Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Selecting a New Performer to Join the Pussy Cat Dolls

I loved, loved, loved The Search for the Next Doll. This weekly reality show, which began on March 6, 2007, on The CW, was a behind-the-scenes look at the process of selecting a new performer to join The Pussy Cat Dolls. I was addicted. Though I'm not an American-Idol, Dancing-with-the-Stars, Bachelor, Survivor, reality TV, competition-type fanatic, I found this show to be both compelling and inspiring.

As a little background, according to MTV, The Pussy Cat Dolls was created by choreographer Robin Antin in the Los Angeles garage of her friend and roommate, actress Christina Applegate (from Married with Children). The group was originally a singing-and-dancing ensemble known for their racy performances at The Viper Room in Los Angeles, a club owned by Johnny Depp, and the famed Roxy nightclub.

Interscope/Geffen/A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine signed The Pussy Cat Dolls to A&M records in 2002. Their self-titled debut was released in the summer 2005, driven by their hit single "Don't Cha." The Pussy Cat Dolls has since earned a reputation as one of the hottest female groups of all time.

The line-up of the Pussy Cat Dolls has changed throughout the years. At one point, Robin Antin decided to create a new lineup, that would be a part of a musical project under the label of Pussycat Dolls. She cooperated with the A&M president Ron Fair and Iovine.

Antin, Lil' Kim (the Grammy award winning rapper), and Fair were the three judges on the show. Fair, who discovered and signed 5 time Grammy award winner Christina Aguilera (and is the wind behind a long string of hit-producing artists) seemed to be the judge that really had the final say.

The winner of the The Search for the Next Doll was Asia Asia Nitollano, a Knick City Dancer from New York City.

I knew Asia would win from the beginning. She is a "performer!" She can dance her butt off, sing, and give a warm, truthful interview. In a nutshell, she is talented, likable, and she has moxy. And, she was one of youngest contestants, 19 years old, who happened to be a single mother. She brought it all to the table.