AN 'AMERICAN IDOL' FROM WOODLAND HILLS? TAFT HIGH GRAD HADAS SHALEV SINGS TONIGHT FOR SIMON, PAULA, RANDY AND THE REST OF AMERICA.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

The big question for Valley viewers of ``American Idol'' tonight is whether homegrown talent can stay on course while competitors are forced off at the next exit.

But even if Woodland Hills singer Hadas Shalev doesn't make the final cut, she's got plenty of drive to keep moving.

The 21-year-old Shalev, born and raised in the Valley, will compete against seven other semifinalists in the twice-weekly Fox-TV talent contest watched by an average of 20 million viewers.

Shalev's song performance was taped over the weekend and will be broadcast tonight, at which point viewers vote by phone poll after comments from the judging panel. Results will air Wednesday.

``I've had good things happen, but you just have to keep going forward as long as you have a dream,'' Shalev mused from the hotel where this week's potential idols were sequestered. ``I feel like it could go either way. Whatever happens, happens.''

The youngest of three children, Shalev - who recently quit her job as a local steakhouse hostess - has been singing since she was a toddler and taking voice lessons for 10 years. Her parents, Amnon and Mimi, run a Woodland Hills hearing aids store; a brother is an L.A. County Sheriff's deputy at the Lost Hills/Malibu station; and her sister is a housewife and teacher. All are Woodland Hills residents.

``We are excited and very stressed because she can fall in any stage of the process,'' said Amnon Shalev. ``We've supported her all her life. No matter what happens on 'Idol,' she's going to pursue her career as a singer and songwriter.''

Hadas Shalev said she isn't worried about the judging panel, headed by resident Dr. Evil, Simon Cowell, known in Britain for reducing a string of teenage wanna-bes to tears while serving on the U.K. version of the show.

``Everyone has their strengths and, after that, it's all opinion,'' she said. ``I just hope to give my best performance. After that, we'll see what happens.''

Once a small-screen staple, the amateur talent contest came roaring back last summer with the success of ``American Idol.'' About 23 million viewers were glued to the screen to see Kelly Clarkson crowned 2002's ``American Idol.'' This year sees the equally well-watched second season of ``Idol'' competing against CBS-TV's spruced-up ``Star Search.''

For Shalev, there were no guarantees. A loyal fan of the debut ``Idol'' season, she joined about 11,000 hopefuls in auditions last November at the Rose Bowl, where 300 managed to go before the judges - Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Of those, 44 moved on to the next round in which 234 singers from throughout the country came together in Glendale to compete. That number was whittled down to the current 32 semifinalists.

``We watched the show last season and encouraged her to audition,'' Amnon said.

Hadas, who also speaks Hebrew, attended Taft High School and has performed at charity events throughout the city and at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl.

``I like pop music and listening to rock, rap and everything,'' she said, adding that ``Idol'' producers have asked her not to reveal the song she will perform.

In the voting process, each contestant is assigned a toll-free number during the Tuesday show. Lines open after the broadcast and remain open for at least two hours.

The finale is May 7 when the winner is awarded a recording and management contract.

Hadas Shalev will perform the national anthems of the United States and Israel in a memorial service for the Columbia astronauts at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, 10500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Call [phone].

AMERICAN IDOL

Where: Fox (Channel 11).

When: 8 tonight and 8:30 p.m Wednesday.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Hadas Shalev)

(2) Hadas Shalev, 21, recently quit her job as hostess at a local steakhouse to pursue her dreams of singing stardom, which could get a boost from her tenure on the Fox talent show.