The American Idol contestants have been whittled down to six this week, but the fun on FOX 50’s Gimme the Mike! is just beginning. The local talent competition will begin airing tonight, Thursday, April 21, 2005, at 7:30pm.

For the second year running, Verizon SuperPages Presents FOX 50’s Gimme the Mike! will pit five contestants against each other each episode. The twenty will be culled down to four who, along with one audience-selected Wild Card, will compete in the finals for a jump start at a possible music career.

Tapings took place before a live studio audience, sworn to secrecy about the results of each week’s competition.

This year’s contestants include talent from throughout North Carolina:  Cary, Chapel Hill, Dudley, Dunn, Durham, Fayetteville, Garner, Goldsboro, Morrisville, Pinehurst, Raleigh, Roanoke Rapids, Sanford, and Smithfield. This year’s grand prize will include a trip to New York to audition for record label executives, hotel, airfare, the chance to perform on Alltel Pavilion’s second stage for one show this summer, and a demo from Osceola Recording Studios in Raleigh. 

The 20 contestants for FOX 50’s Gimme the Mike! were selected by the show’s producers from among hundreds of hopefuls who showed up at open auditions held February 12th and 13th at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh.  Many singers camped out and lined up for hours for a chance to audition for the local TV competition.

Returning for another season on FOX 50’s Gimme the Mike! will be host Jim Kelly from MIX 101.5, WRAL-FM and North Carolina actress/comedian Debra Terry.  This season’s judges include Dick Hodgin of Osceola Recording Studios, Brian Dawson from K97.5, WQOK and Heather Green from 94.7FM, WQDR.

FOX 50 will air the Gimme the Mike! series on Thursdays at 7:30pm, culminating with the live one-hour finale in May.