TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews
'Pussycat' Creator Robin Antin Is Adding to the Litter
|
March 5 -- Before the TV show, there was the group. Before the group, there was the Vegas stage show. Robin Antin was the woman behind it all.
The Pussycat Dolls creator is taking the group to reality TV with The CW's 'Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll.'
The show, which premieres March 6 at 9PM ET, puts 18 girls through the paces as they try to earn that coveted spot.
Antin talked to AOL Television editor Geoff Bennett about the new series, shared some insight from her reality TV star brother and explained what Nicole Scherzinger's solo career will mean for the group.
You're on the search for the next Pussycat Doll, but are there any concerns about overcrowding the group of six?
There can never be enough Pussycat Dolls in the world. (Laughs)
Agreed.
I mean, come on! Everybody wants another Pussycat Doll. But the bottom line is that the group originally went from four to five to seven [members.] When we signed the deal with Interscope Records, there were 11 girls. Then we narrowed it back down to six. This is always an evolving group. The group is such a platform for girls to come in and become the best -- like Nicole, who is doing her solo career because of the Pussycat Dolls.
How will Nicole's upcoming solo CD impact the group?
I think it's going to be a really positive thing because it's kind of like how Fergie is staying in the Black Eyed Peas even though she has a solo career. The fans don't want to see Nicole leave the group. They like her, and it's sort of unfair if she leaves. And trust me, she more than anyone does not want to leave. She's taking advantage of what she's built and what we've built for her, and she's going for it. Her new music is so good. There are some songs on there that are so hot and really sound like her. I'm 100 percent there for Nicole, and her solo thing is a part of us.
Oh yeah. They loved the idea because they all trust me and [music executive] Jimmy Iovine, who is my partner over at Interscope. It's great to be getting the name out there, and it's inspiring for girls. That's how these girls ended up in the group, and they know that. They're smart.
AOL Television was at one of the audition sites, and it seemed like the girls in line really took it seriously. It wasn't like 'American Idol,' where weirdos show up just to get on TV.
Yeah that's what's so great about this show. It really is serious. When we see these girls get eliminated, it is so heavy. I was so emotional every single show; it was almost too much. These girls wanted it so bad and they had worked so hard -- even on the first show.
What kind of challenges can we expect in this competition?
One of the fun challenges is that we actually put them on stage with the Pussycat Dolls during a real show. We also took a trip to Vegas and taught them the choreography on the bus. They were falling all over the place, which was hilarious. But that's really what we do, by the way, because there's no time to do anything. We're either rehearsing in someone's hotel room or we're rehearsing on the bus. A lot of the challenges are performance-oriented. We do another challenge where they have to choreograph a routine with male partners, when they haven't seen guys in a few weeks. (Laughs) And we have one girl who's less of a dancer, and you'll find that out throughout the show.
We were sitting around having a meeting with the network. We knew that I was going to be one and Ron Fair would be another -- he's the president of A&M Records. We knew that the third one had to come from a world of understanding music and not necessarily from behind the scenes. And when Jimmy came up with Lil' Kim, we thought, "Wow, that's so interesting." Being the queen of rap, she's such a respected person in that business. Even with the jail thing, people really respect her for what she did. And her whole thing on the show is: "I am a Pussycat Doll! I was born a Pussycat Doll!"
Did your brother, Jonathan Antin of Bravo's 'Blow Out,' give you any reality show tips?
Yes, he did. He told me to just break through the pressure and enjoy it. He was like, "Don't let the pressure of the cameras being in your face every single day get to you." He was so excited and so supportive. He does an appearance on the show -- a makeover. It was really fun having him there. He saw the promo the other night and called me and was going crazy.
The thing about Paris is if you get to know her, she is the coolest girl in the world. She's one of those people that will be so loyal to you as your friend. That's what I appreciate about her the most. She just really respects what I do, and she loves the Pussycat Dolls. It was really fun working with her because she's not a professional dancer, and she just kind of let me do my thing. I gave her all those moves she was doing, and she really picked it up. She's such an interesting person and nobody really knows what she's like until they really hang out with her. She's so unique, and I admire her a lot.
When you started the group in mid '90s, did you ever expect it would become a hit musical act and turn into a TV show?
It's funny because when I first started it, I was all about live performance. I thought I wanted to bring it to Broadway. Now I'm actually talking about doing the real story on Broadway -- how it started in the garage and in Christina Applegate's little dance studio. That's really the story I want to tell. There are a few things from the very beginning that are actually happening, but this huge worldwide phenomenon? You might dream about it, but you never really think it's going to come true. I am really living the life of a girl with a dream. It's still super hard work, but I just keep my head high and work as hard as I can.
Alert Me With New Interviews
