Mary J. Blige attends the 98th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2012 in Washington, DC.
*E! Entertainment Television will today announce it has picked up “Opening Act,” a new talent competition from by “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, R&B singer Mary J. Blige and producer Antonina Armato from Rock Mafia.
The trio will search the Internet to find talented amateurs and give them a chance to open for an A-list music star, reports Deadline.com. Music acts on board to take in aspiring musicians to open for one show on their current tours are Nicki Minaj, Rod Stewart, LMFAO, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Jason Mraz and Gym Class Heroes.
The unsuspecting band or solo acts will get the news of their big break in person by TV personality Olivia Lee (“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”). They will immediately be brought to Hollywood for an extreme “performance boot camp,” intense mentoring sessions with top industry heavyweights, leading to their one-night-only performance opening a major concert.
Produced by Nigel Lythgoe Prods., “Opening Act” premieres July 9.
Please don’t have Mary sing that “snack wrap” ode to Burger King….totally disrespectful, but funny as hell! …”Crispy lettuce..dah-dah”…