New reality show Boy Band premieres tonight on ABC, where young talent will compete to become a member of America’s next great music group. Get a sneak peek!
Boy Bands (and Girl Groups) will always, ALWAYS have a special place in my heart. There was a point in my life where *NSYNC was my whole life. They were my very first fandom experience and all the cray-cray fangirling that comes along with it. In fact, next July will be my 20 year anniversary of being an *NSYNC fan… yah, so as you can tell, I’ll never let go!
It wouldn’t surprise you to know that I love reality show competitions about making bands almost as much! I remember watching the two seasons of Popstars on The WB (yep, that’s how long ago this was), which produced Eden’s Crush (Nicole Scherzinger’s first group) and Scene 23. Then you might recall that Lou Pearlman (first manager of Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, before his major legal troubles) had his own show Making the Band that created O-Town. After Puff Daddy/P. Diddy took over the franchise, he brought us Da Band (“Diddy made us walk all the way to Brooklyn for some cheesecake!”–Dylon, LOL!), Danity Kane (after an *intense* two season competition), and Day 26.
Did I really need to walk you through this brief history of reality TV? YES, because tonight, ABC is bringing us the next generation of music group competitions and my boy band-loving heart CANNOT wait!
In Boy Band undiscovered young talent from across the USA will battle it out to become a member of the next great music sensation.
Rita Ora will host the 10-episode series, which chronicles the journey of young male vocalists who will compete to win a coveted spot in America’s next great boy band and receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Plus, viewers at home will vote for their favorite five band members, live, creating a group America can truly call its own.
Thousands of talented singers auditioned and have been narrowed down to the top 30. Tonight we’ll watch these 30 male vocalists audition in front of a three-person panel of “architects”: musical icons Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) , Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), and Timbaland. Only 18 performers will make the cut and advance to the next round.
Each episode will feature a different theme, and the architects will shuffle contestants to find the best combination of voices to perform live for America. Architects will critique each band’s performance and collectively determine two contestants who are up for elimination. After performing solo “survival” songs, viewers at home will vote for their favorite to remain in the competition.
In the finale, America’s favorite five band members will be announced, and they will perform their brand-new single together for the first time.
Thanks to ABC, we have some sneak peek clips to share of the architects working with contestants. In the first, contestant Devin Hayes auditions (including a serenade for Rita Ora) and gets feedback from the architects. In the second video, Nick Carter shows the contestants some choreography from “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and the contestants try to keep up. Next, contestant Jay Gilbert shows off some beatboxing in his audition, and Timbaland joins him on-stage for an impromptu performance. Finally, you can watch the first trial band UPLIFT perform “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars”:
WHY AM I SO EXCITED?! Seriously, I might as well be a teenager again, and I’m not even embarrassed… nope!
What are you most looking forward to in Boy Band?
Share your thoughts in comments and make sure to watch tonight’s TWO HOUR series premiere starting at 8p/7c on ABC.