The News Tribune Thursday/ April 10, 2003 / Tacoma, WA BY GEN GRAVES - The News Tribune “Star Search” may have found what it was looking for in Vicci Martinez on Wednesday, when the 18-year-old Stadium High School senior inched closer to the TV show’s $100,000 prize and recording contract. An estimated 14 million viewers saw her winning performance of Melissa Etheridge’s “Come To My Window” on CBS, which qualified her to advance to a semifinal round Friday. Among them were thousands pf producers, and appearing on the show gives Sony first dibs on signing Martinez. What Martinez liked best was the reaction of celebrity judge Kathy Najimy, the film ant TV actress who voices Peggy Hill on Fox’s “King of the Hill” and who gave her five stars, the highest rating. “When we were in commercial, she looked at me and was acting like she’s on the phone, and she’s mouthing, ‘Melissa will be calling you,” said Martinez in a phone interview. “I forgot that she and Melissa Etheridge are best friends.” When host Arsenio Hall announced that “Vicci with two Cs!” had won, the diminutive songwriter-guitarist-wearing silver satin pants - was so flustered she thought she’d lost. “It’s happening so fast, and I just gave (my competitor) a big hug,” Martinez said. “It was really cool, but in my head, I’m like, all right, I gotta get ready for Friday.” After the competition, she headed to a relative’s house outside Los Angeles to watch herself on TV. She had been prepared to lose. Likewise, Yolanda Martinez thought her rocking, short-haired daughter - who has been compared to Etheridge - strayed too far from the Britney Spears-Mariah Carey model to win. “She’s very raw.” Yolanda said. “She’s just an awesome performer.” A “Star Search” talent scout said few applicants play guitar. Martinez picked up a family guitar four years ago when she tired of studying violin. “That was a cool advantage for me,” Martinez said. “I don’t have a strong voice like those other girls had. So that’s where I show people - this is my style.” Jen Graves: 253-597-8568 jen.graves@mail.tribnet.com BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE