Singers Hope To Make The Cut

Huge crowds made their way to Woodland Hills Mall on Saturday to belt out their favorite song. They're holding nothing back. It's the fifth season of Gimme the Mike! The News On 6 and CW 12/19 are searching for the best local amateur vocalist and there's no shortage of talent.

As NewsOn6.com's Nicole Wiseman reports, the road to stardom is just getting started for one lucky singer.

Kevin Allen has been standing around at Woodland Hills Mall for three hours. He's patiently waiting for a chance to show he's the next Gimme the Mike! star. For him, standing in the never-ending line, is worth the wait.

"I'm hoping to show them something that they don't see a whole lot of up here," said Gimme the Mike! contestant, Kevin Allen.

Moving to the beat of his iPod, Kevin plans to hit all the right notes. He hopes his love for music shines through, making him an obvious choice among hundreds of starry-eyed hopefuls.

"I've been singing since I could walk and I've been performing for about 10 years," said Allen.

Kevin's local band has prepped him for the heat beneath the bright lights. With Dave Matthews Band lyrics fresh in mind, for the next 60 seconds, all eyes are on him.

"I think it went alright. The hardest part people run into is the lack of music, no key to start in," said Allen.

Everyone's in the same boat. Hundreds hope to move on, but only 20 will make the cut. Judges are looking for people with the best vocal and stage performances.

Kevin says being on Gimme the Mike! would take his career to the next level.

"I'm really kind of hoping to hear that I made it. I'm hoping I get an e-mail saying, ‘Hey Kevin Allen, congratulations!' We'll see," said Allen.

Now, the audition ends, and the waiting game, begins. Kevin's had his moment in the spotlight. But, for now, he's part of the crowd.

They'll find out if they're moving on by May first. Gimme the Mike! will air Monday evenings at 7:00, beginning on July 7th.

It's easy to keep up with the latest information as the contest progresses. Just click on to the "Our Projects" tab on NewsOn6.com and select, "Gimme the Mike!"

By Nicole Wiseman, NewsOn6.com and Kyle Dierking, Video Journalist. Find more of their stories in our Web Exclusives section.