It’s that time again for the much-anticipated FOX Bangor Eastern Maine Idol competition and I expect to see a huge crowd in anticipation of my first appearance as a judge.

That’s right. Yours truly has been requested to be part of the four-person panel of judges, and although I’m a little nervous, I’m very excited.

Now all I have to do is decide whether I want to be more like Simon, Paula or Randy. My supportive colleagues think it would be most fun to be cynical Simon, but I’m not sure I have it in me.

The other judge selected by FOX Bangor is news anchor Tony Consiglio of ABC-7-FOX Bangor.

The competition’s radio partner, WBZN-FM Z107.3, also selects two judges, but I haven’t found out yet who they’ll be.

So, if you can sing (or think you can sing), head over to the competition that starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in the J.C. Penney Court at Bangor Mall.

To compete, you must have been born between July 16, 1979, and July 15, 1992.

Contestants will sing a cappella for 60 seconds and the top 10 will move onto the second round for a performance to narrow the field to one.

The winner will land himself or herself a trip to East Rutherford, N.J., where they’re guaranteed an audition with an “American Idol” producer at the IZOD Center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex on Tuesday, Aug. 19. With a set audition time, they will bypass the line of other hopefuls.

For a complete list of audition rules or to preregister, check out www.foxbangor.com and click on the “EM Idol” icon. Check out the Reality Bytes blog at www.bangordailynews.com for direct links and other “Idol” info.

Contestants also can register the day of the event from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Bangor Mall.

In other reality news, I know I’ve said it before, but you have to check out “America’s Got Talent” at 9 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC. I agree that the premise of the show sounds a little cheesy and kind of like the “Star Search” of today, but I guarantee you that this is the best reality show out there right now.

The singing is better than anything I’ve ever seen on “Idol” or “Nashville Star,” much of the dancing surpasses “So You Think You Can Dance,” and there’s a slew of other acts that you’d never expect.

Check it out and let me know what you think by posting a comment on the Reality Bytes blog on the Bangor Daily News Web site.

adolloff@bangordailynews.net

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