Competition is a piece of work
LONG BEACH, Calif. - It's not a typical day at the airport. Melanie Brown, the season five "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up, is traipsing around with a camera crew in tow, begging
No need to alert the Long Beach Airport's TSA crew - Brown is simply filming a segment for "The Singing Office," a new tongue-in-cheek vocal contest.
In each episode of this Dutch reality TV import (premiering June 29 at 9 p.m. on TLC), Brown and former "Dancing" contestant Joey Fatone surprise employees at two separate workplaces with impromptu auditions.
"It's not like 'American Idol' or 'Dancing With the Stars,' " the Spice Girl said during a recess from her quest for five amateur singers to make up a new performance group. "It's not a serious competition. It gives people a break from their everyday lives to have some fun with their co-workers."
Her JetBlue crew will have a weeklong dancing and singing camp with a professional choreographer and vocal coach, then perform in front of a studio audience against another team helmed by former 'N Sync member Fatone. The crowd will pick a winner.
During this day of filming tryouts last April, there was no rehearsal, or even a long line to audition. Brown merely ambushed JetBlue employees on camera with a list of preapproved songs, and the workers responded by unabashedly singing - mostly badly - their hearts out.
"This doesn't work if it's overly produced," said executive producer Scott Sternberg. "The thing about this format is it only works if it's real and unscripted."
Flight attendant Melissa Louch tried out aboard a plane between flights.
"It was surreal," said Louch, 32. "I've wanted to do this my whole life, but an opportunity like this has never presented itself before. . . . Mel B. threw me off a little bit, but I think I busted it out."
She did. Later that day, Brown announced who made her quintet - which included Louch.
In May, the team assembled for their live performance at Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach, Calif. The JetBlue team competed against the group Fatone crafted from Los Angeles Zoo employees.
"There's no real beef between me and Melanie," Fatone said. "That said, I hope my groups kick her groups' butts every time. And I know they will." 