cheerleader Brooke beaks the losing streak by moving on to the semi-finals, and something tells me this girl has drama written all over her face.

Meanwhile, in Amish country, Tiana invites rocker James to the semi-finals, and Rob ends his path of rejection by admitting Boston’s loveable, overweight theatre clown Anthony during a school pep rally.

In New Orleans, Bailey is introduced to Rob, and with her bossy, self-centered personality, 4.4 GPA, and overly made-up face, she is the perfect Sharpe. Joining her in the semi-finals will be Gina, a beautiful tomboy from Pennsylvania who will give Vanessa Hudgens a run for her money.

Ladies man Isaiah is the next hopeful on location, and Tiana meets up with him after a performance in his school musical. If he can keep his mind on business and not on his sexy co-stars, hopefully he can show his disapproving father that he made the right decision by focusing his studies on musical theatre. Unfortunately for Coby, who is playing the lead in his current school production of High School Musical, his performance as Troy couldn’t sell Montre and he won’t be moving forward.

Back at the auditions, Alyssa, who currently plays Gabriella in a community theatre production of High School Musical, doesn’t make it through either, leaving the track record for local Efrons and Hudgens 0 for 2 – but at least she landed her real life co-star, her beau of two years. Sassy home-schooler Brianna and tri-lingual Estefania, who learned English through doing theatre, finally provide some hope for the ladies when they get to advance.

Small-town Mississippi boy Stephen drove for two days to audition for Rob, and whips out Edwin McCain, which seems to be the guaranteed ticket to the semi-finals. Nick Lachey, meanwhile, realizes he is being overshadowed by these youngsters and, in his best effort to prove he is no B-List Seacrest, sings “Happy Birthday” to little Jessalyn, who gets an even better gift when her Nora Jones styling advances her on to the semi-finals.

After a string of rejections, Nick gives a heartfelt pep talk about the trials and tribulations of auditioning to one sad young girl, before wrapping things up by telling us that the east coast auditions are over and the semi-finals will heat up Monday when an intense round of dancing and singing will determine the finalists and who will “Get In The Picture!” Break a leg, guys!

John Filizzola currently lives in Los Angeles, where he spends way too much time watching, thinking about, and (apparently) writing about reality television. He can be reached at johnnyf82@hotmail.com.

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