TORONTO -- For "Canadian Idol" finalists who aren't from Toronto, the stress of competing while separated from loved ones is eased a little by the vast perks.
Freebies include travel, clothing, makeup, hairstylists, catered meals and a bed in the "Idol" mansion, which boasts an indoor pool, seven bedrooms, a home theatre and basketball and tennis courts.
"Idol" has even picked up the dental and medical tabs for uprooted finalists during the show and has given them extra suitcases to accommodate all the swag they accumulate.
Of course, contestants also get to mingle with celebrity guests and take advantage of that little thing called nationwide exposure.
So what happens to those Top 10 displaced contestants who don't win the title and have to move out of the swank estate before the finale? Do they pack their bags right away or do they stick around to chill in the estate? And what of those fringe benefits -- do they continue or does that well immediately dry up?
Mark Lysakowski, supervising producer for the hit CTV reality series, says while contestants ranging from the fourth-place finisher to the 10th have to leave the mansion after their ousting (the Top 3 remain until the show is over), it doesn't happen abruptly like it does in some other reality programs.
"It's not like other shows where it's like they have to do the walk of shame out," he says, noting the rejected hopefuls still have to do press the day after their elimination (another contestant will get the boot on Tuesday night).
"It's very actually breezy, if you will. But usually for the most part, they will leave within one to two days of being eliminated from the show."
Dimpled Newfoundland talent Mark Day, who was voted off last Tuesday, was able to stay in the mansion the night of his elimination as well as the following night so he could complete his post-"Idol" duties. He then flew back home to Portugal Cove-St. Philips -- on the "Idol" dime -- to reunite with his friends, family and new fans.
"That's something you understand -- when you're voted off, that ends for you and it goes on for the others and you just make room and it's completely understandable," says Day, who made it to the Top 7.
Lysakowski says most of the Top 10 cast-offs from out of town opt not to stick around the city, partly because they're homesick and partly because they're eager to get home to see if there's a crowd or party waiting for them.
That was the case for Day, who was looking forward to getting away from the stress of the "Idol" house and sitting down for turkey at his family's "Sunday dinner."
"We make room for the other people because they have to focus on the competition then," said the 20-year-old, who quit his job as a respite care worker to be on the show and now wants to pursue all forms of entertainment.
"I feel a stress lifted off my shoulders. The experience was great and I wouldn't wish it away but there is a lot of stress that comes with it. We don't mind leaving at all because it makes room for the others to pursue the dream."
Besides, the high life isn't completely over for Day and the other Top 10-ers.
Those who have to fly back to Toronto for the finale get their round-trip travel costs paid for, as well as their accommodations and meals, said Lysakowski. There's also the possibility of getting noticed by a record company, agents and the like, and management company Mission Control is hoping to put the Top 3 out on tour.
"I still keep in touch with a lot of the various cast members that have been on the show," he said.
"I'm always interested to see what's going on in their careers and what I can do to help, what Insight (Production Co. Ltd.) can do, what CTV can do because the whole point of the show is to get as many people out there doing what they want to do, which is to make music."
And when all is said and done, Day and the others in the Top 10 will still able to keep in touch with the other contestants thanks to the free BlackBerrys they received from one of the sponsors.
"I've gotten some really nice stuff," he said of the swag. "I'm going home with a nice wardrobe for sure."
