Category: Season 9 auditions

There is always … so … much … drama in Group Round

Posted by seighinger – February 10, 2010

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The Group Round on American Idol always reminds me of the part of high school everyone likes to forget about.

There is always … so … much … drama.

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell

There are catfights, accusations are commonplace and fatigue and frustration complicate matters. And then there are the unforgiving words of uber judge Simon Cowell, who rarely shows any mercy at this particular level of the Idol journey. As contestant Mark Labriola pleaded for another chance Wednesday night, Simon cut him off in mid-sentence.

“Don’t beg, Mark,” Simon said. “It’s not cool.”

Ouch.

Or when Moorea Mosa was bemoaning the fact a group member up and quit shortly before her bunch was to take the stage. She sulked and talked of trying to overcome problems and hardships in preparing their song.

“It’s not a hardship,” Simon said. “That’s rubbish.”

Double ouch.

There were 71 who survived the Group Round, and that number must be cut to 24 during next week’s shows — and then we’re off to the finals.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

For me, the bummer of the night was seeing Matt Lawrence ousted. He was my No. 1 pick coming out of the auditions. More than anything, I think he was a victim of the group he was in and the song they chose to sing. Matt was the guy who had spent four years in prison, but wowed everyone at the Orlando auditions with his “Trouble” by Ray La Montagne. I’m convinced he could have been a factor this season, but who said life is fair?

THIS WEEK’S BEST

As entertaining as Group Round is, it’s always difficult to gauge individual prowess because of the concept. Hearing a few seconds of a song is not a fair way to grade a participant.

The following 10 singers are the ones I liked the best this week, but it does not include at least two of the sure-fire favorites (John Park, Tyler Grady) for the finals because we did not hear them sing this week, which was disappointing because we heard several of the top candidates sing more than once. I had Park ranked No. 3 and Grady No. 5.

1. Andrew Garcia (No. 2 after auditions)
2. Janell Wheeler
3. Lily Scott
4. Didi Benami (6)
5. Crystal Bowersox
6. Casey James
7. Katie Stevens (17)
8. Katelyn Epperley (7)
9. Jermaine Purifoy (8)
10. Tori Kelly

Note: Of my top 10 following auditions, seven are still alive. Another I had in the top 10, Danelle Hayes, did not take part in Hollywood Week. No explanation was given by Idol officials.

IDOL THOUGHTS ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Kara DioGuardi

Kara DioGuardi

Don’t expect Kara to roll out the welcome mat if Howard Stern would be Simon’s 2011 replacment as a judge. She said Wednesday that she doesn’t know if Stern is truly going to take the spot, but she clearly wasn’t keen on the idea. “I don’t think he has a musical background or any kind of music… um… anything,” she said in published reports, declining to mention the shock jock by name. “If you are going to replace Simon, you have to have that background. Someone who knows about signing great artists and being a part of their career from the very beginning like (Simon) has done.”

Adam Lambert is taping an acoustic concert this weekend in New York that will be shown later this year on VH1.

This year’s eight audition episodes averaged 26.2 million viewers, down 6 percent from the 27.9 million for the six tryout episodes that aired last year, which fell 4 percent from 2008 … but:

The addition of Ellen at the judging table was a ratings bonanza for Tuesday’s show, boosting audiences on the most-watched TV show in the United States. Some 27.7 million Americans tuned in for the debut of DeGeneres, according to early ratings data on Wednesday, up 12 percent from last week and the second biggest audience since the season premiere in January.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres

Billboard: (Ellen DeGeneres) proved herself to be more than capable at judging musical talent. When Orlando-based 22-year-old Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler unnervingly paced his way through a rendition of the Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” DeGeneres was brutally candid. “You frighten me,” she said, triggering a few laughs among the contestants watching from their seats. “You were stalking us. You were like a leopard behind a cage.” When Wheeler countered, “This is the American dream!” DeGeneres replied, “Of course. But seriously, don’t frighten your audience — don’t get so intense. Sexy and scary; it’s a fine line.” … Many debated whether DeGeneres would get along with her new judging partner Simon Cowell — especially in light of reports that they had clashed during taping of the Hollywood rounds — but the two showed no signs of a feud. “So this is it, huh? I come on, you leave,” DeGeneres said to Cowell, who laughed awkwardly.

Television Without Pity.com: Andrew Garcia sings “Straight Up” in that Kris Allen rewrite way, like a strummy cover, but luckily his voice is amazing and he has a great melodic sense. Randy of course laughs really loud so everybody knows he recognizes the song and recognized it before anybody else, because Randy is interminably and forever a teenage boy at his first Green Day concert. Luckily, the song sounds amazing and Kara flips her wig and says how Paula would be “screaming and yelling and dancing and dying” — I assume implying that she would be doing these things because of the song and not, you know, just generally — and Kara compares Andrew to Adam because of the ‘taking a song’ and ‘just flipping it,’ I guess referring to Adam in the context of the show, where he did that. Sometimes the things that amaze Kara are really astounding.

The Newark Star-Ledger: But for the most part (Tuesday) night, Ellen was confident and direct. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and she didn’t try to hog the spotlight. All in all, it was a very good start to the Ellen era on American Idol. The start of Hollywood Week also was refreshing because some of the best performers seen during the first four weeks of Season 9 unexpectedly stepped it up to a higher level, and some with high expectations fizzled out and were sent home.”

Realityblurred.com: DeGeneres seemed more polished and on-point than the people who’ve been sitting at that (judging) table for eight years.

Singers were the story, not Ellen

Posted by seighinger – February 9, 2010

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This is why we watch. This is why we love this show more than any other.

On a Tuesday night when Ellen DeGeneres’ debut as an American Idol judge was supposed to be the big event, that storyline became little more than a backdrop to a scintillating lineup of singers.

Admittedly, I had grown weary — like most of you — of the auditions, but I’m completely rejuvenated following the first night of Hollywood Week. More about the individual performances in a minute, but first, we’ll give Ellen her due.

Ellen is going to be good for the show. She has already contributed more than Paula did all last season. For those worried about the future of Idol, fear not. Instead of a regression, we actually may see a rebirth of the show’s popularity at an entirely new level. It’s going to depend largely on who is Simon’s replacement next season, but the second generation of Idol seems like it will be in good hands, I believe.

Ellen was witty, but not overbearing. She was succinct, not wordy. But most of all, she was entertaining without trespassing or stepping on any of the other judges. Did you notice that? Instead of having to put up with Paula’s constant interruptions, we actually had the opportunity to hear what each judge said. I hope it stays that way all season.

And now, on with the analysis.

THE GOOD

There were seven knockout performances Tuesday. These are the singers I would think are a lock to reach the round of 24, barring a complete collapse during Wednesday’s group round. Judging from their inaugural Hollywood performances, I don’t see a weak link in this group.

1. Andrew Garcia: Is there any doubt this incredibly talented father of one is the man to beat?  Tell me you were not impressed by that unplugged version of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.” For this early in the competition, that was … if not incredible, at least borderline amazing. What has me a bit concerned, though, is his immediate future. Was it just me, or did it appear he might get cut following Wednesday night’s group round? I’m hoping Fox is just playing with out minds with that promo. Key comment:

Kara: “That was genius. You just owned that moment. Great job.”

2. Janell Wheeler: We did not see any of her during the auditions, but what a revelation. Her breathy, almost sultry styling was intoxicating. I think she’s in this for the long haul. Key comment:

Ellen: “That was amazing.” (It really was.)

3. Lilly Scott: Another wow. Lilly torched us with an old Ella Fitsgerald offering and mesmerized everyone in the process. She’s this wacky, platinum-coiffed combination of Jason Castro and Allison Iraheta. As Randy might say, “We got a hot one!” Key comment:

Kara: “Everything about you is refreshing.”

4. Didi Benami: I loved her in the auditions and I love her more even now. She nailed Kara DioGuardi’s “Terrified” in style reminiscent of Shawn Colvin, for those who were big watchers of VH1 in the early 1990s. Key comment:

Simon: “That was terrific.”

5. Crystal Bowersox: Oh. My. Gosh. I considered the Ohio girl little more than an afterthought during the auditions, and then she shows up and belts out Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman.” Another member of a powerful lineup of females from Tuesday night. Key comment:

Simon: “People like you.”

6. Casey James: He promised following his audition he would show us what he could he do — and he did. Casey unveiled a bluesy guitar and Bo Bice-esque voice that impressed everyone. Key comment:

Randy: “Yo, I loved that.”

7. Katie Stevens: She took a major step toward the final 24, wowing the judges — and me, too — with “For Once In My Life.” I actually liked her better Tuesday night than I did during her audition. Key comment:

Simon: “Actually, you’re quite good.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Mary Powers: Remember the “rocker mom”? She’s another one I liked better in Hollywood than I did during the auditon process. She still reminds me of Pat Benatar, minus the overbite. I’m not sure — yet — if she’s final 24 material, but I’m rooting for her. She has that infectious kind of personality. Key comments

Kara: “You have an amazing voice, and you were really ‘in’ that song.”

Mary: “My life, my family’s whole life … is going to change.”

NEW IDOL POLL STARTS
Who is your favorite non-champion over the first eight years of American Idol? We’ve selected who we believe are the 10 most successful for you to vote on: Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Kat McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Blake Lewis, Jason Castro, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry.

Cast your vote on the poll at the right.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Remember Danelle Hayes, one of our favorites from the (Seattle) auditions? The Seattle Times has reported she was never a part of Hollywood Week. Nicole Gonzalez, a spokesperson for American Idol, confirmed that Hayes did not, in fact, compete in the Hollywood round, which was taped a few weeks ago began airing Tuesday night. Gonzales indicated it was the show’s policy to not comment any more than that.

Talk about gloom and doom. Sandra Deane, editor for AOL Television, said Tuesday, “I definitely think Idol is in a period of transition. Every week we see that the ratings are stable and still unbeatable, but this may be the last big easy win for them. People will stick around for Simon’s last season, but the transition to next season will be a huge, huge challenge. And I don’t know how they’re going to pull it off.” Oh, come on, Sandra. It’s American Idol.

A total of 181 contestants were a part of Hollywood Week and 95 advanced to the treacherous group round.

It was painful to watch country girl Vanessa Wolfe, the bridge jumper from the south. She was nervous, and her song choice was horrible. As it turns out, she was not the reincarnation of Kellie Pickler.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION … all Howard, all the time

Howard Stern

Howard Stern

From BusinessWeek: Shock jock Howard Stern likely gave Sirius XM executives a shock on (Monday), when he told his radio listeners that he is considering leaving Sirius to become a judge on American Idol when his lucrative Sirius contract expires at the end of the year … Stern may be trying to up the pressure on Sirius to offer him another lucrative deal. Sirius currently pays Stern, his agent and his staff $100 million a year to air Stern’s radio show on Sirius exclusively. But in the years since that contract came into effect, Sirius’s growth has slowed. And its renewed focus on financial performance may forbid writing another large check. So, if he wants to make as much money in the future, Stern may, indeed, have to look elsewhere. American Idol would certainly offer a lot of money — and tons of exposure.

From Billboard: More from Howard Stern …
– “I’ll do that for $100 million. For $100 million a year, to judge a karaoke contest? Ok. Why not?”
– “Name a person who could bring more excitement to that show than me.”
– “If I was the judge on American Idol, looks would play into the judging, too. I would be honest with them. I would say, ‘Look at you. You’re out of shape, go work out.’ It would be sort of like The Biggest Loser and American Idol combined.”
– “Can you imagine me sitting there with like a little ping-pong paddle, and I smack Randy Jackson’s belly every time he opens his dopey mouth?”

From MSNBC: One hitch in the Stern-to-Idol scenario would be the King of All Media’s fear of flying. Stern said he turned down an opportunity to appear as a guest on the Tonight Show during Conan O’Brien’s last week because he didn’t want to fly to Los Angeles. On Monday, Stern said his fear would not prevent him from taking the Idol gig, despite the disparate auditions. “It would be the best thing that happened to me,” he said. “What a cush job — $100 million for four months. Who wouldn’t take that?”

From USA Today: First of all, more possible replacements keep getting floated, like Madonna manager Guy Oseary, Second, when American Idol got serious once before about replacing a judge, namely Paula Abdul, nobody had a clue Ellen DeGeneres was coming in until she actually made the announcement. Third, Stern’s throwing around numbers that are way beyond the Idol judges’ pay scale — even Simon’s. “I’ll do that for $100 million.” Stern said. “For $100 million a year, to judge a karaoke contest? Ok. Why not.” Remember: Simon Cowell reportedly was making just $50 million. Stern is used to making a $100 million. I don’t see Stern as the kind of guy who takes a 50 percent pay cut. Do you really think Howard Stern brings twice as much value to the table as Simon Cowell?

From Cheri Robertson, Seattle Times: At long last, it’s time for the real American Idol to begin. Between the grand debut of Ellen DeGeneres and whittling it down to people who can actually sing, now I can get excited to watch the show … I am ever-so-grateful that auditions are over.

Now that was more like it

Posted by seighinger – February 2, 2010

Where have you been, Denver?

What a refreshing night of Idol auditions. Let’s be honest here, this has been a relatively weak season of preliminaries leading up to the main event(s). Not many outstanding singers, and not even that many wretched ones. Just a lot of blah blah blah somewhere in the middle.

Tuesday night’s episode from Denver, however, gave us at least a little more of what we have come to expect from the greatest show in television history. (And more might be arriving Wednesday night in the final audition show of the season, which is supposed to be some sort of compilation of tryouts we have yet to witness.)

Danelle Hayes

Danelle Hayes

There was one audition in particular that struck me in Denver, that of Danelle Hayes, whose background info was rather familiar — but her voice was not. She’s a single mom who wants to be a singer. We’ve heard that a million times before, but rarely have we heard a voice like Danelle’s, at least this year.

Danelle is my No. 1 female of the auditions, hands down. You know I’m a sucker for those Amanda Overmyer-Rose Flack-Allison Iraheta style of raspy voices, and Danelle certainly fills that bill. She sounded as if her palate had been washed with a Brillo pad. She had me at hello, and apparently the judges, too.

When Danelle as finished with her interpretation of Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m The Only One,” the judges’ comments echoed my own sentiments:

Kara: ” … a moving audition, and I love the way you wear your heart on your sleeve.”

Randy: “This girl has a future.”

Simon: “I like you.”

Danelle, fighting back the tears, then told us, “Maybe it’s possible … maybe I can support my son by doing something that I love.”

I think she can.

(The rest of) THE GOOD

It wasn’t so much that the best of the rest in Denver have a snowball’s chance in Colorado of being the next American Idol, it’s that they each brought a unique twist to the auditions that had been missing more than it had been present this year.

2. Mark Labriola: He was the guy who spent six years as a child on the run with his mother, who had bolted from her husband. Simon appreciated his honesty. I appreciated his voice when he sang “Tenpted” by Squeeze. Key comment:

Guest judge Posh Spice: “I was really surprised (with your voice) … it was a really nice surprise.”

3. Haeley Vaughn: There’s that certain something about her I liked. She wants to be the first black country/pop crossover star. Not sure if she can totally achieve being the first black Carrie Underwood, but she’s definitely got some potential. She sang “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood (of course!). Key comment:

Simon: “You’re different. You’re infectious.”

4. Tori Kelly: She’s only 16 and far from polished, but she’s gorgeous (you knw that counts, too) and has an appealing little cry in her voice, She sang “Gravity” by John Mayer. Her effort was hardly Grammy worthy, but she deserved her Hollywood Week ticket, despite Simon’s feelings. Key comments:

Simon: “I thought your voice was almost annoying.”

Posh (to Simon): “It’s about the whole package.”

Randy: “You’re like a human orange.” (Yeah, I’m not sure what meant either.)

5. Nicci Nix: She flew 14 hours from Florence, Italy, or some insane distance. I wouldn’t fly 14 hours anywhere. In fact, I wouldn’t fly period, but that’s another subject for another blog. Nicci’s kind of weird, but strangely appealing in a Toni Basil sort of way. She’s got what is almost a helium-like voice at times, not to mention some crazy Jennifer Connelly eyebrows. She probably won’t make the finals, but she should be entertaining in Hollywood. Key comment:

Posh: “I really like your attitude.”

Other singers who deserved a “good” rankings: Kimberly Kerbow, Casey James.

SEASON TOP 16

1. Matt Lawrence, Orlando
2. Andrew Garcia, Los Angeles
3. John Park, Chicago
4. Danelle Hayes, Denver
5. Tyler Grady, Boston
6. Katelyn Epperley, Chicago6
7. Jermaine Purifoy, Orlando
8. Tasha Layton, Los Angeles
9. Maddy Curtis, Boston
10. Ashley Rodriguez, Boston
11. Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler, Atlanta
12. Lloyd “Big Sexy” Thomas, Dallas
13. Christian Spear, Dallas
14. Jermaine Sellers, Atlanta
15. Katie Stevens, Boston
16. Dave Pittman, Dallas

THE BAD

1. Mario Galvan: Mario is a nicotine addiction counselor with a nervous laugh. Heh-heh-heh. Five minutes in a room with him and I would be nuts. Heh-heh-heh. He tried to sing “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis and it was, of course, rather weak. Heh-heh-heh. Key comment:

Mario: “Life goes on.”

2. Austin Paul: Poor Austin thought he was all that — and then some. A football player at the University of Colorado who envisioned himself as some cross between Fabio and Josh Groban. Not hardly, on either account. Key comments:

Posh: “You are a bit arrogant … I got a bit itchy (watching you).”

Austin: “I could be marketed well by you guys. I’m a great story.” (No you couldn’t, no you’re not.)

THE WORST

1. Kenny Everett: Wow. Kenny introduced himself to us as “the world’s best singer.” Who knew this was a red flag? Raise your hand. And then Kenny tells he is a “male Mary J. Blige.” Who knew Kenny was toast before he opened his mouth to sing? Raise your hand. Key comments:

Simon: “You sound like you are being punched.”

Randy: “Terrible. No.”

Kenny: “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

2. Bikini Boy (Ty Hemmerling): Yeah, he came out in a bikini, but not quite rekindling memories of 2009′s Bikini Girl. About three bars into “Achy Breaky heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus, the judges got up and walked out. Bikini Girl was hilarious a year ago. This guy was only annoying.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Here’s my ranking of this year’s guest judges: 1. Neil Patrick Harris, 2. Shania Twain, 3. Katy Perry, 4. Posh Spice, 5. Kristin Chenoweth, 6. Joe Jonas, 7. Avril Lavigne.

We were reminded the Denver auditions of 2006 was when we were introduced to Chris Daughtry.

Did you notice Kris Allen in one of the Ford Fusion commercials?

Those endless Luke Wilson AT&T commercials are really starting to irritate me, but the Charles Barkley Taco Bell ads are absolutely great.

SCHEDULE CHANGE

There’s been a change to the American Idol schedule, so take note:

The Tuesday, Feb. 16 show, featuring the Hollywood rounds, is expanding from one to two hours. The following night, Wednesday, Feb. 17, the top 24 will be revealed in a special hour-long episode.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION:

foxx1From EOnline.com: Jamie Foxx would like to take over Simon Cowell’s judging job on American Idol, but the singer and actor says he is too busy. Foxx said, “I would love to do it but I don’t think I would be able to do it. I don’t think I could fill Simon’s shoes, but I would give it another perspective … what I want is for the kids to go from being contest participants to artists and that’s where I would come in.” Foxx earned rave review, including from this blog, last year when when he was an Idol mentor.

From The Associated Press: Massachusetts Sen.-elect Scott Brown says he’d like daughter Ayla to have another crack at American Idol where judge Simon Cowell once described her performance as robotic and empty. The fledgling recording artist, a 21-year-old student at Boston College, made it to the show’s final 16 singers in 2006. Her father told ABC’s This Week that Ayla was so new to it all back then that she had never put on makeup until she did American Idol. He also says that Cowell’s critique, while harsh, was on target.

From Entertainment Weekly: American Idol winner turned country superstar Carrie Underwood has been chosen to sing the national anthem at Sunday’s Super Bowl. Classic-rock icons the Who are slated to provide the halftime entertainment, and Queen Latifah will also reportedly appear to perform “America the Beautiful.”

From USA Today: Nielsen Media Research has a fascinating new report called “The Impact of Television on Music Consumption.” Naturally, it includes a lot of information about American Idol. Some of the more interesting tidbits in the report:

• A performance of a song on American Idol has a positive sales impact on the original for eight weeks after the performance.

• American Idol contestants have sold 42 million albums over the past 6+ years; two acts (Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood) have accounted for 19 million of those sales.

• American Idol albums have doubled their sales impact since 2003, when they accounted for 0.7 percent of overall album sales. In 2009, they made up 1.5 percent of album sales. Their best year was 2007, when they accounted for 2.1 percent of album sales.

• Eighty percent of the people who watched the American Idol season finale in 2009 were 35 or older.

American Idol can be bad for your health — really, really bad

Posted by seighinger – January 27, 2010

The e-mail arrived just before the start of Wednesday night’s American Idol. I almost didn’t open it. After all, it was time for Idol.

But let’s just say I’m glad I did.

The e-mail came from one of our Florida friends of the blog, Brian Ackley of Lake Wales. He thought “Idol Nation” readers would appreciate the following from the St. Petersburg Times:

Cynthia

Cynthia E. Bettis-Ware

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –Police said a St. Petersburg woman took a TV dispute too far Tuesday night when she stabbed and scalded her boyfriend over American Idol. Police arrested Cynthia E. Bettis-Ware, 52, on a charge of first-degree attempted murder of Kevin Johnson, 47.

The couple were watching American Idol when they began arguing over something that happened on the show, according to the report. He changed the channel to stop the argument, a police spokeswoman said, but she kept arguing so “he decided, ‘Well, I’ll go to bed.’ ”

He awoke to Bettis-Ware wielding a 10-inch butcher knife. She stabbed him five times in the back and twice in the chest, an arrest affidavit states. Police said she also severely burned Johnson with hot cocoa.

Johnson took the knife from her and ran (outside), the report said. Bettis-Ware chased after him with another knife, she said. Soon a crowd formed and someone called police, who arrested Bettis-Ware … She was being held without bail in the Pinellas County jail Wednesday.

WELCOME, DOOGIE

Neil Patrick Harris and Joe Jonas were the guest hosts for Wednesday night’s auditions from Dallas and the clear winner was NPH, the former “Doogie Howser.” He was attentive, cut right to the chase, had that likable, dry sense of humor and was not afraid to mix it up with the Prince of Darkness (yes, that would be Simon).

Joe, the only Jonas brother without curly hair, was better than Avril Lavigne as a judge but not close to Doogie in terms of personality. Little Joe did not even make an appearance until the the final 15 minutes of the show.

Doogie and Shania Twain have easily been the top two guest judges of to date.

THE GOOD

1. Lloyd “Big Sexy” Thomas: Don’t let the nickname turn you off, this is one smooth, soulful dockworker. He threw a little Stevie Wonder at us and definitely proved to be Hollywood worthy. Key comments:

Randy: “I like your vibe.”

Simon: “My favorite audition of the day.”

Big Sexy: “Oh my goodness, oh my Lord Jesus … I wish you could taste what I taste right now.”

2. Christian Spear: Though just 16, she’s an 8-year cancer survivor. A great, great voice, but a little rough around the edges, mostly because of her age. I went back and forth on whether she or Big Sexy should be No. 1 for the night, but Thomas came across a bit more polished. Christian sang “All I Can Do Is Cry” by Etta James. Key comment:

Kara: “I did not sense any fear from you.”

3. Dave Pittman: Another interesting story — and talent. Dave battles Tourette’s syndrome, but it does not affect him when he sings, and oh how he can sing. His “Bring It On Home To Me” by Sam Cooke was spot on. Key comments:

Randy: “Your voice is just great.”

Simon: “I thought you were terrific.”

4. Erica Rhodes: She was the girl with the knee-high boots and whip. Can you say “dominatrix”? Ironically, not to mention incredibly, Erica used to be on the “Barney and Friends” kids TV program as a child. Erica has grown up! I have no idea what she sang. I couldn’t get past the boots and whip. But she sounded good (and looked even better). I would have loved to have listed some key comments, but I didn’t hear a word the judges said. I was still looking at Erica.

Others who deserved “good” status: Maegan Wright, Todrick Hall, Dawntoya Thomason.

Dexter Ward

Dexter Ward

SEASON TOP 15

1. Matt Lawrence, Orlando
2. Andrew Garcia, Los Angeles
3. John Park, Chicago
4. Tyler Grady, Boston
5. Katelyn Epperley, Chicago
6. Jermaine Purifoy, Orlando
7. Tasha Layton, Los Angeles
8. Maddy Curtis, Boston
9. Ashley Rodriguez, Boston
10. Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler, Atlanta
11. Lloyd “Big Sexy” Thomas, Dallas
13. Christian Spear, Dallas
13. Jermaine Sellers, Atlanta
14. Katie Stevens, Boston
15. Dave Pittman, Dallas

THE BAD

1. Dexter Ward: Before he sang some unintelligble song, Dexter insisted he had this year’s competition all wrapped up. Game over, he said. Well, he was half right. Key comment:

Randy: “That looked like it hurt.”

2. Julie Kevilghan: She appeared way back on thes eason one auditions of Idol and was atrocious. This time she was simply bad, providing us with “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles. She never had a chance from the minute she walked on the stage carrying a sign that read “This Is My Year.” Key comments:

Doogie: “That was not good … that was just annoying.”

Simon: “Everything was wrong.”

Julie: “I should have taken a deep breath.”

Vanessa Johnston

Vanessa Johnston

THE WORST

Vanessa Johnston: She was dressed in blinding pink and had one of those voices that made you wince every time she went for a high (or, for that matter, low) note. But she was perky, I’ll give her that. Key comments:

Simon: “If anyone ever asked what my nightmares sound and look like, that’s it.”

Vanessa: “At least you’re dreaming about me.”

IDOL THOUGHTS

I never thought I would be saying this, but maybe it’s time to cut back on the number of audition shows Idol feeds us, either that or condense the number of weeks used for that portion of the journey. How about two weeks of two, two-hour shows on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? That would satisfy those who want to see as many train wrecks as time permits, plus making it possible to get to Hollywood Week much quicker.

An Idol friend of mine says he thinks Kara is sporting more “attitude” this year. I think he’s right. The all-encompassing shadow of Paula has been removed, and with a year under her belt, I think Kara is showing the spitfire quality Idol decision makers were hoping she would.

This is only in the thought process right now, but I’m considering having an X Factor blog when Simon’s new show debuts in the fall of 2011.

The general consensus is Avril Lavigne might have been the worst guest judge in Idol history. She even made Posh Spice (a.k.a. “Skeletor,” according to one writer) appear to be an extrovert.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION … everybody wants to be a judge!

Katy and Simon during Tuesday's auditions show in Los Angeles.

Katy and Simon during Tuesday's auditions show in Los Angeles.

From MTV News: “I make ‘em cry all the time,” Tuesday night guest judge Katy Perry joked. “The American Idol experience was awesome. If I was offered that job as a permanent host, I would ditch my career and take on that career. It’s kind of like judging a talent show. American Idol was great fun. It was so easy. I didn’t really make anybody cry, but I did tell the truth to some kids that might have needed to hear it.”

From Fancast: He’s catty, not afraid to get petty, and he’s not opposed to showing a little chest hair. So naturally, Perez Hilton believes he’d be a great pick to replace Simon Cowell next season on American Idol. And if that doesn’t work out, he’d be more than willing to join Cowell behind the judges’ table on the U.S. version of X Factor. Basically, he’s trying to say that he’s available either way. “I think that Simon Cowell leaving American Idol is amazing, because those are two potential jobs that I may have in the future,” Hilton said. “If they’re looking for a new judge on American Idol, I am available. I haven’t asked Simon Fuller, who created the show, but maybe I should.”

From Popeater: Rosie O’Donnell is a huge fan of Simon Cowell, but is she thinking of taking over his duties on American Idol? O’Donnell, 47, said she had heard the rumors that she may be tapped to fill Cowell’s empty judging seat on Idol next season. “I read that too, but I don’t think it’s true,” Rosie says of the rumor. “He’s irreplaceable.”

From Television Without Pity.com: (Tuesday night contestant) Andrew Garcia is a guy with a neck tattoo, and you know what I say, which is that a guy with a neck tattoo is the kind of guy who should not be making major choices for himself.

‘I feel … dirty’ and other weird stuff

Posted by seighinger – January 26, 2010

I’m not sure if this happened to be a show that the Idol powers-to-be decided to showcase the dark side of the auditions or what, but rarely have I sat through an hour of the greatest show in television history with such an uneasiness.

Normally, there are up to eight or 10 contestants showcased that cause me think, “Yeah, they might be top 24 material.”

Not on this night.

I felt like I had the Rocky Horror Picture Show thrown at me, and the sound had been distorted.

I even combed through the past two years of this blog to try and find a night that produced so little potential — and I couldn’t.

That’s not to say the show was not entertaining. It was all of that, especially judge Katy Perry, who was featured on the second half of the program in relief of Avril Lavigne.

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Jason Greene

Arguably the best exchange between judge and would-be contestant came between Perry, who gave us the hit song “I Kissed A Girl,” and 21-year-old student Jason Greene, who made an attempt at the Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself.”

Katy: “I feel … dirty.”

Jason: “You make me feel dirty, Katy.”

Katy: “It takes a lot for me to feel dirty.”

Jason: “I’m sure it does.”

Of course, Jason received four “nos” from the judges, but before he (finally) exited, he vowed to return next year. To which Simon muttered, “That was uncomfortable.”

That’s exactly the way I felt through the entire show.

THE GOOD

1. Andrew Garcia: He reminded be of a Latino version of 2009 third-place finisher Danny Gokey — same quality of voice and personality. Andrew also possessed one of the strangest backgrounds of any Idol contestant ever. Both of his parents were involved in gangs growing up. By far, Andrew was the winner of the night, at least from the few good auditions we were shown. Key comments:

Simon: A genuinely, genuinely … good singer. I’m glad I met you, Andrew.”

Randy: “You’ve got mad vocals” (I think that was the Dawg’s first “mad” reference of the season.)

Katy: “You gave me chills.”

2. Tasha Layton: She’s a part-time (female) minister, which might be a first for Idol. Her voice had a smooth Pentecostal appeal to it while singing a Joss Stone number. Definitely one to watch for in Hollywood Week. Key comments:

Simon: “I think people may like you.”

Tasha: “I’m going to Hollywood! … now what do I do?”

3. Mary Powers: Mary was part of what also seemed to be theme night, hers being Pat Benatar, complete with 1980s-looking “rock gear.” That aside, she has an appealing quality to her voice and an engaging personality. Key comments:

Kara: “Rock it, girl.”

Avril: “You have character to your voice. It’s raspy, I love that.” (And with that comment, Rod Stewart Nation let out a collective cheer.)

SEASON TOP 12

1. Matt Lawrence, Orlando
2. Andrew Garcia, Los Angeles
3. John Park, Chicago
4. Tyler Grady, Boston
5. Katelyn Epperley, Chicago
6. Jermaine Purifoy, Orlando
7. Tasha Layton, Los Angeles
8. Maddy Curtis, Boston
9. Ashley Rodriguez, Boston
10. Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler, Atlanta
11. Jermaine Sellers, Atlanta
12. Katie Stevens, Boston

THE BAD

1. A.J. Mendoza: He told us he had swag. He wanted to be Adam Lambert and came off like Adam Cartwright. Key comments:

Simon: “It sounded like you just came from the dentist.”

A.J.: “I was honestly surprised they said no.”

THE WORST

On a night when there were plenty of weak links to choose from, one stood a little taller than the rest.

1. Damion Lefavor: He is a pacifist who is addicted to martial arts and makes sandwiches for a living. “Pepperoni, pepperoni, pepperoni,” he told us. He attempted to sing the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” Before he started the song, Damion also told us, “I’ve been trying to hit that one note for years. It’s my nemesis.” Let’s just say it still is. Key comment:

Simon: “Jason, you should just go.”

Austin Fullmer

Austin Fullmer

2. Austin Fullmer: He scowled and pranced all the way through his version of “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. “I don’t care if people touch me,” Austin said to the camera. Simon felt he was a “disturbed young man.” I’m guessing Simon’s probably right. Key comments:

Simon: “This is not your purpose in life.”

Katy: “It’s … different.”

Austin: “There’s something my (performance) … Simon can’t handle it.”

3. Jayson Wilson: He screamed “All By Myself.”

4. Jesse Chang: Ah … li’l Jesse and his “Kung Fu Fighting” provided a few seconds of laughter.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Wednesday night’s show will be from Dallas. Hook ‘em ‘Horns. (A football reference for the sports fans reading this.)

Did there seem to be an excessive amount of hugging between the judges, especially Randy and Kara?

Avril Lavigne’s “devil” hoodie was a bit distracting.

I wasn’t sure if Katy Perry was serious or not about throwing the Coca-Cola in Kara’s face, but I was hoping their disagreements over talent would eventually come to just that.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION  ... meet Simon’s replacement?

Tommy Mottola

Tommy Mottola

From MTV.com: While plenty of names have been tossed around as potential replacements for Simon Cowell, when the acerbic British judge leaves American Idol after this season, the one name almost nobody has mentioned is reportedly the leading candidate. According to Deadline Hollywood, the show’s first choice to take Cowell’s place is former Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola, who helmed the company during Michael Jackson’s heyday and was once married to Mariah Carey. The only problem? Apparently Cowell also has his eyes on Mottola as a possible judge for his soon-to-launch reality talent competition X Factor. The site reports that the Idol braintrust has come up with a list of 25 potential Cowell replacements, and 60-year-old Mottola — owner of Casablanca Records — is at the top. Given his 15-year stint at the top of Sony Music Entertainment and long career in the music industry, Mottola is a strong candidate based on his credentials and ability to nurture talent, but his camera readiness is unknown. Over his career, Mottola has helped the careers of everyone from Hall & Oates to John Mellencamp, Carey, Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez. The reported second choice is 38-year-old Guy Oseary, Madonna’s longtime business partner and former head of her Maverick Records, followed by Interscope/Geffen/A&M boss and music-industry legend Jimmy Iovine, who has helmed the careers of Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and dozens of others, along with producing albums by U2, Tom Petty and Patti Smith.

From Michael Slezak, Entertainment Weekly, commenting on contestant John Park: “The rich, buttery baritone he displayed on Blood Sweat & Tears’ “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know” was perhaps the tastiest treat to come out of the first four audition episodes of season 9. Plus, his lips, teeth, and bottom end have Shania Twain’s stamp of approval. How can you not get behind the guy?”

From USA Today.com: The nation’s newspaper has a poll going on who is Idol’s all-time best third-place finisher. Danny Gokey is the early leader over Elliott Yamin, Melinda Doolittle and Jasmine Trias.

From New York Daily News: Her American Idol dreams could fall prey a personal nightmare — again. Contestant Angela Martin twice before earned a trip to Hollywood on the popular, Fox series. Shortly after winning her first golden ticket, her father was murdered, leaving the young Chicago woman too grief-stricken to compete. On her second try, she lost her spot thanks to a traffic court summons over an outstanding ticket. Now, with a third and final chance at realizing her dream, tragedy has struck again: Martin’s mother was reported missing after Christmas. The 28-year-old’s mom, Viola Brown, was going to visit Martin’s older sister after the holidays, but never arrived, according to People.com. On New Year’s Eve, her car was found abandoned near the south Chicago suburbs of Riverdale and Dixmoor.

Matt Lawrence: Big man, big voice, big hopes

Posted by seighinger – January 20, 2010

What a story, but more importantly … what a voice.

I’ve got my first bona fide favorite of the fledgling American Idol season. He’s a 25-year-old ex-convict named Matt Lawrence, who blew away the judges — and me — during Wednesday night’s auditions show from Orlando, Fla.

Lawrence pulled off a drop-dead, boffo box office version of “Trouble” by Ray La Montagne. Lawrence looks like he could easily be a defensive tackle in the NFL, but possesses an incredibly surprising,  jaw-dropping, bluesy voice that was washed with sandpaper.

The minute Lawrence opened his mouth, I literally dropped my Energel Liquid Gel o.5 mm pen. I didn’t want him to stop singing. Seriously.

He spent four years in prison as a teenager for robbing a bank with a BB-gun and has admittedly been paying for that transgression ever since. He said he hopes Idol can provide an opportunity to gain back something he lost all those years ago.

I think he might very well get that opportunity, and judges Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson seemed to agree. Key comments:

Simon: “Brilliant. I was very impressed.”

Kara: “One of the best.”

Randy: “You are genuine, dude.”

Lawrence’s showing was the most impressive from what we saw from Orlando, where 31 tickets to Hollywood Week were earned from a turnout of 10,000. That was considerably better than the 13 from 12,000 the night before on the auditions show from Chicago.

THE GOOD

1. Matt Lawrence: I don’t mean to steal Randy’s thunder, but the dude is good. Real good.

2. Jermaine Purifoy: Jermaine dropped a little Tony Bennett on the judges and came across as extremely smooth, polished and confident. He tried out — and failed — in 2007, but returned with a quiet vengeance. If not for Matt Lawrence, this guy would have been No. 1 in Orlando. Key comments:

Simon: “I think the chicks will like you.”

Kara: “(Your voice) is honest. I believe you.”

Guest judge Kristin Chenoweth: “You have such a pure sound.”

Randy: “I was blown away.”

3. Seth Rollins: He was the bug guy with the son with special needs. He sang “Someone To Watch Over Me,” and was almost on par with Jermaine — but not quite. There’s room for growth with Seth, so he’s another to keep an eye on in Hollywood Week.

4. Bernadette Desimone: Both she and her sister, Amanda, advanced, but I liked Bernadette much more. She’s got the look and comes across more comfortable under a spotlight. She sang “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles.

5. Brittany Starr Jones: We just got a glimpse of her, so call this a gut feeling at this point in time.

Theo Glinton

Theo Glinton

SEASON TOP 10

1. Matt Lawrence, Orlando
2. John Park, Chicago
3. Tyler Grady, Boston
4. Katelyn Epperley, Chicago
5. Jermaine Purifoy, Orlando
6. Maddy Curtis, Boston
7. Ashley Rodriguez, Boston
8. Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler, Atlanta
9. Jermaine Sellers, Atlanta
10. Katie Stevens, Boston

THE BAD

Theo Glinton: He led off the show, all glammed up with the Lady Gaga eye look. He singing was borderline unintelligible. I think he tried to do “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar. Four words: Rick. James. Super. Freak.

THE WORST

Jarred Norrel: Well, we finally saw an Idol contestant removed in handcuffs. He actually got off lucky. I thought the CSI: Miami-esque security guys would be forced to Taser him before much longer. Poor Jarred warbled through an AWFUL version of “Amazing Grace” that was worse than any fingernails on any blackboard anywhere. Then, the goofball would not exit. Definitely the stuff of Idol legend. Key comments:

Jarrod Norrell

Jarrod Norrell

Kara: “Good Lord, what was that. (Your voice) sounds like a lawn mower.”

Jarrod: “Are you serious?”

Randy: “You can’t sing.”

IDOL THOUGHTS

We heard Simon’s top criticism of the season to date when he unleashed, “You walked in like a cocktail stick and sang like you sat on a cat.”

Cornelius Edwards provided another “first” when he split his pants while doing the splits. He also informed the judges he learned his moves from friends in the “adult entertainment” industry.

Shelby Dressel was another warm story. She ahs a facial deformity, but her “Turn Me On” by Norah Jones proved she had the chops for Hollywood. I couldn’t in good faith put her among “the best,” but I hope she wows ‘em in Holly wood. She seems like a great kid.

Tuesday night’s show will feature the auditons from Los Angeles. California shows are usually highly entertaining.

FROM AROUND THE NATION:

The Hollywood Reporter: “Simon Cowell is in discussions with Paula Abdul and Cheryl Cole to become judges on his new show, X Factor. Cowell previously announced that this would be his last season on American Idol and that he would leave to focus on a stateside version of his hit U.K. show, X Factor, which will debut on Fox in fall 2011. The only question was: who would sit at the judges’ table with him? Abdul, who quit Idol in August during a contract dispute, would make perfect sense sitting next to Cowell again. After all, Cowell recently said he “adores” her. Cole is a less familiar choice to American audiences. The 26-year-old is already a fellow panelist with Cowell on the U.K. version of X Factor.”

The DailyBeast.com: “Whether you love the three weeks of audition episodes that kick off American Idol each season or consider them to be a slog through the ranks of America’s deluded and talentless, one thing is certain: They are popular. Last week’s two-night premiere, during which the judges searched for singers in Boston and Atlanta, drew an average of 28 million viewers.”

New York Daily News: “(Guest judge Shania Twain was) always looking alert and attentive, she often sat forward in her chair, elbows propped up on the table and chin resting in her hands, and she was given to open expressions of surprise – shaded with dismay or delight – at contestants’ efforts. Her signature look had her eyebrows raised, and eyes wide in happy, or more often appalled disbelief. One thing that really made her stand out from her guest-judge predecessors was her chemistry with Simon. It wasn’t that Posh and Mary J. didn’t have it, but her easy rapport with him is something that had been missing in Boston and Atlanta.”

The Associated Press: “In my mind, the biggest winners ever on American Idol have been girls, I mean that have gone on to huge success with Carrie Underwood, with Kelly Clarkson, these are your big, huge, giant success stories,” judge Randy Jackson said.


More laughs, not necessarily more talent in Atlanta

Posted by seighinger – January 14, 2010

Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks

Season 5, won by Taylor Hicks, was the decade’s ratings winner. An average of 31 million viewers tuned in each Tuesday for the performance show (No. 1 on the list), while 30 million returned on Wednesday for the results show (No. 2).

Keeping “Idol” from a top-eight clean sweep was CBS reality competition show Survivor. Season 2 of Survivor, set in the Australian Outback and won by Tina Wesson, is No. 3 on the list with an average of 29.8 million watchers each week. And Season 1, set in Borneo and won by Richard Hatch, is No. 6 with 28.3 million watchers.

CBS’s crime drama “CSI” is the only other show to make the decade’s top 15. It averaged 26.3 million total viewers for Season 5 and 26.2 million for Season 6 — placing it at No. 12 and 13 on the list.

Idol Factoid: American Idol has been the top-rated show for five years among all viewers and for six years among the advertiser-favored 18 to 49 audience.

FROM AROUND THE NATION:

Michael Slezak, Entertainment Weekly, talking about Tuesday night’s season debut: “As for 16-year-old Maddy (Kurtis), whose nerves trembled through an otherwise lovely rendition of ”Hallelujah,” whose deep affection for her four brothers with Down syndrome had me eyeing the Kleenex box, and whose final declaration (”I really enjoyed singing for you”) slayed me hardest of all, would it make me the worst person alive to say that I wish the judges had voted ”No” on a golden ticket? Because the thing is, the girl actually has poise and charm and real talent — or as Simon would explain it, she’s not ”annoying” like so many young contestants — but she could use a couple years to hone her gift, to build her confidence, to have a legit shot at the Idol crown. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe in a world where Norman Gentle got an all-expenses-paid trip to L.A., this ninth kid in a string of 12 siblings deserves a Fox-sponsored vacation and a taste of the dream.”

The Associated Press: “I think people love to love the show,” said Mike Darnell, Fox’s executive in charge of alternative programming. “It’s one of the few phenomena that exist: the Super Bowl, the Oscars, American Idol. It’s an American tradition.”

The Los Angeles Times: “I know it’s only one night … but this is really amazing,” Darnell said. “‘American Idol’ in a different universe.” Of course, American Idol is a huge machine now. A strong premiere, given the attention on Simon Cowell, the departure of Paula Abdul and the arrival of Ellen DeGeneres, who will make her debut next month, is not that huge a shock. The challenge will be maintaining that pace throughout the coming months. Besides landing 29.9 million viewers, American Idol owned the night among adults ages 18-49, attracting 15.5 million in that coveted demographic group, which is also about even with a year ago. The show was up almost 10 percent among adults 18-34.”

Reuters: “Top-rated television show American Idol debuted to solid viewership Tuesday night, luring nearly 30 million viewers overall and rising slightly among younger audiences, according to early ratings on Wednesday. Simon Fuller, the program’s executive producer, called it a “perfect start” to the show’s ninth season on Fox. “With Ellen DeGeneres coming on board and Simon Cowell departing, we are all set to have another memorable chapter in ‘Idol’s’ history,” Fuller said

Nigerian singer takes spotlight away from Simon in opener

Posted by seighinger – January 12, 2010

Bosa Mora

Bosa Mora

Bosa Mora is why I watch American Idol, and it’s why I love this show so much.

Mora is of Nigerian ancestry — the Christian Okoye of Idol, if you will — and lives in Columbus, Ohio, so the last thing in the world I would expect to come out of his mouth was the country hit by George Strait, “You Look So Good In Love.”

But that’s exactly what Bosa gave us on the opening night of Idol’s ninth season, a year that will be judge Simon Cowell’s last. Simon’s announcement Monday that this is his final season completely dominated all Idol conversation — until the show itself began. That’s when those feel-good stories like Bosa Mora’s and the goofiness of hundreds of others took center stage.

The guest judge was Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham), who worked well with Simon, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, but more about that in a few paragraphs.

Here are some thoughts about the contestants from the first night:

THE GOOD

1. Tyler Grady: Probably the surprise of the night, at least for me. He walked into the audition room with two broken wrists (he fell out of a tree) — and then promptly delivered a jaw-dropping “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. And he did it with, as Randy so correctly observed, a Jim Morrison-esque style, complete with the outstretched right hand. I’ll be shocked if he’s not in this for the long haul. Key comments:

Posh: “I love the whole look.”

Simon: “This is one of those auditions I will remember.”

Kara: “You rocked it and you’re going to Hollywood!”

2. Maddy Curtis: All of 18 minutes into the first show of the year and I was wiping a tear from my eye. For starters, this 16-year-old blew the judges away with her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” the song Jason Castro aced during his Idol run. Maddy, who comes from a family with special needs children, possesses that charming, innocent kind of talent that has the opportunity to grow and develop as this four-month journey unfolds. Remember Maddy, I think she will be around for quite awhile. Key comments:

Simon: “There’s a soul in there, Maddy.”

Kara: “When you sing, it sounds authentic.”

3. Ashley Rodriguez: Another good bet when Hollywood Week begins. If you saw “Ellen” on Tuesday, she showcased Ashley. This girl might be the total package. It’s always difficult to gauge at this point of the competition, but this is already one polished talent, which was displayed with her “If I Ain’t Got You” effort. Key comments:

Kara: “You have the look and the voice. I love you. You’re very sultry.”

Simon: “Some people have got it, and I think you really have it.”

4. Bosa Mora: I really, really enjoyed the smoothness and sincerity in his voice. I think this could be one of the year’s real underdogs that America takes to its heart. Hollywood Week will make or break him, and my money is on the former.

5. Katie Stevens: Another 16-year-old who can belt out a song. Her “Summertime” was tremendous. She may have possessed the best natural voice of all the talents shown on opening night. I want to hear a little more up-tempo from her next time. All that glitters is not necessarily gold (rememeber Stevie Wright from a year ago?), but I think Katie is the real deal.

6. Amadeo Diricco: The Idol Mafia has landed. Just let me say this guy is great. I’m not sure if the Italian Stallion has enough talent to reach the round of 24, but he certainly has the passion — and I guarantee America already loves this guy. As I watched and listened to Diricco, 28, sing “Hoochie Coochie Man” by Muddy Waters, I kept thinking about old school pro wrestler Dominic DeNucci.

7. Leah Laurenti: The judges went mildly ga-ga over the Long Island, N.Y., native, but I wasn’t comppletely blown away. There is definite talent there, but I’m not sure it is star quality like four and possibly five others. I would have also preferred something a little more modern than “Blue Skies.”

8. Mike Davis: I liked his take on the Beatles’ “Yesterday.” I also liked the fact he drives a tourist boat named Codzilla. Did you notice the background music to his introductory piece was “Dirty Water” by the Standells, a 1960s Boston band? Very well done, Idol folks.

9. Justin Williams: A cancer survivor from Utah who bears a striking resemblance to a young George Michael, and possesses a similar kind of voice.

THE BAD

Janet McNamara: The first OMG moment of the season was the first contestant out of the chute and she did not disappoint. The Jumping Girl had obviously frank a few of those energy drinks before her audition, and it showed in both her speech and mannerisms. Her claim to fame was having played — and mastered — the American Idol video game. She was, of course, hilarious, especially when she repeatedly referred to Kara as “Paula.” We’ll see her again in one of those best of the worst recaps.

Norberto Guerrero

Norberto Guerrero

 Norberto Guerrero: I have no idea what he was singing, but Simon’s comment about his LaToya Jackson-like hair and wardrobe was classic. Simon also referred to him as “strange.” Seemed like a nice guy, but Simon was right.

THE WORST

Andrew Fenlon: Wow, meet Mr. Negative. He was irritated he had to wait to perform and entered the audition room with a sour attitude that had Simon refer to him as a “smart ass.” Kara simply told poor Andrew she “did not like him.” After he butchered “House of the Rising Sun,” he swapped insults with the judges, particularly Kara. The most telling comment came from Kara after Andrew had exited:

Kara: “I feel like I need to take a shower.”

THE JUDGES

Simon: A great night to kick off his swan song season. Some quality insults toward the lame contestants and the expected back-and-forth with foils Kara, Randy and Posh.

Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham): She was not afraid to mix it up a little with Simon, but one night of David Beckham’s wife was enough.

Kara: She seems more at ease this year and does not seem to be trying to impress anyone or demonstrate that she belongs. Could be a good year for Kara.

Randy: The Dawg was rather subdued, but if history is any indication he never gets revved up until the finals.

TALENT WILL BE LINING UP TO BE SIMON’S REPLACEMENT

I found the following comment from Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment at the Fox Network, on Simon leaving Idol after this season:

“I think Simon said it himself …We are not going to replace him, but we are going to look for somebody that has a lot of credibility and charisma, because first and foremost, we need somebody who really knows what they’re doing. And I will tell you this: The level of talent that has expressed an interest in the show, starting with Ellen [DeGeneres], is pretty astounding. It’s almost like you can’t think big enough. So there’s going to be no shortage of choices. Very big acts in the music business, because this has become the music business.”

Reilly makes a good point. Who would not want to be the No. 1 man on television’s No. 1 show? I have confidence Fox will not make the same mistake NBC did in the Conan O’Brien-Jay Leno fiasco.

Will Idol survive? Most definitely. Think of Idol as your favorite baseball team. Star players retire and/or get traded. The show goes on — sometimes bigger and better than ever.

Don’t worry, friends. We’ll be back here a year from now talking about the greatest show in television history.

CARRIE’S STILL THE QUEEN

As far as record sales in 2009 for Idol alumni, Carrie Underwood remains the leader of the pack, selling a combined 1.9 million. Here’s a breakdown for ex-Idol contestants with at least 215,000 in sales:

1. Carrie Underwood, Play On, 1,183,000
2. Chris Daughtry, Leave This Town, 862,000
3. Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted, 815,000
4. David Cook, David Cook, 464,000
5. Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride, 461,000
6. Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment, 434,000
7. Chris Daughtry, Daughtry, 267,000
8. Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts, 251,000
9. Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, 239,000
10. Kris Allen, Kris Allen, 228,000
11. Kellie Pickler, Kellie Pickler, 218,000

The figures are according to SoundScan.