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Courtesy Photo
Brunswick native Robert Weddle,
center, hopes his karaoke performance on “ The Oprah
Winfrey Show” will be voted most popular by viewers. From left, back row, are Jacki Weddle, his sister; Noah Hinkel, his nephew; Weddle; and his wife, Kate. In front is Weddle’s maternal
grandmother, Minnie Childers, who died in March. |
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In Brunswick , the family of Robert Weddle has high hopes for his star quality.His sister, Jacki Weddle, and his mother, Linda Weddle, have arranged to leave work early Thursday to watch Robert's karaoke performance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Emotion overcame Linda Weddle when she saw her 31-year-old son on television Oct. 30. "I sat there with tears in my eyes," she wrote on the Oprah.com website. "This is his dream come true. É Thanks for giving him this chance." Robert Weddle, who lives in Orlando, Fla., is one of eight semifinalists the show selected in a nationwide search. By Internet, videotape and scouting, the show's producers collected singing samples from thousands of would-be stars. Grammy-winning singer BeBe Winans has judged the contestants. By chance, he saw Robert Weddle perform. Robert Weddle said that it was "totally random" that he went to the establishment where Winans happened to be watching karaoke performers last month. Once or twice a month, Robert Weddle and his wife, Kate, went to karaoke places, but this was a new one they had not tried before. He knew nothing of the ongoing "Oprah" contest. "Next thing I know I'm talking to BeBe Winans," he said. Reached Tuesday by phone, Robert Weddle was in Chicago to prepare for Thursday's show. Viewers of the Oct. 30 show saw taped entries from the eight semifinalists. The competition will narrow to three finalists Thursday, following live performances by the semifinalists. Viewers will cast votes for their favorite performer via telephone and Internet. The Oprah.com website proclaims, "The fate of these semifinalists is in your hands." "America pretty much will decide," Jacki Weddle said. "Hopefully, we'll get enough people to vote for him." Robert Weddle isn't sure what will happen after Thursday. An unemployed former telemarketer, he could use work right now. "If I could get a job doing this it would be great," he said. "This is pretty much the opportunity of a lifetime."
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