L.D. gets second chance on 'Most Talented Kid' TV show
After a close loss on the April 4 episode of The Search for America's Most Talented Kid, Lafayette's littlest harmonica whiz L.D. Miller will get a second chance.
The 9-year-old member of the Clayton Miller Blues Band will again appear on an episode of the NBC Star Search-like series at 8 p.m. April 25 on the "wild card" episode. The kids that did not make the cut after the first round will compete against each other. Each age group will have eight children competing.
L.D. barely lost to 9-year-old singer Chelsea Musick as a group of celebrity judges voted for the girl from Williamton, N.J.
"I had different opinions than the judges," said Tammy Miller, L.D.'s mother and his band's manager. "We thought he was the winner. That's for sure."
The wild card episode will be judged by a live audience, and the Millers believe that will work in L.D.'s favor. They believe the celebrity judges scored more for look than for talent.
"With the audience, it's going to be totally different," said Larry Miller, L.D.'s father and bassist.
L.D. has prepared a rendition of Buddy Guy's version of the old standard "Fever" for the wild card. A wild card winner will be thrown into the mix for the semifinals set to air on May 2. The finals will air in the second hour of the May 2 program.
Tammy said L.D. has taken the disappointment in stride. He has found solace in watching VH-1's Behind the Music of pop stars who performed but did not win on Star Search. They all went on to have successful careers. The Millers also knew of the wild card possibility before they left Los Angeles.
"It's not a big deal to him," Tammy said. "We knew it wasn't going to be a final thing."
While the family received praise from strangers on the road for L.D.'s first national television performance, the Millers had no hard feelings for Chelsea.
"We got to be great friends with the family, and we were happy for her," Tammy said.
Larry sees the wild card as another chance to get L.D. some national exposure. The finalists will have the week off, and if L.D. wins, he will have all of the momentum.
"The finalists are just sitting there waiting," Larry said.
The Millers are leaving today for Los Angeles for the Thursday taping. Tammy said they are trying to land the teenage middle brother and drummer Cole on Star Search.
After the show, Clayton Miller Blues Band will be playing gigs on the other side of country in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. If L.D. makes the finals, he will have to immediately fly back out to Los Angeles in time for the finals' April 30 taping. The schedule is tough, but the Miller family is glad to have it.
"Hopefully, we'll have the dilemma of going back to L.A.," Tammy said.
On the air
L.D. Miller will compete in The Search for America's Most Talented Kid's wild card episode at 8 p.m. April 25 on NBC.
