''The WB's Superstar USA'' is a television show that spoofed the popular show ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'' and which aired on

The WB The WB Television Network (for Warner Bros., or the "Frog Network", for its former mascot, Michigan J. Frog) was an American television network launched on broadcast television on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between the Warner Bros. ...

in 2004. Essentially its polar opposite, ''Superstar USA'' told contestants they were looking for the best singer when they were actually looking for the worst.

Description

Hosted by

Brian McFayden Brian McFayden (born October 1, 1976) is an American television personality. He has worked as an MTV News anchor and an MTV VJ. He worked at KGW, the NBC affiliate station in Portland, Oregon, from December 2016 to October 2017. Biography M ...

, people first audition before three judges (Christopher Briggs, who also produced the show; rapper

Tone Loc Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), better known by his stage name Tone Lōc (), is an American rapper, actor, and producer. He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs " Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina", for which he was nomina ...

and singer

Vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) an ...

) in four cities across the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Finalists were chosen based on the lie that they were the most likely to be able to parlay their win into a successful recording contract based on talent. However, the audition process was the opposite of ''American Idol'' as good singers were mocked and rejected while bad singers were given gushing praise and passed to the next round. Eventually the contest was "won" by Jamie Foss, who could barely carry a tune. Throughout the competition she was constantly mocked by judges with thinly veiled references to the largeness of her breasts. She was awarded $50,000 in cash and a $50,000 budget to produce a record, which had not yet surfaced. The truth was revealed to her on stage in front of the audience she had just sung for. One producer, worried that the live audience members would be unable to respectfully compose themselves during the final performances, falsely informed them that the singers were all terminally ill young people who were having a wish fulfilled by a charitable organization. The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' reported the said organization as the

Make a Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in the United States that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of and 18 years old. Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 and headquar ...

, which later received an apology from the WB. In an interview with ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...

'', executive producer

Mike Fleiss Mike L. Fleiss (born April 14, 1964) is an American television producer and writer. Early life Fleiss was raised in Fullerton, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley. Career He is the creator, producer and writer of '' ...

straightened out the details: "First of all, it was me. But I did not say 'Make-A-Wish.' I said, 'Who's heard of the One Wish Foundation?' and people raised their hands. There is no One Wish Foundation. It was a prank on top of a prank. It was the only way to get it to work."

Finalists

;Winner * Jamie Foss ;Runner up * Mario Rodgers ;Third * Rosa McIntyre ;Fourth * Joseph "Jojo" Crane ;Top 8 * John Michael Zimmer * Nina "Diva" Oh * Omar Kramer * Tamara Lindsey ;Top 12 * Ash "The Anglo Assassin" Snyder * Emily Hobart * Ross Ecklund * Frank Glynn * Darren Wright

References

External links

* {{The WB 2000s American reality television series 2000s American parody television series Singing talent shows Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios 2004 American television series debuts 2004 American television series endings English-language television shows