Brian Dunkleman shared stories from his time co-hosting the first season of American Idol.
Brian, 52, co-hosted the first season of the singing competition series with Ryan Seacrest, 49.
7
7
He dropped out before they started filming the second season.
Brian was a recent guest on the podcast Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko, where he discussed his experiences on American Idol in the early 2000s.
He revealed what he witnessed during the show’s audition process.
“You spend a lot of time with these kids in line and you get to know them, you get to know their parents,” the comedian said.
“There was a stretch of an hour straight where child after child came, [and] every one of them was crying. And I thought, ‘What’s going on?'”
“At one point… I went and found a corner behind the curtain. I started crying.
“I don’t know why it affected me so much. Maybe because I’ve been tested so many times.
“I know how difficult it is. It’s not easy to expose yourself.”
Brian then talked about witnessing a young woman who explained that her father sold his tools to get her to the test.
However, when it was all over, she left the room with “dead eyes” and was “shattered.”
“I just didn’t understand why this was necessary,” Brian said. “But it was really, really cruel that first season,” he shared.
“And that’s what made the show a success, was how cruel [former judge Simon Cowell] it was.”
Along with Simon Cowell, 64, Paula Abdul, 61, and Randy Jackson, 67, were also judges.
Brian reiterated that he didn’t want to “talk bad” about anyone working on the show, but he wasn’t a fan of how it was working.
You put them in front of the cameras and I can hear them [go]. ‘Oh, this girl, she thinks she can really sing. We will crush it. She has 16 years old.
Brian Dunkleman
“I don’t believe you should prepare children to be humiliated in this way.
“You’re putting them in front of the cameras, and I can hear them [go]. ‘Oh, this girl, she thinks she can really sing. We will crush it. She has 16 years old.”
Later in the podcast, Brian praised the judges
He said Simon was a “really nice guy” and had a “great sense of humor,” as did Paula and Randy.
7
“I just adore Paula,” Brian said. “I love Randy. Such a great guy… This guy is exactly what you see. Just a really, really sweet guy.”
MORE ABOUT THE IDOL
People in the United States have been watching American Idol since the early 2000s.
Previous winners include Kelly Clarkson, 42, Carrie Underwood, 41, and Fantasia, 39, and Jordin Sparks, 34.
The show just finished its 22nd season with Abi Carter taking home the Idol crown.
Over the years, the reality show has had a wide variety of A-list judges, including Nicki Minaj, 41, Mariah Carey, 55, and Steven Tyler, 76.
The most recent celebrity judges were Lionel Richie, 74, Katy Perry, 39, and Luke Bryan, 47.
Earlier this year, the Teenage Dream singer revealed she would not return to Idol’s 23rd season.
Luke and Lionel continue to perform their duties as judges and the celebrity who will replace Katy has not been announced.
7
7
7
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
