‘American Idol,’ at a Mall Near You

Holding up signs written in glitter glue, girls shrieked for the hunky 25-year-old construction worker in the black cowboy hat and tight white T-shirt.

A group of women clapped in time as their 42-year-old friend, clad in blue sequins and spandex, belted out a version of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

But the judges declared that a 14-year-old blond with soaring high notes had captured the title of “High Desert Idol” after performing on a three-foot-high stage set up in front of racks of sale-priced tank tops and bikinis.

From Victorville to Wichita, Kan., at least a dozen towns across the country have launched local versions of the blockbuster television show “American Idol.”

In California, wannabes have taken -- or soon will take -- the stage in Apple Valley, Bakersfield, Oakland, San Diego and Visalia.

While Fox-affiliate stations around the country are staging sanctioned regional contests, the local shows have sprouted on their own.

Productions range from high glitz to homespun.

“Apple Valley Idol” was a small affair, staged in June and featuring a $2.50 spaghetti dinner cooked by staff of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

“We couldn’t offer anything huge. It was just a family event, so kids could showcase,” said Scott Gorman, who helped organize the event.

About 150 parents, grandparents and friends crowded into the James A. Woody Community Center auditorium to videotape and photograph the 21 kids who crooned Broadway numbers and Disney tunes.

The judges, including a high school music teacher and a college-age songwriter, awarded plaques to nine standouts.

But every contestant took home a felt star emblazoned with his or her name that had adorned the event’s long white banner.

Representatives of the Fox television show said they appreciate this unprompted idol worship.

Although David Goffin, a supervising producer on “American Idol,” joked that his lawyer might gripe about the copyright, he said, “Anything that keeps our show in the public consciousness can only help.”

Organizers of these hometown contests said they are just harnessing the popularity of “American Idol.”

“We have youth committee meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month,” explained Ramsey Ochoa, one of the organizers of “Visalia Teen Idol,” staged recently.

“Halfway through the meeting, they would want to rush home” to watch the TV show.

“So we asked, ‘Do you guys want to have an “American Idol”-type show in Visalia?’ They were just jazzed about it.”

Some of the contestants acknowledged that they also hoped to bring a little fame to their hometowns. After all, the hometowns of “American Idol” TV show finalists received loads of media attention.

“Bakersfield Idol” may not be connected to “American Idol,” said Nick Elliot, program director at KISS-FM (96.5). “But we’re so close to L.A., and the prize happens to be studio time in L.A. under a top producer, so who knows? The next idol could be from Bakersfield.”

Big or small, the aspiring idols take the contests seriously. Many have competed since they were old enough to sing along with the radio.

“I think ‘American Idol’ would be really fun to do when I’m older,” said 10-year-old Mary Estes, one of the winners of “Derby Idol” in Kansas.

She competes in five to seven events yearly.

In her hometown, Wellington, she is the reigning Little Miss Wheat Queen.

Winners bask happily in all the attention.

Amy Adams, 24, who won the first “Bakersfield Idol” contest last year, said residents tell her, “You’re the most awesome thing in Bakersfield.”

Contest winners in other cities have had similar experiences, as in Oakland, where the school district’s cable channel aired the program.

The performers “all said they were recognized on the street by people,” said Gabriel Diamond, who oversaw “Oakland Idol.”

“They all felt like celebrities in town because we reach some 75,000 homes in Oakland. It made the kids feel pretty special.”

James Nickerson, a self-described “honky-tonk” singer-songwriter who judged “Apple Valley Idol,” said that, while it was not fair to compare kids competing at the local level with those appearing on “American Idol,” the Apple Valley event was not just a throwaway karaoke night.

“You’re going to take your name and put it on a program, whether it’s in front of 10, 100 or 10,000 people,” he said. “How serious are you? Do you want to giggle and laugh through your performance or give 100%?”

Contestants in “High Desert Idol,” sponsored by local radio station Y102-FM and Victorville’s Valley-Hi Toyota Honda dealership, definitely had high expectations.

“I hope to actually get discovered as an artist,” said the winner, Christina Rivera.

“Of course, I will have a backup plan -- education and college. But I’d like to do something, like, pop-ish with a little hip-hop in it.”

Cherish Whisner, 15, who prefers country songs and placed third, said she also hoped to hear from a talent scout.

“I hope they find out that people can sing in the high desert. I don’t think they know that, because it’s such a little place,” she said.

Mariyah Burton, 13, even invited a producer to catch the event at a local mall.

Elgin Zerick, the producer, came from Studio City to hear Mariyah. He said such contests help him scout undiscovered talent. He heard about Mariyah after she won a karaoke contest last year.

The venue for “High Desert Idol” was the Mall of Victor Valley, where 150 people crowded around the potted palms and a circular fountain to listen. They whooped as if pop singer Mandy Moore herself had taken the stage.

Crystal Keeder, 12, couldn’t take her eyes off 25-year-old Chad Harrison as he cooed the country song “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem.”

She had stopped to watch as she browsed the mall with her older sister.

“Oh, he’s good,” the Victorville resident said. “I think he’s cute. He’ll win,” she added.

Even Jonathan Waiter, 23, who thought “High Desert Idol” might be a joke when he first heard about it over the radio, admitted that the singers were pretty impressive.

“It’s not bad,” Waiter said.