Nearest ‘American Idol’ tryouts coming up

Think you're good enough - or wacky enough - for American Idol?

Get your traveling gear ready.

Signups are Sunday and Monday for next Tuesday's tryouts at the Izod Center at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

Alas, the ratings hog of a talent show won't be back in Philadelphia this year.

Too bad. Last year's auditions here not only set some kind of record for wannabes getting wristbands, but produced some of last season's most memorable personalities.

Like the Bucks County guy who serenaded judge Paula Abdul with his "Stalker" song.

Or the Delaware guy who had his chest hair waxed - so his Princess Leia outfit would be less offensive.

The North Jersey auditions are the last ones for next season's show. The others were already held in seven other cities, only one of which - Jacksonville, Fla. - is on the East Coast.

Anyway, to try out this year, you should be age 16 to 28 as of July 16, and eligible to work in the United States.

You can't be under a contract that limits your performing rights, and if you finished in the show's Top 44 before, better carefully check the exact number for your participation year.

Funny, doesn't say anything about being able to sing on-key.

Sorry, say the organizers, no signing up on Tuesday and no one can camp out - so hopefuls must to register one day, then return on Tuesday.

Here are all the rules: http://www.americanidol.com/auditions/rules/2008rules.pdf.

For more information, go to www.americanidol.com.