Nicole Scherzinger: Building a band based on chemistry? Why has this not been done before? 

Liam Payne: It's been a while since we've had a big band, maybe big shoes to fill. Ooh.

Kelly Rowland: We are judging bands who have never seen each other. This is nuts. [laughs] 

AJ McLean: To be honest, I don't know if it's gonna work, but if it does work, it's gonna break the mold.

[tense music rises]

[Brianna singing “River,” Cece exclaims] 

AJ McLean: All right, you guys, listen up. AJ McLean here.

Shade: Backstreet Boys in the building.

Mandy: What?! 

AJ McLean: You're finding each other through just listening to each other sing, talking to each other, but never seeing each other.

[Malik singing “Versace on the Floor”] 

[Elise hitting whistle notes, Alexandra exclaims, Peter laughs] 

AJ McLean: What is so great about this show is it's truly based on someone's talent as opposed to their appearance. 

Crew: Yeah, yeah, exactly. This is gonna be super slow-mo.

AJ McLean: This is exactly what we need in this space to show aspiring singers. "I know I have it in me to be a star." I'm the founding member of Backstreet Boys. We were put together, but the five of us didn't know each other until this group was formed, which is how these bands are coming together. 

Bri: I love it. Thank you. Is this eating, or what?

AJ McLean: Only six bands will make it out of these booths. So not everyone's gonna get a place.

Woman 1: It's gonna come down to chemistry … 

Aaliyah: … and I just need to go with my, like, gut instinct.

Malik: I like this person, but does this person fit?

Alison: Absolutely not.

Mason: Let's do it, baby.

Brianna: Oh shit, I'm waiting!

[upbeat music playing]

Nicole Scherzinger: This is unprecedented. This has never been done before in the industry.

Mason: I'm trying to find people I connect with. 

Liam Payne: Being authentic is hugely important.

Katie: I want to show other girls, if you look like me, you can be confident. 

Kelly Rowland: Anything could happen.

[Katie singing “Unstoppable,” Cameron vocalizing along]

AJ McLean: You did it!

Malik: I guess I don't suck. 

AJ McLean: You really need to have the whole package.

Donzell: There's somebody for everybody.

Alexandra: Ugh.

AJ McLean: It's your time to go home.

[Cameron gasps] 

Chance: It didn't work out, you know? 

Nori: This is getting stupid serious. 

Landon: It's a competition. Bye.

[upbeat music playing]

[both exclaim] 

Cameron: Y'all, I want to work with y'all. 

Shade: Everybody's so good. 

Mandy: I got a good feeling about this one.

[group screams]

AJ McLean: Welcome to the formation stage. This is where everybody gets to meet for the first time to finally make their band.

[Brianna, Wennely, and Nori singing "Levitating"]

[Conor, Mason, Shane, and Zach performing "Higher Power"]

Nicole Scherzinger: Ooh!

AJ McLean: Here we go.

[group exclaims and laughs]

AJ McLean: How are we living right now? Listen, it's just the beginning. The real work's about to start. Good luck to all of you.

Coach 1: All right, guys, with harmonies and things, just allow those mistakes to come in. 

Nicole Scherzinger: You could say I know a thing or two about building a band. Has anyone heard of One Direction, or ... ? 

Liam Payne: I was put into a band made by other people. These bands are making it by themselves on chemistry alone. This could be interesting. 

Coach 1: Can we try you on the melody?

[Haley singing "I Want It That Way"]

Coach 1: That could be soulful. Shall we try it? This is our creative process.

Haley: [to Alison] So you do that low note? 

Kelly Rowland: Destiny's Child was all about chemistry. For a band to get that and really hone in on it, it sets them apart from everybody else. 

Coach 2: It's an emotional thing, watching artists walk through the room and them having these insecurities. And in just a half hour, you see certain things shut off. They surprise each other.

[speaking indistinctly]

[group exclaims] 

Coach 2: And you get to see what they're made of. Are they resilient? Gonna hold space for each other? All of that is so important in a group.

[music plays]

Coach 2: You have to hold the ending for like eight counts, no matter what. 

Coach 3: We need to start performing a lot more, a lot. 

Nicole Scherzinger: I can't wait for them to go out there and lick the plates clean, honey. That's right. 

Landon: Whoo!

AJ McLean: The biggest test is yet to come. At stake, half a million dollars.

Nicole Scherzinger: Somebody's going home tonight.

Shade: You either crack or you're gonna shine. 

AJ McLean: This is 'Building the Band'.

[cheering]

[drum sound effect plays]