With over 800 people auditioning in Winnipeg there were 80 chosen to perform for the judges the next day.  From there, only a handful made it and are heading to Toronto this spring to compete in the next round.

JB- First off, Troy, I know how excited you were when Ben Mulroney sat down with you a few moments ago, and then as soon as I heard the word "oranger" I thought, "Oh crap, this is going to be over before it's even started."  Did you just have to take that one shot at him right off the bat?

Troy-  I had to go for it, and you know what, I don't fear Oompa Loompas and Ben Mulroney is slightly less scarier than one and he looks a lot like one, so I had to get it out in the open.  I was actually surprised about how cool he was, he's actually very media savvy. 

JB-  Now you were going into it thinking that he would be what?

Troy- I've heard different things about Ben Mulroney.  I've heard that he's got like the super ego and stuff and treats people like garbage.  But I've gotta say, Ben Mulroney is a stand up guy, he was actually pretty cool.  Did you get a chance to see him?  We were both stalking him, how did you make out?

JB-  You've been walking around here all day like I have.  Listening to people rehearsing and what do you think of the competition here in Winnipeg?

Troy- Well, you know, we've never had a person in the Top 10 finals from Winnipeg and I know they really want to get somebody from Winnipeg.  They said they've broken attendance records and got about 500 people so far [actual total was over 800 when auditions closed] so that's good.  But I have heard some good singing. 

JB-  Who's your favourite previous Idol contestant from Winnipeg.  I assume you follow the show.

Troy-  Oh yes… I… have… nothing but tapes and tapes of Idol at home.  You know, nobody from Winnipeg has stood out for me at all.  They always get eliminated as soon as they get to Toronto, you know, when it turns into the circus there they all get wiped out.  Who's your favourite, JB?

JB- That bartender guy from Earls on Main Street. 

Troy- Oh yeah?

JB-  You know why though?

Troy- (laughing)  Why?

JB-  Because I think I'm going there for dinner tonight and I don't want to have to pay for my drinks.

Troy-  Oh very nice.

JB-  Now you went to Media Idol.

Troy-  (laughing)  Yes.

JB-  At CTV studios.  You're laughing already because you know what I'm going to ask.

Troy-  Oh God…  Yeah, what do you got?  (laughing)

JB-  Tell me about your choice of song.

Troy-  First of all I want to say this:  I know Canadian Idol and American Idol are some of the most watched shows on the planet but let's be perfectly honest, it's a karaoke contest, people.  And I don't… I'm not a good singer.  No one in the media can sing.  That's a foregone conclusion.  So going into this I saw so many people actually taking this so seriously and freaking out about it and I just went in there thinking I'm going to sing one of the classics - the theme from Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers.  It's a classic Disney afternoon cartoon.  It goes good… the song you'll never get out of your head.  And I sang it and some people were a bit upset.  I cracked the whole place up which should be the point of Canadian Idol/Media Idol.  But some people took it really seriously and I didn't get it (the $1000 prize for the charity of your choice and a trip to Toronto).  But you know what, it was all for fun.  The guy (Idol judge) Zack (Werner) was there to bash people.  That was the shtick.  So you know, go in and have something funny at least. (laughing)

JB-  Well he didn't wanna make out.  But you were talking to him and I was grabbing pictures of him.  But were there rules about talking to him?  Like for the Queen, you're not supposed to speak unless you're spoken to?

Troy-  (laughing)  Well I couldn't turn my back to him and walk away, that was rule number one.  No, I talked to the person from CTV and I asked Ben, "Is there anything you don't want to go around?" and he said, "Absolutely anything is up for grabs." 

JB-  Wow, so he is pretty real then.  So the tan is fake but he's real then?

Troy-  He claims the tan is real.  He said it twice to me that he got it in Los Angeles but I was seeing his hairline and…definitely a paint job with MAC (Cosmetics) bronzer.  So there you go.

JB-  There was one point where I did see him today scratch his nose and part of his tan came off, so… draw your own conclusions on that.

Troy-  (laughing)  Part of his nose didn't come off, it was just part of his tan?  He's a robot, I swear to God he's a robot.

JB-  But he had this Wonka chocolate… never mind.

JB-  I have the feeling that Canadian Idol will be the focus of many of our conversations this spring…

Troy-  By conversations you mean screaming.

JB-  Right, we'll go on our usual rants.  Well, you know, it'll be a change from our bitching and complaining we do.  And hopefully you'll be able to serenade us again with another one of your songs.

Troy-  I love to cause pain so it'll be my pleasure.