Fed: New reality singing contest is the anti-Idol, says Morris

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2007
Fed: New reality singing contest is the anti-Idol, says Morris

By Michael Gadd, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, Aug 3 AAP - It's The Office meets an after work karaoke party.

The Singing Office is a new Foxtel reality contest aimed at those who cringe at the
prospect of another group of fresh-faced hopefuls lining up for the new series of Australian
Idol this week.

"It's anti-Idol, and that's what we love about it," says comedienne Julia Morris, who
has been brought back to Australia from London for the show.

Morris joins Gus Worland, the Aussie who joined The Barmy Army cricket supporters for
another reality show, as a team mentor on The Singing Office.

Each week, crew from the show, which will be hosted by actor Nick Giannopoulos, invade
an ordinary office block.

They audition workers at their desks with the accompaniment of a keyboard and select
the best five singers.

Then, after a two-day intensive show-business boot camp with some professional talent
developers, they perform head-to-head under the bright lights of a Melbourne studio.

Former Full Frontal actor Morris has been in England for the past seven years, picking
up a host of TV roles.

But it was singing that gave a 17-year-old Morris her first taste of TV, as a 1985
contestant on New Faces. She came equal first with a group made up of marching girls and
a big band.

The new show, Morris proudly says, gives ordinary people with no ambitions a chance to be a hero.

"These people don't have aspirations to get the next big contract with Sony BMG, they
are just in it for a laugh," she said.

"It's been such a long time that anything in television has gone in that direction,
so it's been nothing but a pleasure to work on since it started."

The show began shooting the in-office auditions in early July and this week the first
group of offices - RipCurl Surfwear and Tourism Victoria - did battle in their first studio
performances.

Another episode features a crew of jockeys and horse trainers.

"It's like karaoke without the booze, can you imagine it? It's a pretty sobering experience,"

she said.

"I don't think they know what they're in for. It's not like Big Brother, we're not
picking people who we can bury and make cry. It's just picking whoever's got a good voice
to come along and have a go.

"And they have a great time with it."

The 13-part series, based on a Dutch series, will air on Fox8 from early September.

AAP mdg/cjh/cp/cdh

KEYWORD: SINGING (REPEAT)

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