By Peter Celauro
Assistant A&E Editor
Pepperdine students and faculty enjoyed a little taste of TV magic on Monday. But this time, it wasn’t seeing themselves on the campus television station, TV-26.
The university hosted the pilot taping of “David Foster and Friends,” a “completely music based show” that brings upcoming artists to the spotlight and into America’s living rooms. As a special bonus, well-known singer Josh Groban appeared on the show as one of the performing guests. And Pepperdine was the audience.
Extensive advertising around campus drew an impressive crowd to Smothers Theatre Monday night. Many of those in line, however, weren’t sure they would even get in. Flyers instructed ticket-holders to be at the theatre by 6:45 p.m. Due to what event coordinators called “normal TV setup difficulties,” the audience was left standing in line outside for about 35 minutes, and the show’s taping didn’t begin until about 7:45.
“I think it’s ridiculous that they made us wait an hour and thirty minutes outside in the cold,” said Anna Chang, freshman international business major. “I kind of lost the passion to come after freezing outside.”
Once inside, however, many audience members were pleasantly surprised by the “television studio” atmosphere. Unlike a normal concert, this taping had producers regulating the crowd and setting up equipment, tech people checking sound levels and stage lights illuminating the crowd itself. Artists would sometimes perform songs a few times in order to get a good take. And, perhaps the hardest to get used to, audience members had to wait through commercial breaks as though they were watching the show at home.
Time in between takes was made bearable, however, by the session band. When not playing along with Foster and his guests, the five-piece ensemble played through Beatles, Stevie Wonder and even Eminem tunes to keep the audience lively and entertained.
Foster, a 14-time Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, hosted the show, conversing with the artists and playing accompaniment to their performances. Aside from Groban, Foster interviewed singer Eric Benet, Marla Sokoloff, who plays Lucy Hatcher on ABC’s “The Practice,” and 13-year-old jazz singer Renee Olstead.
Foster also made Pepperdine students a part of the show. The producer held an open audition Sunday for anyone who wanted to be on television to come and perform. Thirty-five Pepperdine students showed up to sing. During Monday’s taping, Foster stepped into the audience to “randomly” select the singers whose auditions he liked to perform on camera. The students represented a variety of styles, from Kelsie Villahermosa’s self-accompanied piano tune to Pernell Marsh’s beatbox-laced interpretation of Aaliyah’s “Dust Yourself Off and Try Again.”
Most of the audience, though, was there for Groban. After filling in for Andrea Boccelli at an awards ceremony (he sang a duet with Celine Dion), and being discovered by Foster, Groban left Carnegie Melon University to pursue his singing career. He is currently signed with 143, Foster’s label and has appeared on Ali McBeal.
“I just saw Josh’s name and bought a ticket,” said Candice Chin, an undeclared freshman. “I wasn’t expecting all these different stars. I originally came because I wanted to hear Josh sing live.”
Pepperdine students weren’t the only ones who showed up hoping for a glimpse of the curly-haired crooner. “The Grobanites,” a group of middle-aged women with “Josh Groban” pins and T-shirts, also made their presence known.
“I was looking for Andrea Boccelli music online one day and noticed a recommendation for Josh,” said Linda Oliver of Thousand Oaks, a “Grobanite” since last May. She and the others in her club make sure to attend every event Groban offers. “I bought his CD the next day and thought, ‘oh, I’ll just try it.’ Now I never listen to anybody else. His voice is just magic.”
Groban said he enjoyed his evening at Pepperdine as much as his fans did.
“It’s such an amazing campus, just such a great surrounding, and that’s half of what’s so great about going to college,” Groban said. “Not to mention being able to be with so many great kids. There’s just a vibe here, they’re so friendly. I hope to do another show here, I’d come back 100 times.”
Appreciative singers and fans have Foster’s fundraising ties to Pepperdine to thank for the concert. Foster and his wife, Linda, have held numerous galas over the past six years for donors and volunteers at their home in Malibu, according to Marnie Mitze, managing director of the Center for the Arts. Mitze says up to 500 people have appeared at these dinners to support the Center for the Arts and see private performances from famous artists.
“We’ve raised $100,000 in the past,” Mitze said. “We use that money to pay for expenses and to support our ARTSReach Program.” ARTSReach buses children onto Pepperdine’s campus to see plays and concerts, and Foster has helped raise more than $500,000 for the program.
“We contributed the theatre as our donation back to (Foster) because of how much help he’s given us in the past,” Mitze said. “David is such a genuinely great person to donate so much back to the community. We’re very fortunate to have his friendship.”
March 20, 2003