Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll is the first season of Pussycat Dolls Present that premiered on March 6, 2007 on The CW, and aired for a total of eight weeks.
Filmed from September to November 2006 as a joint venture between Ken Mok's 10x10 Entertainment, Pussycat LLC, Interscope A&M Records, Wonderland Sound and Vision, and Warner Horizon Television, the series followed a group of young women as they went through an audition process to join the girl group, the Pussycat Dolls. The contestants, who also lived together during the series, were groomed by the group's founder and the series' creator and co-producer, Robin Antin, and were judged on their vocal and dancing ability. The winner went on to join the Pussycat Dolls as the act's seventh member, and appeared in the series but performed with the group only once before opting to go solo.
In the United Kingdom, the show aired on T4 (the Channel 4 weekend teenage block programming slot) on April 1, 2007. In Australia, the show aired on Network Ten on April 1, 2007.
Finalists
Name Age Hometown Outcome Brittany Diorio 20 Woodbridge, Virginia Eliminated in Episode 2 Jaime Benjamin 20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Eliminated in Episode 3 Sisely Treasure 24 Los Angeles, California Eliminated in Episode 4 Mariela Arteaga 24 Miami, Florida Eliminated in Episode 5 Anastacia McPherson 23 San Francisco, California Eliminated in Episode 6 Melissa Smith 24 Toronto, Ontario Eliminated in Episode 7 Chelsea Korka 20 Cooper City, Florida Eliminated in Episode 8 Melissa Reyes 18 Sacramento, California Runner-up Asia Nitollano 18 Harlem, New York Winner
Makeovers Jaime: Dyed blonder & restyled Sisely: Extensions sewn in Mariela: Straightened Anastacia: Thinned & straightened Melissa S.: Darker & later on bangs added Chelsea: Bangs added & trimmed Melissa R.: Trimmed ends Asia: Blonde streak extensions added
Elimination Chart Colour key –Contestant was team captain that week. –Contestant was immune from elimination. –Contestant won a prize but did not win immunity. –Contestant was eliminated. –Contestant won the competition.
+ Robin Antin's Call-Out Order Order 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Anastacia Asia Melissa S. Mariela Asia Melissa R. Melissa R. Asia 2 Mariela Jaime Anastacia Chelsea Melissa R. Chelsea Asia Melissa R. 3 Sisely Anastacia Mariela Anastacia Melissa S. Asia ChelseaChelsea 4 Brittany Mariela Asia Melissa R. Anastacia Melissa S. Melissa S. Eliminated (Episode 7) 5 Melissa S. Melissa R. Melissa R. Asia Chelsea Anastacia Eliminated (Episode 6) 6 Jaime Chelsea Chelsea Melissa S. Mariela Eliminated (Episode 5) 7 Melissa R. Sisely Sisely Sisely Eliminated (Episode 4) 8 Asia Melissa S. Jaime Eliminated (Episode 3) 9 Chelsea Brittany Eliminated (Episode 2)
Notes: On Week 1, Robin Antin announced the final 9 girls, eliminating Shauntae, Catherine, Kelli, Eva, Sandra, Anjelia, Jasmin, Natascha and Robyn. On Week 2, Asia was called out by Mark McGrath, but not by Robin Antin. On Week 4, Group 1 was called out as "Group 1", no specific name order was given. On Week 6, Chelsea and Anastacia were deemed the worst dancers and as such didn't take part in the challenge. On Week 7, Melissa S. was called before Chelsea but was eliminated anyway. On Week 8, Chelsea was called first and eliminated. Robin then called Asia as the winner.
Performances Episodes
Episode 1: The Auditions
The 18 semi-finalist are given songs as follow:
+ Artist Group Song Results Sisely 1 "Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)" Safe Brittany Safe Mariela Safe Shauntae Eliminated Melissa S. Safe Catherine Eliminated Jaime 2 "Buttons" Safe Kelli Eliminated Ewa Eliminated Melissa R. Safe Sandra Eliminated Asia Safe Anjelia 3 "I Don't Need a Man" Eliminated Chelsea Safe Jasmin Eliminated Anastacia Safe Natascha Eliminated Robyn Eliminated Rehearsal does not go smoothly, as Anjelia gets sick, and Sisely struggles with her group because she doesn't want to rehearse too late to preserve her energy. Sandra and the members of the "Hot Stuff" group struggle with their vocals while Chelsea and Shauntae struggle with their dancing. The girls are then taken to a Pussycat Dolls concert and meet the Dolls. On the way back home and overnight Jaime, Ewa, Chelsea, Sandra, Melissa S., Mariela, Natascha and Jasmin all get sick, while a now-cured Anjelia rehearses with Anastacia. On their performance, despite being sick, the girls wow the judges and Nicole Scherzinger except for the group who performed "I Don't Need a Man". After deliberation, the nine finalists are called.
Episode 2: Welcome to the Dollhouse
The girls move in and after a video message by the Dolls (like each week), are given their song assignment as follows:
+ Artist Group Song Results Asia Nitollano 1 "Crazy in Love" Safe Chelsea Korka Safe Melissa Smith Bottom 2 Anastacia McPherson 2 "Pon De Replay" Safe Sisely Treasure Safe Melissa Reyes Safe Mariela Arteaga 3 "1, 2 Step" Safe Jaime Benjamin Safe Brittany Diorio Eliminated They are then taken to a restaurant where they discover their first challenge will be exotic dancing in a class cage in the restaurant. Despite Jaime overcoming her lack of confidence, Asia wins immunity. During rehearsal, Brittany is criticized for "dancing like a stripperella" while Jaime struggles with her vocals. At the performance, Ron and Kim are introduced as judges and Melissa S. forgets her words but Brittany is eventually eliminated for her overtly sexual moves.
Episode 3: The Transformation
The girls get a makeover by Jonathan Antin,Preview: Pussycat Dolls Present the Search for the Next Doll: The Transformation Robin's brother and taken to a dinner with the judges. The girls embrace their new looks, especially Jaime who says the makeover boosted her self-confidence. In the challenge, the girls go into the recording studio singing the chorus of "Don't Cha" and despite Mariela's vocal improvement, Melissa S. wins immunity. The girls perform as follows:
+ Artist Group Song Results Melissa Smith 1 "Free Your Mind" Safe Asia Nitollano Safe Mariela Arteaga Safe Anastacia McPherson Safe Jaime Benjamin 2 "Heartbreaker" Eliminated Sisely Treasure Bottom 2 Chelsea Korka Safe Melissa Reyes Safe
The judges decide that the first group did the best; Mariela was praised for her improvement and strong performance with no negative feedback like every girl had. While the judges say that it is Melissa R.'s worst night yet, it is Sisely, who has struggled throughout rehearsal despite being given a rock song, who lands in the bottom two with the still-unconfident Jaime. Jaime is eliminated for not standing out.
Episode 4: She Dances Like a Drag Queen
At this week's challenge the girls are assigned to perform a self-choreographed routine with a male dancer and Mariela impress the judges with her creativity, gaining immunity. Robin picks Chelsea and Asia to be leaders and Sisely winds up getting chosen last. Chelsea chooses girls she hasn't worked with and does a good job as a leader. Asia doesn't manage too well, being distracted by Sisely's earlier comments about her dancing like a drag queen. The girls perform as follows:
+ Artist Group Song Results Chelsea Korka 1 "Shame" Safe Mariela Arteaga Safe Anastacia McPherson Safe Asia Nitollano 2 "Don't Leave Me This Way" Safe Melissa Reyes Safe Sisely Treasure Eliminated Melissa Smith Bottom 2
Guys join the girls for a partner dance challenge which Mariela wins. At the final performance Chelsea's group is deemed the best, despite having a weak rehearsal. The ever-struggling Sisely and Melissa S., who has trouble showing her "inner doll", are in the bottom two. Sisely is then eliminated as it becomes evident that her uniqueness is a weakness.
Episode 5: Vegas, Baby
The girls are taken to Vegas where they perform "Tainted Love" after learning the routine on their moving tour bus. At the Challenge performance, Anastacia feels uncomfortable in her dress, Chelsea gives the strongest vocal performance, and Mariela and Melissa S. receive the loudest cheers. After the public votes are tallied, Melissa S. is crowned winner. Asia rubs some girls the wrong way after deeming the fancy food they are given disgusting and asking for a hamburger instead of cuisine while Anastacia continues to struggle with her weight. The girls are then given the following song assignments, making both Mariela and Anastasia worried: Mariela because she is paired up with the best vocalist in the top 6 and Anastasia because her teammate has immunity.
+ Artist Group Song Results Asia Nitollano 1 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Safe Melissa Reyes Safe Chelsea Korka 2 "I Turn to You" Bottom 2 Mariela Arteaga Eliminated Anastacia McPherson 3 "Un-Break My Heart" Safe Melissa Smith Safe
At the final performance, Melissa R. is criticized for crying on stage but is safe due to being in the best duo. Mariela and Chelsea land in the bottom two due to their shortcomings in singing and dancing respectively. In the end, a teary-eyed Robin eliminates Mariela.
Episode 6: Dancin' with the Dolls
Chelsea expresses her feelings on Mariela's elimination saying that she felt she took away Mariela's dream and did not want her to go home. Anastacia feels her biggest indirect competition was gone. The girls are given a "Wait a Minute" routine to learn where Chelsea and Anastacia struggle. Robin then tells them that only 4 girls will perform it on stage with the Dolls to get immunity, however she makes the last-minute decision to cut both Anastacia and Chelsea out of the performance and they stay on the bus. At the performance, Melissa R. gains immunity despite almost getting too soon on stage. As they come back, the ongoing tension between Melissa S. and Chelsea reaches its highest point as Melissa S. uses Chelsea's name as a synonym for bad dancer. Melissa R. breaks down because she struggles with her identity and sheltered past but is comforted by Melissa S. This week the girls perform a medley as one group and Chelsea is put in a swing, which Melissa S. believes is giving her an excuse to not dance.
+ Artist Song Results Asia Nitollano "The Pink Panther Theme"/"Fever"/"Big Spender" Safe Anastacia McPherson Eliminated Chelsea Korka Safe Melissa Reyes Safe Melissa Smith Bottom 2
After losing her microphone in the tub she danced in and singing badly, Melissa S. lands in the bottom two once again, but it is Anastacia who is eliminated due to her inability to advantageously use her figure.
Episode 7: The Fantastic Four
The girls are taken on a fake promo tour, including a photoshoot, an interview and a commercial for a deodorant. Melissa S. and Melissa R. struggle with their commercial, Chelsea ends up singing it to show off her best asset, and Asia ad libs a bit, talking about The Dolls's confidence. At the interview, Melissa S. deems Chelsea the girl with the least potential, reigniting tension; Asia wins the challenge, though she does not get immunity but to have her commercial run nationally. This week the girls have to perform "Beep"'s dance routine and Chelsea struggles, making Melissa S. happy as she can't evade dancing this week. However she gets the routine down with the help of Asia. The girls are also given solo assignments as follows:
Group performance - "Beep" (dance routine)
+ Artist Order Song Results Melissa Smith 1 "Don't Know Why" Eliminated Asia Nitollano 2 "Too Little Too Late" Safe Melissa Reyes 3 "I'm Going Down" Safe Chelsea Korka 4 "What a Girl Wants" Bottom 2
Asia is criticized for struggling on a hard song while Chelsea and Melissa S. land in the bottom two: Chelsea for her dancing problem despite pulling off a strong performance this night and Melissa S. for her lack of consistency. Ultimately, an overjoyed Chelsea joins Asia and Melissa R. in the finale and Melissa S. is sent home.
Episode 8: The Girl Who Becomes a Doll