I’m obviously a fan of FOX’s monster hit American Idol and have been lucky to have the resources (and friends!) who have been associated with the show to feature them on this site. After interviewing several past Idols, I thought it would be interesting to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at American Idol with a special interview with my friend Michael Orland, who is the pianist, musical arranger and vocal coach for Idol contestants.
Michael Orland began his musical career at the age of 3! He was a child prodigy, who at a young age learned to play the piano by ear. Since this auspicious beginning, Orland has become one of the most acclaimed musical directors on television, tours, and nightclubs. He has collaborated with music industry giants such as Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka, and Diane Warren. Orland has also been featured on Ellen more than any guest in the history of her show.
In part one of my interview with Michael Orland, we find out how he became involved with American Idol and he shares some of his fondest Idol memories. During my “Idols Ask Idols” segment, Season Two’s Kimberly Caldwell puts Orland on the spot with a unique withjosh question. Orland also shares about his humble beginnings and gives great advice for people who want to audition for Idol or who want to have a career in the entertainment industry.
Part two tackles Orland’s close relationship with some of the former Idols. We also ask some of your fan questions, and Orland shares his opinion on Season 9′s critically panned year and what changes he would make to make American Idol better. I also feel I should warn you that I must give a shout out to the Glamberts (Adam Lambert fans) because Orland feels that Lambert would be a great choice as a potential new judge on Idol!
Michael Orland was such a fun interview and I hope you enjoyed a taste of what it’s like behind America’s #1 show. Next time you watch American Idol or see an Idol perform on Ellen, you’ll know the story behind the amazing talent at the piano.
| Posted by Josh on August 18, 2010 @ 5:47 PM |  |
Another great interview! I loved all the behind the scenes Idol info. Man, they have a busy schedule. Awesome job Josh! Where’s your tv show?
Comment by Jon — August 19, 2010 @ 10:46 AM
I happen to know Michael Orland. If you ask him what he feels about Adam being a judge, he’s not going to say “Ewwwww, he’d be terrible.” Michael loves all these kids like they’re his own and he would say that if you asked him about anyone. .
Comment by Hope F. LeSane — August 19, 2010 @ 12:06 PM
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Pingback by Anonymous — August 21, 2010 @ 9:33 AM
If you look up Hope’s name she is all over the internet posting negative comments about Adam Lambert. So now she’s trying to insinuate that Michael is lying? I highly doubt you “know” Michael Orland Hope. Michael Orland has said many positive things about Adam in the past, so I’ll take his word for it that he meant what he said about Adam. Maybe if you take some of that negative energy you have spent slinging at Adam and use it to support the artist you like they might be doing better.
Comment by J.Taylor — August 21, 2010 @ 10:23 AM
Josh:
it’s grea to enjoy a new interview !! It gave me a melancholy the times 08/09 of michael on studio, cool moments!
Michael is a great professional, he has many talent and he never let the human vision respect the peoples which he works, it`s evident in this interview, cause he shows him so open to the conversation, and it gaves to the interview a great feed-back. I like it.
Is a great opportunity to watch to one incredible artist, specially cause he made himself, and it`s escential in one artist. Respect he like one prodigy, i supppose that it`s real cause he seems so concentrate in hisown perfection, but let me to say that you`re a BIGGEST prodigy, it`s more evident, well, when i saw your pic on J. Pescetto`s interview i saw a big energy and actitude of you to take all atention of others, and it`s uniq on you, really; you`re for greats things!!! you`re all the best, i admirate for all that you`re.
Is so good to watch to all peoples behind American Idols, cause when you put your view on all parts of the show you can to understand the all behind of the success, you can to watch the real spirit of this incredible show, cause it`s more than we can to watch on TV; it`s the real cool to watch, and you show us it in a real way.
Really congrats for this new interview, for every interview of Withjosh. I love your work, every detail that you create on it is one special way to show the world, of understand the things more than the things that we can to see, it`s the special into WithJosh; cause your show opens one new vision respect the reality, and it`s uniq.
I LOVE WITHJOSH!!!!!
D.
Comment by dheniss — August 21, 2010 @ 11:33 AM
OHHHHHH!! it`s one dream, i love you in this interview! you´re precious, you`re really fun;the look that can be given to your leg is fantastic!
Hey, congratulations for your interview, i love it soo much; i like his energy and good way with the interview, specially in the musical moments that he gaves us.
Comment by Tin@ — August 23, 2010 @ 9:53 AM
Josh:
I admire your work with the interview of American Idols.
You’re excellent!
all love of Joshitas, from this remote side.
Comment by cartersucre — August 24, 2010 @ 9:23 AM
Thanx for this interview, Josh. It’s perfect.
Respect the conflicts about Adam L. i see that it`s usual in one great tv. show like American Idols where the peoples distort the real comments, specially if Michael Orland says good things bout him, why distort it?, his words into the interview are this words and nothing more.
Well, the discussion is good to express too.But i think that Adam Lambert is a fantastic artist. All support for him of Josh`s fans from Argentina!
Comment by kARY — August 24, 2010 @ 9:52 AM
I love American Idol! Congratulation Josh Skinner for this interview.
Comment by Monique — August 24, 2010 @ 10:06 AM
Hi, Josh:
Congratulation for your new interview; it`s so cool. It (like i said in other post) gaves me a bit melancholy, specially cause he took part of the process of the most beautiful song in the world: “Back to You”. I ever think that if you can to produce one intense feeling in other, you gain to capture the human essence, and this song makes it; and it`s in this way cause it was made by great talents like YOU, and Michael O. Watch this interview had one particulary feeling to me. So what, Josh:THANX!
He shows one fantastic facility and fluence to improvisate with the piano; it`s like if the piano would be part of his body, one prolongation of himself; and it`s beautiful; but in the same time i must to say that you`re in this way too, specially when you´re so concentrate in your work (i know, my comment must to express respect Michael and not respect to the Host; but i cant help myself!), and it`s evident in many situations. You`re more concrete with the ask, you`re gracious in every moment, you dominate so, so good the times, you make all the best in the correct dose that one show needs, and nobody can to be indifferent to your brillant work. Well, many things are really good in this interview, but specially in this interview i percived your power to be elegant in every intervention, your subtle way to ripe the conversation with humour; i believe that into the host exist one talent humorist too. Other detail is your perfect domination of every different look of you front camera ( this wonderful eyes are more evidents into the Behind the scenes of withjosh.com. You´ve the most precious eyes of the world. Who need one sky when your eyes are sparkler in the universe of the perfection?).
Respect American Idols, i love to wacht more than the visible show, with your interviews to Ainow.com you show us all aspect behind this great mounster of the music that is American Idols, it`s the most interesant, cause we can to explode one great cosmos of talents on one stage and behind of it; we can meet to fantastics peoples who work with passion, and who let all to make it, who gaves us their geniallity in every episode, in every season, and it`s the show of the constancy of this show and the quallity of this topicality music.
“Idols ask Idols” is the best way to connect every corner of the show with the evolution of the personal carrers of the diferents artist in American Idols and of all person behind it with the persons who watch the show all time, who love the music. It lets us to know how was the realtionships into the show, and it gives one spiritual connection between the artist.
He`s humble and it`s evident in his way to share us his talent with generosity (like you!, although you more!!!) and his capacity to analize with profundity and respect the differents performance (like the performance of Kimberley Locke).
Like Tina said: yeah! You let us to see one good view of your leg. WOW!, your foot is the most beauty foot of all!!!!!! It`s the my preffer detail: I love when the interview shows one aspect of you, it`s very beautiful and so special. Hey, your fans want your interview!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, yeah!!!!
Well, Thanx, thanx, thanx Josh for this interview, and…dont forget his Facebook!!!!!, je!!!!
Love you sooooooooooooo much.
The last: sorry if sometimes i dont say you the good of your work in the real way that you deserve; you deserve that all time the peoples are saying you how incredible is it; really. Nobody can to make it in the precious way that you make .
I admirate many things in my life, but i never admirated the real important things in all this, but now i can to open my eyes and see in you one talent man with one heart of humanity who make it in the most intense and wonderful way. I want to find the words to say that you deserve; but in this moment dont exist correct and exactly words to express my admiration for your work, but this words that i said are true. I love you so much, and Thanx again for all; and never forget it: YOU`VE THE TALENT INTO YOU, AND EXIST ONE PERSON WHO KNOW IT,AND ADMIRATE YOU EVER
Comment by Dheniss — August 27, 2010 @ 1:24 PM
I like so much this interview. Congratulation Josh!!
Comment by Belinda — August 31, 2010 @ 9:50 AM
FASCINATING INTERVIEW!!!! GREAT JOB!!
Comment by Jamie — September 6, 2010 @ 10:28 PM