Constantin Maroulis Interview

Still An Idol
Constantine Maroulis
Interview by Chauncé Hayden

Welcome to the fifth season of the FOX mega-hit talent search, "American Idol." The series continues to attract huge
ratings with no sign of jumping the shark anytime soon. But while "American Idol" remains the number-one show on
television, what happens to the contestants who come ever so close to realizing their dream, only to be voted off the
road to glory?
I recently checked in with last season's fan favorite, Constantine Maroulis, to find out if there's life after Simon.
A native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Maroulis, 30, proved he had what it takes to become an Idol long before he left
Paula Abdul in a pool of tears the night America cast its vote against the charismatic performer. Like his older
brother, Maroulis discovered a love for music at a very early age. By the time he left Ramapo High School, the 6'3"
crooner was already performing in the garage band Lady Rain. But it was his education in music and theater at the
Boston Conservatory that would teach him the discipline to endure the wrath of Simon Cowell and perform brilliantly
week after week in front of millions of television viewers.
After graduating in 2002, Constantine cultivated an impressive stage career playing title roles in Hedwig and the
Angry Inch and Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as Roger in RENT, Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Malcolm in
Macbeth, and Tony in West Side Story. In addition, he's appeared on the WB and NBC networks (Law & Order:
SVU) and in several independent films.
These days Maroulis has little time to enjoy his global fame as he tours the world as a solo artist. When not trotting
the globe, the popular idol also finds time to perform with his band, Pray for The Soul of Betty. As if that weren't
enough, there's talk of a Kelsey Grammer ABC sitcom deal, and enough fan mail to keep this local boy busy for
years to come.

Chaunce Hayden: Last year, you quickly became one of the "American Idol" favorites. Now that the show
is behind you, how are you enjoying fame and fortune?
Constantine Maroulis: I just concentrate on working hard and being a good person. I'm just trying to give the fans
what they want. I don't worry about all that other stuff. I certainly haven't had time to enjoy any of the fame or the
fortune.
You really haven't taken a moment to step back and enjoy your success?
Absolutely not, and I like it that way.
Do you think it would freak you out if you thought about how quickly you became a star?
It would freak me out a little bit. So I'm just trying to stay busy. I'm going out on tour with my band this weekend. I just
came off a couple of solo tours and they rocked. But now I just want to get out there with my band, Pray for The Soul
of Betty, for a couple of weeks. It will probably be my last stint with them for a while.
I would think your other projects and the fact that you've performed solo would create a conflict with
your longtime band mates.
Not so much a conflict. It's just hard to work things out in terms of scheduling. The guys have also splintered off and
started other projects, which is really cool. Plus, it's important for me to do the solo album right now and try to push
my TV project with ABC forward. It takes a lot of work, and there are only so many hours in the day. But I really enjoy
playing with Betty and I'm really looking forward to this tour. The whole band is pretty excited.
There have been a lot of contestants on "American Idol." But of all the non-winners, besides Clay Aiken, you seem
to have the most popularity and opportunity. Why do you think that is?
I just think that I'm someone who people can relate to. I think there's a mystery and a "what if?" kind of thing going
on. I think a lot of people thought I was going to pull it off and win. The fact that I didn't only makes people want to
see more. I also think people enjoy my realness. I just go out there and I'm not scared to take risks and challenge
the audience and perform crazy tunes that nobody in the world would touch.
What do you mean by tunes that nobody would touch?
"American Idol" and I had a great trusting relationship. They always wanted me to just be me. They saw that as good
for the show. So that's what I did. I have no problem going out there and performing a Partridge Family song. I also
did "Bohemian Rhapsody." Nobody has ever even dreamed of doing that on the show. I also think people can relate
to me on a more global level.
Why?
Because for one, my name is a bit more exotic than anyone else's. I also put myself through college. I'm a self-made
man. I've been at this for a long time. I'm not nineteen and I wasn't plucked out of the mall. I think people respect the
fact that I grew up in the theater, I enjoy Shakespeare, and I'm well spoken. I'm not perfect, but I'm someone who's a
role model. I work hard and I'm trying to prove that hard work pays off. Underneath it all, I'm a good boy.
You're a local Jersey boy as well. How does it feel to make the cover of Steppin' Out magazine?
When I was in college and playing in a band, we would be so excited to see our name in Steppin' Out! I dig Steppin'
Out.
Great to hear. However, your popularity these days extends way beyond the Jersey bar scene. Recently,
you were welcomed to the Philippines as if you were one of the Beatles. How do you process that?
I'm so appreciative of it that I just go with it. Does that make sense? I know it could all just go away. So I just
appreciate every second of it and try and cherish those memories. I just want to keep giving the people what they
want. Hopefully, I'll be able to do this for a long time. I agree, it's real heavy when you walk outside and people are
flipping out and crying and just trying to touch you. It's totally surreal. I still don't have a grasp of it. I just go with it.
Obviously, you're not comfortable with it.
I'm a pretty shy person, so most of the times when I go out I just wear a baseball cap and sunglasses.
I read a quote from you where you said you have trouble trusting people. What did you mean by that?
Growing up in Jersey and New York, I have a bit more of that city sense about what people are up to. I'm pretty hip
to what's going on around me. But I'm also overprotective of myself and my family. There are a lot of creepy people
out there. You just have to trust that you built a good team around you and that you have good friends to lean on.
Listen; if you can go through life with a few good friends, you're lucky. I also have a huge family and everyone is
supportive and excited for me.
You mentioned the days when your band would perform in the local Jersey bars. I would imagine it's not
easy for you to hang in a local club without attracting attention.
It would be rough. I couldn't walk into a local club with the leather jacket and the long hair. It would be a mess. Like I
said, I'm shy and I don't try to show off. If I'm lucky enough to be back in Jersey where I'm just hanging out in a bar, I
just want to hang and be with my friends. I would rather talk about their lives. I don't care what's going on with me
when I'm with them. I just want to chill and go for a ride or go hiking in the Ramapo Mountains.
Has success affected your relationship with the people you've grown up with?
A little bit. Like we'll be walking around and someone will come up to me and yell, "Oh my God! I love you! I love
you!" That's got to be weird for them. But generally, I think everyone is happy for me. They know I've worked really
hard for this. They know that I deserve it and that's why they're my friends.
Why do you think "American Idol" continues to be such a ratings monster?
It's just well done. It just gets better each year as far as the production value is concerned. They keep figuring out
ways to make it better every year. Although it would be hard pressed to top last year, in my opinion!
You're not biased, of course.
(Laughs) Not at all! It comes down to the great producers and the mix of the judges and Ryan [Seacrest] and the
talent and their back stories. Their stories are crucial, and of course the songs. Everyone seems to love the early
rounds as well. They're always fun! Again, you want to call it a reality show, that's fine. But it's ultimately about the
talent. You have to be so fierce to even be on that show and to stay on it. It's all about talent. And the audience
becomes a part of that person's journey.
I can't imagine how a person can stand on stage and sing on live television while millions of viewers
look on in judgment. How do you do it?
I just approached it like I was doing a play in New York in front of 90 people. You just have to go out there and
execute. You have to have a game plan. You know what song you're singing and who you're singing to. You have to
know what the lyrics are about and what it is you're saying. Just go out there and do your job and sing your ass off.
Paula, Randy, and Simon have become pop icons. What's your honest opinion of them?
Honestly, I dig them very much. I like them as people and I like what they have to say. I like that they're a part of pop
culture forever now. Ryan too! He's so big right now it's crazy! It's funny, I felt like they were closer to my age than
the other contestants at times. Everyone was so much younger than me.
Paula was involved in a huge scandal during last season when former contestant, Corey Clark, came out
and said he had an affair with her. Do you think something was going on between Corey and Paula?
I had never watched the show before so I didn't really even know who this guy was or what was going on. Listen,
Paula is a sweet person. She's an inspiration to young people everywhere. She's a perfect role model, if you ask
me. She's self-made and she worked her way up the ladder. She herself became a huge pop star and sold 50
million records. So I have nothing but respect for her and kind things to say about her and all of her colleagues. All I
know is that "American Idol" is the number-one show on television. There's got to be a reason for that.
But as you briefly touched on, "American Idol" is becoming more of a reality show than it is a show just
about finding a pop star. Why is that?
You have the mean British guy, this sweet little American, and the cocky music guy. You have the great band and
contestants from all walks of life. The show has everything. If you ask me, it brings us back to the early days of
television.
In what way?
The honesty of it. The sheer commercialism about it. Like the old quiz shows, when all of America would tune in. It's
like the old-time variety shows. It's right along those lines.
Let's talk about that mean British guy. Simon has been under fire this season for going overboard with
his criticism of these young kids trying to become stars. Does he go too far?
I think the kids know what they're signing up for. They know the name of the game and their parents know what their
children are signing up for. This is a tough business. I had teachers at the Boston Conservatory and elsewhere that
made Simon look like a Smurf in terms of being mean. By the way, they were British also. They would just rip me up
bad! They would do it right in front of my classmates, which meant more to me than doing it in front of strangers. But
it made me a better person. It's just the business. I know kids that are in ballet from an early age and you should see
how the instructors deal with them. This is a very demanding and emotional business. Plus, Simon's criticism is all
part of the entertainment. If people can't take it then it's not the right place for them.
William Hung won over millions of fans by singing poorly. Did that surprise you?
I think he was just so adorable! People couldn't help but like him. He just wanted to give it a shot. He was so honest
about it that everyone just embraced him. God bless him, man! It's a free country.
But doesn't it bother you that so many people get on line that can't sing and keep truly talented singers
from ever being heard?
Hey, it's a free competition and it's open to everybody. I think everyone is entitled to give it a shot. I got on line totally
on business. It was business from the first second I stood on line. There you have it.
Has tabloid gossip been a problem for you? Anything you would like to address that maybe is or isn't
true?
Listen, I just try and be a good person. People are going to say what they want about me. That's fine with me. When
they stop saying things, that's when I'll worry. When the interest in me has dried up, that's when I'll worry.
Let's talk about groupies. Well?
Honestly, I get letters by the thousands. My mother's basement is filled with boxes of scrapbooks and diaries, love
letters, teddy bears, gifts, anything you can possibly imagine! It's been amazing.
Do you read every love letter?
I read as much as I possibly can. When I'm at my parents', I'll go down in the basement and spend the whole day
down there just reading through the stuff. Some of it is pretty cool with some beautifully drawn pictures.
Have you ever taken advantage of some of the offers from fans?
(Laughs) I'm pretty well behaved. I'm just concentrating on being a rock star right now.
Well, isn't getting laid a part of being a rock star?
(Laughs) I guess it is! But I really don't have time for all of that. I'm kind of older now and it's not like it used to be. I'd
rather find my wife in the batch of letters than a one-night stand.
Hollywood loves the newest "it" person. Since you fall into that category, do you look at celebrities who
want to hang with you as shallow?
I always have that in mind. I'm going through that right now with some people. But it's all good. Everyone is hungry
and trying to keep working. I've actually met some really great people in Los Angeles that I'm tight with. They're a
good crop of friends and I consider myself very lucky.
Speaking of Los Angeles, let's talk about your sitcom deal on ABC.
Yeah, I got the pilot script and right now we're waiting for ABC to approve it so we can start casting. That's the next
step. Cast the thing and shoot the pilot. Then we'll see what happens. We're still a few steps away, but we're really
excited about the project.
Is acting in a network sitcom a big risk for you? If it fails, couldn't it hurt your music career as well?
(Long pause) I think there are a lot of people in L.A. who would love to have a sitcom deal with ABC. They wouldn't
care what happens with it! So, you just got to hope it works out. So many actors have been a part of shows that
haven't done well and they move on to do great things. You just have to be thankful you have the opportunity to do
it. Although, I think the show will be great, especially since we have Kelsey Grammer on board to produce, and we
have incredibly talented writers.
What is the show about?
It's loosely based on my life. I'm from Brooklyn, New York, originally so it will be set there. It's like a workplace family
sitcom. Some really funny stuff. Some great stories along with some really cool music.
I've read where you claim that you're not very photogenic. I can certainly relate. Aren't you concerned
how you'll look from the High Definition cruelty of television?
I don't know. If you watch television these days, you see some pretty unattractive people looking pretty good.
(Laughs) I think we'll be okay! I think it's just my insecurity. Who knows? Although, I am working out these days!
Do you really consider yourself unattractive?
It's always weird seeing yourself on television or in a magazine. I've been friends with some of the most beautiful
models that you've ever seen and they're some of the most insecure girls I've ever met ... and they're perfect! Yet
they're obsessed with perfection. When someone doesn't act like they're used to, they freak out.
Something is so wrong with that.
Yeah, there really is. It's a shame because they're really sweet girls most of the time.
Can't let you go without talking about Tara Reid. Is it true you went to high school with her?
Yeah! She's from my town, but she also went to a couple of different schools because she was always working. She
did like a year or two at our high school and then left and came back. She was always in and out. But she lived right
across the street from my church, which is so funny! There's a Greek church in our town and she lived right across
the street. I used to run into her all the time.
You seem to have your head together. However, she seems to be making every single career mistake
someone can make. Have you ever reached out to her with some friendly advice?
I've seen her in L.A. from time to time and she's always really nice to me and supportive. She tells me how proud she
is of me. Listen, I think the media hypes a lot of things up about Tara. They like to make her a target and write
negative stuff about her. I think she's a sweet girl and she comes from a good family. She seems like a nice girl to
me. I know her older brother and younger sister. They're all very nice people. I think Hollywood can be very ruthless.
But at least they're talking about her! If people didn't care, they wouldn't be talking about her. She's working and
she's made plenty of money. She's doing what she loves, so good for her.
Finally, what would you say to someone who dreams of becoming the next American Idol?
I would say, follow your heart. It's a tough business. Hopefully, you'll have people around you that you can trust, and
if you're super-talented and work hard, anything is possible. Go for it and take risks!
For more information go to Prayforthesoulofbetty.com