American Idol – Update On Internet Couple

American Idol must be holding out on us. Last night’s auditions from South Carolina produced hardly anything. It was so little that the only things we are left to talk about is if the brother and sister team will make it, that the Air Force pilot seemed much better than the 16-year-old say-no-to-sex girl, and what the heck is going on with the Internet Couple?

I’m not sure why in 2008 this is still surprising to us, but it is. Much of our lives are ruled by the computer. We play on the computer, work on the computer, and sit idly by on the computer. There are social websites all over the place, from Facebook to MySpace, to just plain old message boards. Yet, hearing that a couple has struck up a friendship on a message board over a shared interest and is now looking for something more intrigues us for some reason.

Crystal Ortiz, 26, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Randy Stark, 27, of Abilene, Texas, met on an American Idol message board, and through an update he left on there last night, I found out the following. He regularly gives people advice on how to audition and if they are any good or not, and through this, he met Crystal, and they struck up a friendship. They recognized they had some chemistry, but weren’t sure whether they would ever meet face to face. He originally auditioned in Dallas, but didn’t make it. Crystal asked him if he would like to fly out and visit her and try out together in South Carolina, and he jumped at the chance.

A big fan of American Idol, Randy recognizes that through the initial auditions in South Carolina it didn’t even matter at this point how well they sang, because the producers knew they were good TV material, and this is how they earned the chance to face the big three of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell. They were also told to sing the duet that they did, only having a short time to learn the song. Randy explains there is much more to the audition that we didn’t see, such as both of them singing more and additional critiques.

They were so close that day we saw them auditioning, so we knew it wasn’t over for them, and so did they. They made plans to move in together, and with a loan from Crystal to fix his car, Randy made the drive and moved to South Carolina along with his numerous pets. And the rest, as they say is history. He made mention at the end of this entry that he had a radio interview in the morning, so he’s apparently getting his five minutes. Ironic, somewhat, as he bills himself as the guy that can coach you on your interview, yet when he did it himself, he didn’t get through. He only made it through with a woman he met in his coaching, proving everything happens for a reason.