When The CW's Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll premieres next week, there's going to be singing, dancing... and vomiting. Lots and lots of vomiting.
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During the debut episode of the reality competition series -- which will follow the all-female Pussycat Dolls music group/dance troop as it searches for a seventh member -- "roughly half" of the 18 contestants auditioning for a spot are stricken with an "extremely contagious stomach flu," The New York Post reported on Sunday.
One of the 18 Pussycat Dolls Present semifinalists reportedly came down with the flu during the show's October 2006 filming, resultin in a four day period in which the virus then spread to "no less than seven" of the other contestants.
According to The Post, there's vomiting in the bathroom, in the bushes outside Los Angeles' Greek Theater, and in the vans traveling to and from the rehearsal halls. In addition, doctors and paramedics were reportedly ready to administer IV fluids during the final performances before the judges narrowed the field of girls from 18 semifinalists to nine finalists.
Executive producer Ken Mok reportedly wanted to "shut down production" due to all the puking, as did fellow executive producer Robin Antin, who founded the Pussycat Dolls in 1993 and choreographs their routines.
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"The girls were freaking out because they wanted to dance so bad, wanted to perform so bad," Antin told The Post. "All they kept saying to me was: 'I'm fine.'" Not surprisingly, Antin also joined the chuck wagon during the second day of the ordeal.
Once producers decided to move forward with production, they figured there was no better way to show cats always land on their feet then by airing the auditions during the premiere episode.
"We wanted to get it out there and show the public that these girls were really sick," Antin told The Post. "After seeing the final cut, I'm fine with it. But I know that a lot of people are going to be grossed out and asking: 'Why would they show that?'"
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll will premiere on The CW on Tuesday, March 6 at 9PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio