Description:

Meet Sasha King, a down-to-earth young writer who finds herself working inside a world that both repels and fascinates her: *Project Icon*, the once-mighty TV talent show that’s taken a hit in the ratings. In an attempt to get back on top, the show has recently hired two new celebrity judges, entrepreneur-actress-singer Bibi Vasquez and rock legend Joey Lovecraft, a priapic wild man who doesn’t even own a TV (it goes against the teachings of his guru, Tibetan high lama Yutog Gonpo). In addition to the demands of the new judges, Sasha has the task of handling frighteningly robotic host Wayne Shoreline (who may or may not eat puppies as part of his pre-show prep), young would-be idols (including the foul-mouthed Mia Pelosi and the chaps-wearing Jimmy Nuggett), muckraking gossip columnists, and the powerful executive of a competing reality TV talent show. The combination of characters will leave readers swimming in a cocktail of pure crazy: Project Icon. In *Elimination Night*, we get a peek at the deliciously outrageous machinations—the ego clashes, meltdowns, and cover-ups—that take place behind the scenes of the talent shows we've become addicted to. The details of their inner workings are so accurate that the book had to be written anonymously. ** ### From Booklist Assistant producer Sasha King is forced to step into her boss’ shoes to wrangle the celebrity judges for the thirteenth season of the music-talent-competition show, Project Icon. After caustic judge Nigel Crowther decamps to start his own competition, the producers of Icon bring in aging rocker Joey Lovecraft and Latin diva Bibi Vasquez to fill the vacancy. Joey and Bibi compete over everything, from getting the best perks to currying favor with the audience. Sasha finds herself stuck trying to prevent Bibi from taking cues from her Svengali-like manager and to stop Joey from abusing drugs and sleeping with the contestants. Sasha just wants to earn enough money to join her boyfriend, Brock, in Hawaii and write her great American novel, but as the season winds on, she finds that she’s less invested in her relationship and unexpectedly growing more attached to Icon and its eccentric cast of characters. This thinly veiled comedic send-up of American Idol will no doubt find plenty of readers among those who love the hit series. --Kristine Huntley ### Review “Scandal!” —***AOL Music*** “Rings deliciously true.” ***—People*** “More withering than Simon Cowell, crazier than Paula Abdul — it’s the novel that will have Hollywood on a witch hunt.” —***New York Post*** "Sex, drugs and scandal are part of the story, as is a savage portrait of someone who could be mistaken for Ryan Seacrest...[A] fun read."***— New York Daily News*** "I absolutely adored *Elimination Night*. I loved Sasha most of all... she's the type of girl you want to be friends with. It's brilliant." ***— Chick Lit Reviews and News*** “Anyone who has ever watched *American Idol,* and that will be almost everyone, will have the immense satisfaction of the ‘inside scoop,’ real or not.” ***—Kirkus Reviews*** “Like a reality-show version of *The Devil Wears Prada*… with tantalizingly plausible nuggets.” ***–USA Today*** "*Elimination Night* is as absorbingly entertaining as a certain televised singing competition. The anonymous author's biting roman à clef may seem fueled by hyperbolic satire, but that is the only rational response to the manic microcosm it depicts. Even a noted curmudgeonly judge from the U.K. would have to pass this full-throated send-up on to the next round with flying, hilarious colors.” –**Teddy Wayne, author of *The Love Song of Jonny Valentine and Kapitoil***