"As we know,
there are known knowns; there are things we know we
know. We also know there are known
unknowns;
that is to say we know there are some things we do not
know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones
we don't know we don't know."
-Sec.
Donald H. Rumsfeld
So
basically, this entry should clear up the
"America's Got Talent" situation
about as much as Rumsfeld cleared up the
WMDs in Iraq in February of 2002. So here
are the new "known knowns", "known
unknowns" and "unknown
unknowns".
Known
Knowns:
The show
officially airs Wednesday June 21st with a 2 hour
premiere from 8-10 PM. It will then go to it's normal
slot Wednesdays at 9 PM. It will follow the similar
format to "Idol" where they have the results show the
following day. The first live results show will be
Thursday, July 13th at 8:30 PM. If it follows form,
the 4 Wednesday shows leading up to the first live
show will all be the auditions from all 4 cities (LA,
Chicago, New York & Atlanta) and packages on the
talent within. On the other hand, they could put all
the auditions into that first 2 hour show, and
actually personally narrow down the groups in the
following 3 shows before America ever votes. The show
is only slated for 9 episodes total, so the working of
each episode is anyone's guess. Christ do I sound
like Rummy yet?
Because of the
non-disclosure agreement I signed, the Journey
will go BLANK for nearly 6 weeks in mid-May. The
reason? I can't tell anyone until it airs, what the
outcome is...and if I'm "in" it completely changes my
life. I will have to quit my job and start buiulding
the new act, the sets for each TV, the wigs make-up...
no way to "hide" that shit. I can't even have locked
entries as the titles would give it away. I can't say
a DAMN thing. I'm literally risking being kicked
off the show if I post. So ideally what happens is
June 21st after the show airs back east, there will be
a HUGE 6 week upload for everyone to get to look
through and celebrate. Here's where the kicker is: if
I don't get in, it's the same thing.
I still can't say anything. My one source
of true therapy erases for 6 weeks in what may be the
most depressing 6 weeks EVER. All culminating with the
big show...that I'm NOT on. LMAO. Listen, if I
make it? I'll be so busy with everything, it won't
really bother me that no one can read what's happening
(I mean thank GOD the real competition is live),
but if I don't... what a horrible scenario to
have to go through. As "known knowns" go, that
ones daunting to say the least.
However, the
biggest "known known" to come out is that they're now
having "pro auditions" on top of the open casting call
auditions, currently scheduled for the end of this
month in LA and Vegas. Apparently after the first
2 cities they realized they weren't getting the types
of talent they needed, and since "America's Got No
Talent" would make for a boring show, they hit the
agent/manager breakdowns with a call for professional
talent. This can really be good or bad. The good
is...they liked me. They singled me out with the
interview as well as setting up the extra package shot
of me pushing my TVs to the registration desk, so
I have nothing but extreme positives to take from
that. The bad of course is they could be changing the
direction of the show. That takes us to our first of
many...
Known
Unknowns:
The format. It's
pretty clear, that even the producers themselves may
be second-guessing what they thought they'd garner
from the open calls. The talent shapes the show, no
doubt. As we guessed before, they may be trying to
come up with "categories" a la Star Search as
opposed to one big smorgasboard of acts
competing...but it all depends on the talent they
receive. They could also be so underwhelmed they've
decided to go with bigger more established acts, but
that's doubtful considering that half the fun of these
shows is the "undiscovered" factor. If they want
to keep that feel it would behoove them to have
smaller, more relatable acts...even if the final
outcome is the next big Vegas Act.
The other big
known unkown is the judges. Man, this is the key. The
judges will go a loooooong way in telling you the type
of show it's gonna be. They have yet to be announced,
and although Charlotte and I have a few guesses -
we really don't know. And since we know we don't know
it...it's a known unknown. LOL - the man's entire
legacy is gonna be spinning bullshit isn't it.
HA.
I must admit, that
all of this new information certainly prepares you for
the worst. The parallels to the "Free
speech" change in the Aspen mentality from 2001
is first and foremost in my mind. The only difference
that I can lay my hat on, is that I did
perform for them, they did single me out, and that my
act SCREAAAAAMS potential as well as being
entertaining. It's about as perfect an act as you can
possibly have on a talent show. It almost rules out
the "subjective" parts of most scenarios. You may
not like the act, but you can't deny that it
shows several talents, and shows them well. And by
it's very "oddity" should make it on TV at least
for one night...
...the kicker of
course is - if the format falls a certain way, this
could BLOW up. Imagine a show where they
challenge and stretch the contestants to change their
acts, or include more than their comfort zone? Imagine
how well I could do with 5 of me onstage doing
magic, or juggling, or singing, or acting... I mean -
shit if this show is set up the right way, I could
have the ability to showcase
EVERY TALENT I'VE EVER HAD, week
after week after week. It's the one uniquity I've
always thought I had over everyone else: Jack of
all trades. And in a competitive setting? Oh dear
LORD. The thought boggles my mind.
As you may have
guessed, I am nonexistent at work. I could do
everything I do at work from home, and literally
go there just to keep up appearences and get my loans
through that are currently in the pipeline. My head is
on constant "scheme-mode" with no trace of slowing
down. On my free time I find myself being drawn
to the journey, studying what happened in 2001, and
finding the parallels. I wish I knew of a
good way to get through this. Basically, information
is the drug at this point. Every tiny scrap of
information, good or bad, gets me through it. It's all
those "known unknowns" that reduce me to a blob. The
"unknown unkowns" however are usually what pull the
carpet out from under you, but luckily you don't have
to worry about those... you never see 'em
coming.
My best guess now,
is that I'll hit you with one more entry to end the
month before what could easily be the biggest month
the journey has ever seen. Wow it just occured to me
that right now, April '06 is the biggest ever. It
should be eclipsed by May, and if it is...it's
even more eclipsed by June. Every month could beat out
the month before for a long time to come.
Great, I'll just
ponder that for the next 57 hours.
