'American Idol' fame just waiting to happen

Last update: September 7, 2006 - 11:05 AM

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THE 'IDOL' PROCESS

Registration:Now through Friday morning. Open all night. Ages 16 to 28.

Audition: Contestants should show up between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Friday with wristband and ticket. Auditions begin about 8 a.m. and go "til we're done." Expect to join a giant group rendition of a Prince song.

Where: Target Center, 600 1st Av. N.

Info: www.americanidol.com/auditions

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The Starbucks across from Target Center will close for only one hour overnight. The coffee shop will reopen at 4 a.m. Friday to fuel "American Idol" fever.

More than 5,000 people registered Wednesday at Target Center to audition Friday for the sixth season of America's No. 1 TV show. And registration will continue all day and night -- until Friday morning.

"I anticipated a zoo," said Dave Lowry of Saginaw, Minn. "They were talking a lot about it on the news this morning in Duluth." But when he and his daughter, Danica, 16, arrived at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, they "were done in two to three minutes."

When the signup began at 6 a.m., 2,000 to 3,000 people were in line, Minneapolis police Sgt. Chris Pickhardt said late Wednesday. "It's been pretty mellow."Idol" coordinating producer Patrick Lynn didn't know what to expect but said "we're completely pleased."

The Starbucks folks were pleased, too. The shop opened two hours early Wednesday at 4 a.m. and by 9:30 had done a full day's worth of business. "Business was up 100 percent in the morning," supervisor Kevin Erickson said. "It was kinda funny: I did notice people spontaneously singing on the street today."

JON BREAM