The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll

The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll
Created by Robin Antin
Starring Pussycat Dolls
Robin Antin
Lil' Kim
Ron Fair
Mark McGrath
Opening theme Don't Cha
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 8
Production
Executive producer(s) Ken Mok
Running time 60 minutes
Release
Original network The CW
Original release March 6 – April 24, 2007 (2007-04-24)
External links
Website

The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll is the first season of Pussycat Dolls Present: that premiered on March 6, 2007 on The CW, and aired for a total of eight weeks. It was a joint venture between Ken Mok's 10x10 Entertainment, Pussycat LLC, Interscope A&M Records, Wonderland Sound and Vision, and Warner Horizon Television.

The series followed a group of young women as they went through an audition process to join the girl group, The Pussycat Dolls. The contestants, who also lived together during the course of the series, were groomed by the group's founder and the series' creator and co-producer, Robin Antin, and were judged on their vocal and dancing ability. The winner went on to join the Pussycat Dolls as the act's seventh member, and appeared in the series but performed with the group only once before opting to go solo.[1]

In the UK, the show started airing on T4 (the Channel 4 weekend teenage block programming slot) on April 1, 2007. In Australia, the show debuted on Network Ten on April 1, 2007.

Finalist

Name Age Hometown Outcome
Brittany Diorio 20 Woodbridge, Virginia Eliminated in Episode 2
Jaime Benjamin 20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Eliminated in Episode 3
Sisely Treasure 24 Los Angeles, California Eliminated in Episode 4
Mariela Arteaga 24 Miami, Florida Eliminated in Episode 5
Anastacia McPherson 23 San Francisco, California Eliminated in Episode 6
Melissa Smith 24 Detroit, Michigan Eliminated in Episode 7
Chelsea Korka 20 Ocala, Florida Eliminated in Episode 8
Melissa Reyes 18 Sacramento, California Runner-up
Asia Nitollano 18 Harlem, New York Winner

Makeovers

Elimination Chart

Colour key
     –Contestant was team captain that week.
     –Contestant is immune from elimination.
     –Contestant won a prize but did not win immunity.
     –Contestant was eliminated.
     –Contestant who won.
Robin Antin's Call-Out Order
Order 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Anastacia Asia Melissa S Mariela Asia Melissa R Melissa R. Asia
2 Mariela Jaime Anastacia Chelsea Melissa R Chelsea Asia Melissa R
3 Sisely Anastacia Mariela Anastacia Melissa S Asia Chelsea Chelsea
4 Brittany Mariela Asia Melissa R Anastacia Melissa S Melissa S Eliminated (Episode 7)
5 Melissa S Melissa R Melissa R Asia Chelsea Anastacia Eliminated (Episode 6)
6 Jaime Chelsea Chelsea Melissa S Mariela Eliminated (Episode 5)
7 Melissa R Sisely Sisely Sisely Eliminated (Episode 4)
8 Asia Melissa S Jaime Eliminated (Episode 3)
9 Chelsea Brittany Eliminated (Episode 2)

Notes:

Performances

Episodes

Episode 1: The Auditions

The 18 semi-finalist are given songs as follow:

Artist Group Song Results
Sisely 1 "Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)" Safe
Brittany Safe
Mariela Safe
Shauntae Eliminated
Melissa S Safe
Catherine Eliminated
Jaime 2 "Buttons" Safe
Kelli Eliminated
Ewa Eliminated
Melissa R Safe
Sandra Eliminated
Asia Safe
Anjelia 3 "I Don't Need A Man" Eliminated
Chelsea Safe
Jasmin Eliminated
Anastacia Safe
Natascha Eliminated
Robyn Eliminated

Rehearsal does not go smoothly, as Anjelia gets sick, and Sisely gets in a fight with her group because she doesn't want to rehearse too late to preserve her energy. Sandra as well as the Hot Stuff group struggle with their vocals while Chelsea and Shauntae struggle with their dancing. The girls are then taken to a Pussycat Dolls concert and meet the Dolls. On the way back home and overnight Jaime, Ewa, Chelsea, Sandra, Melissa S., Mariela, Natascha and Jasmin all get sick, while a now cured Anjelia rehearses with Anastacia. On their performance, despite being sick, the girls wow the judges and Nicole Scherzinger except for the group who performed I Don't Need a Man. After deliberation, the nine finalists are called.

Episode 2: Welcome to the Dollhouse

The girls move in and after a video message by the Dolls (like each week), are given their song assignment as follow

Artist Group Song Results
Asia Nitollano 1 "Crazy in Love" Safe
Chelsea Korka Safe
Melissa Smith Bottom 2
Anastacia McPherson 2 "Pon De Replay" Safe
Sisely Treasure Safe
Melissa Reyes Safe
Mariela Arteaga 3 "1, 2 Step" Safe
Jaime Benjamin Safe
Brittany Diorio Eliminated

They are then taken to a restaurant where they discover their first challenge to be exotic dancing in a class cage in the restaurant. Despite Jaime overcoming her lack of confidence, Asia wins and gets immunity. During rehearsal, Brittany is criticized for "dancing like a stripperella" while Jaime struggles with her vocals. At the performance, Ron and Kim are introduced as judges and Melissa S. forgets her words but it is eventually Brittany who is sent home for her too sexual moves.

Episode 3: The Transformation

The girls get a makeover by Jonathan Antin, Robin's brother and taken to a dinner with the judges. All the girls except Sisely are grateful for their new looks, especially Jaime who says the makeover boosted her self-confidence. In the challenge, the girls are recorded singing Don't Cha's chorus and despite Mariela's vocal improvement, it is Melissa S who wins immunity. The girls perform as follow:

Artist Group Song Results
Melissa Smith 1 "Free Your Mind" Safe
Asia Nitollano Safe
Mariela Arteaga Safe
Anastacia McPherson Safe
Jaime Benjamin 2 "Heartbreaker" Eliminated
Sisely Treasure Bottom 2
Chelsea Korka Safe
Melissa Reyes Safe

The judges decide that the first group did the best, Mariela was praise for her improvement and strong performance with no negative feedback like every girl had. While the judges say that it is Melissa R.'s worst night yet, it is Sisely, who has struggled throughout rehearsal despite being given a rock song, who lands in the bottom with the still not confident Jaime who is eliminated for not standing out. .

Episode 4: She Dances Like a Drag Queen

At this week's challenge the girls are assigned to perform a self-choreographed routine with a male dancer and Mariela impress the judges with her creativity, gaining immunity. Robin picks Chelsea and Asia to be leaders and Sisely winds up getting chosen last. Chelsea chooses girls she hasn't worked with and does a good job as a leader. Asia doesn't manage to well, being distracted by Sisely's earlier comments about her dancing like a drag queen. The girls perform as follow:

Artist Group Song Results
Chelsea Korka 1 "Shame" Safe
Mariela Arteaga Safe
Anastacia McPherson Safe
Asia Nitollano 2 "Don't Leave Me This Way" Safe
Melissa Reyes Safe
Sisely Treasure Eliminated
Melissa Smith Bottom 2

Guys join the girls for a partner dance challenge which Mariela wins. At the final performance Chelsea's group is deemed the best, despite having a weak rehearsal. The ever-struggling Sisely and Melissa S, who has trouble showing her "inner doll" are in the bottom two. Sisely is then eliminated as it becomes evident that her uniqueness is a weakness.

Episode 5: Vegas, Baby

The girls are taken to Vegas where they perform "Tainted Love" after learning the routine on their moving tour bus. At the Challenge performance, Anastacia felt uncomfortable in her dress, Chelsea gave strongest vocal performance, Mariela and Melissa S. had the loudest cheers. After the public votes were tallied, Melissa S. is crowned winner. Asia rubs some girls the wrong way after deeming the vegetables they are given disgusting and asking for a hamburger instead of cuisine while Anastacia continues to struggle with her weight. The girls are then given the following song assignments, making both Mariela and Anastacia worried, Mariela because she is paired up with the best vocalist in the top 6 and Anastasia because her teammate has immunity.

Artist Group Song Results
Asia Nitollano 1 "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" Safe
Melissa Reyes Safe
Chelsea Korka 2 "I Turn to You" Bottom 2
Mariela Arteaga Eliminated
Anastacia McPherson 3 "Un-Break My Heart" Safe
Melissa Smith Safe

At the final performance, Melissa R. is criticized for crying on stage but is safe due to being in the best duo. Mariela and Chelsea land in the bottom two due to their shortcomings in singing and dancing respectively. In the end, a teary eyed Robin eliminates Mariela.

Episode 6: Dancin' With The Dolls

Chelsea expresses her feelings on Mariela's elimination saying that she felt she took away Mariela's dream and did not want her to go home. Anastacia feels her biggest indirect competition was gone. The girls are given a Wait a Minute routine to learn where Chelsea and Anastacia struggle. Robin then tells them that only 4 girl will perform it on stage with the Dolls to get immunity, however she makes the last minute decision to cut both Anastacia and Chelsea out of the performance and they stay on the bus. At the performance, Melissa R. gains immunity despite almost getting too soon on stage. As they come back, the ongoing tension between Melissa S. and Chelsea reach their highest point as Melissa uses Chelsea's name as a synonym for bad dancer. Melissa R. breaks down because she struggles with her identity and sheltered past but is comforted by Melissa S. This week the girls perform a medley as one group and Chelsea is put in a swing, which Melissa S. believes is giving her an excuse to not dance.

Artist Song Results
Asia Nitollano "The Pink Panther Theme"/"Fever"/"Big Spender" Safe
Anastacia McPherson Eliminated
Chelsea Korka Safe
Melissa Reyes Safe
Melissa Smith Bottom 2

After losing her microphone in the tub she danced in and sang badly, Melissa S. lands in the bottom two once again, but it is Anastacia who is eliminated due to her inability to use her figure to her advantage.

Episode 7: The Fantastic Four

The girls are taken on a fake promo tour, including a photoshoot, an interview and a commercial for a deodorant. All the girls struggle with their commercial and Chelsea ends up singing it to show off her best asset, while Asia ad libs a bit, talking about The Dolls's confidence. At the interview, Melissa S deems Chelsea the girl with the least potential, reigniting tension but is Asia who wins, though she does not get immunity but to have her commercial run nationally. This week the girls have to perform "Beep"'s dance routine and Chelsea struggles, making Melissa S. happy as she can't evade dancing this week. However she gets the routine down with the help of Asia. The girls are also given solo assignments as follow:

Artist Order Song Results
Melissa Smith 1 "Don't Know Why" Eliminated
Asia Nitollano 2 "Too Little Too Late" Safe
Melissa Reyes 3 "I'm Going Down" Safe
Chelsea Korka 4 "What a Girl Wants" Bottom 2

Asia is criticized for struggling on a hard song while Chelsea and Melissa S. land in the bottom two, Chelsea for her dancing problem, despite pulling off a strong performance this night and Melissa S for her lack of consistency. Ultimately, an overjoyed Chelsea joins Asia and Melissa R in the finale and Melissa S is sent home.

Episode 8: The Girl Who Becomes A Doll

As the girls come home, Melissa R. voices her relief at Melissa S.'s elimination, leading Asia to call her phony at their last dinner with the judges. Tension continues throughout the night and Chelsea is woken up by the other girls' fight. The girls learn their song assignment as follows:

Artist Order Song Results
Chelsea Korka 1 "Feelin' Good" Eliminated
Asia Nitollano 2 "I Don't Need A Man" Winner
Melissa Reyes 3 "Stickwitu" Runner-up

All of them struggle due to the tension, leading Robin to tell them that none of them are ready. Melissa R. and Asia continue their fight during the group rehearsal, while a bemused Mikey and Chelsea look on. They then pretend to sort out their differences and hug each other. At the performance the judges are wowed by all of the girls. But, Chelsea's inability to dance gets her eliminated.

Robin then names Asia the winner and she is joined on stage by the Dolls and performs with them for the first time. She only performed with the Dolls again once at the CW Upfronts Event in New York City, and shortly after, she announced her departure from the group to pursue a solo career.

After the show, Melissa Smith, Melissa Reyes and Chelsea Korka performed the Pink Panther/Fever Medley with the English burlesque group Girlesque at the Fashion cares event,[2] this has led fans to believe that they had started a group which turned out to be false.[2] Chelsea Korka was in group Paradiso Girls

References

  1. ↑ CW Defends "Pussycat Dolls Presents..."
  2. 1 2 List of public appearances after the show

External links

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