American Idol - 11 ª Season

"American Idol" - Auditions #1-Savannah - Jan. 18, 2012 And, we're back. The eleventh season kicks off with auditions in Savannah, GA. We start with a look back at Kelly's big moment way back in the day interspersed with current auditioners watching the show as kids and home video of them singing and then watching them walk into the audition room and talk about how they've been waiting their whole lives for this moment. Then there's a lot of Ryan talking about "Idol" and how it's the biggest platform for star-making. We also hear that the auditioners will be telling their stories from their point of view as well, via home video of their "journeys." Then there's a montage of the many yes's that are to come. And now... a montage of some contestants preparing for/driving to the auditions. First up is a very youthful looking 17-year-old named David Leathers, Jr. who claims to be a ladies man. He's very confident. It turns out that he once competed against Scotty McCreery in a local singing competition and won. He sings "Remember the Rain" by Century 21. He's pretty good and they ask if he can sing a Michael Jackson. He busts out "Never Can Say Goodbye," which is even better. He's going to Hollywood. We're told 9,000 people showed up to the cattle call. Next up is Gabi Carrubba a singer and tap dancer. We get video of her dancing as a baby. She points out that when Steven likes someone he makes a certain, Zen-like peaceful face and she's hoping to see that. We get a montage of Steven making the face. When she walks in she first hugs producer Nigel Lythgoe who is sitting off camera. She loves him on "So You Think You Can Dance." She sings "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, they all really like her. She's going to Hollywood. Steven makes "the face" We then get a montage of yes's to Brianna Faulk, Neco Starr, Molly Hunt, and Elise Testone. Randy, Steven, and JLo are loving how good everyone is on the first day. Next up is Jessica Whitely who says singing is all she ever thinks about so of course, she's terrible. They are all speechless until Randy says it was awful and that this is not her groove. She says she'll see them in Texas, for that audition. We get a montage of people acting like Ryan Seacrest. It culminates in him doing an actual impersonation in front of Ryan and other contestants and the other judges, who love his impression. His name is Shawn Kraisman and of course, he's not very good. Next is Shannon Magrane who is 15 and sporty and the daughter of a former major league pitcher. We get to meet the whole family. She then sings right there in the middle of her family. She does an Etta James song and her mother mouths it right along behind her. The judges start clapping along. She's pretty good for 15. She's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of the awful and delusional. Then we meet Amy Brumfield who lives in a tent in the woods because she's struggling economically. She's not amazing but they decide to be nice and give her a trip to Hollywood. Which, just guessing, will be as far as she goes. Next up is Joshua Chavis, whose biggest dream is to sing the national anthem at a Nascar race. He is overconfident and therefore not very good. He melts down on the way out, flipping off the camera. Then we meet 15-year-old Stephanie Renae who has wanted to do this since she was 8. We watch her on her way to the auditions. She's got good power and stamina but she's a little shrill and sharp.They tell her that she's good but she needs vocal lessons. Randy says no but JLo and Steven say yes. She's going to Hollywood. Schyler Dixon auditioned with her brother last year but is going it alone this year. She's nervous without him. The judges force her to bring in her brother Colton. She sings "Breakeven" by the Script. She is good, much better than the last girl. They make Colton sing even though he's not technically auditioning. She is not happy with this turn of events clearly. The judges tell her she's grown and that he has grown even more. The judges want them both. They're both going to Hollywood. She does not seem happy about this. We get a montage of the teary rejects. Next up is Lauren Mink who works with adults with intellectual disabilities. Of course we go to her job with her and meet some of her clients. She, inexplicably, sings "Country Strong" and she's pretty good. She gave JLo goosebumps. She's going to Hollywood. Day 2 brings us montages of people dancing and complaining about the heat. We meet Mawuena Kodjo, who came all the from Africa. There are weird and mildly offensive subtitles to compensate for his accent. He says he's going to blow them away. He sings a Rascal Flatts song. It is awful. They openly laugh at him. They tell him that he was off key and all over the place and Randy says it was terrible. Mawuena says he's good. Randy tells him to go sing for strangers and prove him wrong. So Ryan brings him out to sing for people and convince them to change his mind. The only ones he can find are some children, whos father/grandfather/guardian who asks if he's a runner. Oy. Mawuena leaves saying he's going to be the first African country music star. Next is Ashlee Altise who comes on like a classic "Idol" trainwreck-- overconfident, badly dressed, possessed of her own dance-- but she's better than expected on the Beatles "Come Together." We get another montages of no's. Then there's country singer W.T.Thompson, who is just not quite good enough on on Little Big Town's "Boondocks." Steven says no, JLo says yes-- he's got a baby on the way-- and Randy says yes. He fakes out his family pretending he got a no. We get a montage of women talking about how hot Steven is, some of whom he hugs, kisses on the mouth, and dances with. We meet happy, laughy Erica Nowak from Buffalo who just loves Steven.She hugs him and grabs his butt. He tells her she better sing good. She has train wreck vibe but she's not a train wreck she's just not great on Joss Stone's "Super Duper Love." She gets a hug from Randy before she goes. She grabs his ass too. Next is NBA dancer Brittany Kerr who sings "Spoiled" by Joss Stone. (What's up with all the Joss Stone?) It's fine, soundalikey.Randy and Steven are obviously smitten, they both say yes. It seems like JLo says no just 'cuz the boys like her. (Later she's overheard saying she thought she was good but that her voice wasn't "strong" enough. (I believe the pot is now on the line with a message for J.Lo). The final contestant is Phillip Phillips who works at his dad's pawn shop, which we visit of course.We also meet his dad Phillip Phillips, Sr. He brings in his guitar. His mother tells Ryan how handsome he is. PP sings Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." It is growly, overemotive,twitchy, and push his voice too hard. And of course they love it. They ask him to grab his guitar. He plays an acoustic version of "Thriller." He's got a very Dave Matthews vibe about him. He's going to Hollywood. 42 singers made it through.

We'll have the synopsis for you soon.

"American Idol" - San Diego Auditions - Jan. 22, 2012 It's a special bonus Sunday late night "Idol" thanks to the New York Giants OT win. We're in San Diego and for some reason the auditions are taking place on the USS Midway aircraft carrier in a busy port. This means it's going to be a noisy day as planes fly overhead and boats pass by sounding their horns. We get various home videos of auditioners on their way. First up is a girl in a bikini top and a blue jean hot pants named Jennifer Diley and of course, she's terrible. More limericks from Steven. Next up is single mom Ashley Robles who has a very cute daughter. She sings "I Will Always Love You." She's pretty good, nice tone and power, with a hint of huskiness. They clap. She's going to Hollywood. Next up is Jayrah Gibson He was told he can't sing so he's decided to "sing"? He's a motormouth but he has good energy and a decent enough voice. He's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of yes's of people we're not introduced to. Next up is Aubree Dieckmeyer who came with her whole family and goofs says she wants to become America's Next Top Model. She's cute and has a girlish but pleasant voice with a bit of squeak. She's going to Hollywood. Next up is the squealy Ali Shields who was on the Ellen Degeneres show after writing her a song. Ryan takes her on a kissing spree. She raps her audition. And then she dances. She's funny and silly. And then she sings and she has an interesting voice. She's going to Hollywood. Next up is Kyle Crews a college student. He's in a frat and he serenades girls. He's cute and nerdy and has a nice voice, very natural. Steven says it's the best male voice they've heard yet. Next up Joanne Childers who is interrupted by a boat going by, which leads to a montage of all the auditions marred by background noise. Next up is a mom/waitress named Jane Carrey. Her dad is Jim Carrey. We see old photos and home videos of him with her. She talks about trying to find her place outside her dad's shadow. Jennifer actually remembers her as a little baby on the set of "In Living Colour" when she was a fly girl. They give her a little feedback about her presentation but they all say yes. She's going to Hollywood. She calls him and he's happy. He calls her wonderful and amazing and says he can't wait for the world to see what she's had inside her all this time. We get a montage of yes's, again of people we don't hear sing, all women. The last contestant of the night is Jason "Wolf" Hamlin. He's a mechanic at a golf course. His dad died a few years back. His dad gave him a guitar and he's only been singing three years. He sings a CCR song and he has some pitch issues but he has some charm as well. They let him break the rules and play his "git-fiddle" and he plays "Folsom Prison Blues." He's much more comfortable and gritty with the guitar and thus sounds better. Not amazing but pretty good. He's going to Hollywood. Ryan says 53 people were put through to Hollywood. Bringing our total to 133.

"American Idol" - Aspen Auditions - Jan. 25, 2012 The auditions bring us to Aspen, Colorado. They are playing Guster over the montage of Colorado scenery, yay! First up is a screamer named Jenny Schick who calls herself "overenegetic." She loves Steven. She sings Pat Benatar and she's not bad, best at karaoke night kinda good. She's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of the home videos people are shooting of getting ready and going to the auditions. Next up is Curtis Gray who started singing as a child. He's pretty good, he's got a nice resonance to his voice. He's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of yes's including country singer Richie Law, Devan Jones, Mathenee Treco, all very good. Next up is Tealana Hedgespeth who has a twin sister who is not auditioning, and whose shadow she feels she lives in. She sings and isn't very good. They think she's cute but isn't a good singer. Next up is Haley Smith who lives in a log cabin and loves nature. She sings Rufus and Chaka Khan and she's all laid back and groovy. She's not bad. They love how natural she is. She's going to Hollywood. Next up is Alanna Snare who cannot sing. And she seems to know it. Next up is Shelby Tweten. She is bipolar and has been struggling with depression. She says "Idol" has given her a reason to stay on her meds. Singing helps her self-soothe. She wants to show people that bipolar doesn't define who you are.She's pretty good, nice power and a sweet performing presence doing Carrie Underwood. They love her. She's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of bad singers and a beatboxer. Next up is Jairon Jackson who has a lot of faith in his original song. The song is so-so but he can sing. He's going to Hollywood. They think he's the real deal. Next up is Angie Zeiderman who wants to pattern herself after Lady Gaga and be her best friend.She wants to be a vintage glitter queen. She does a showtune and prances around. Randy and Jennifer are split on the showtune thing. She tries on Linda Ronstadt instead and sounds more straightforward and stronger and less silly. It really changed Randy's mind, he doesn't care for Broadway vibrato and she showed less of it in her second song. Next up is Magic Cyclops who sports a faux-British accent and is working some weird shtick: air guitar, a bad bandanna, and explosions of confetti. He claims he has the accent because he was very poor and only watched PBS growing up and that's how he got the British accent. He sings Neil Diamond. Jennifer asks him to sing something else. He sings Jimmy Buffett. He can actually carry a tune but he's not good. Randy gets up to go the bathroom. We get a montage of yes's of people we didn't see sing. 31 people got golden tickets.

"American Idol" - Galveston, TX Auditions - Jan. 26, 2012 We get greetings from the International Space Station for some reason. First up is Phong Vuwho is enjoying the attention and promises to be a superstar and then he gets teary and says God is on his side. God is apparently more concerned about football because predictably, he is not good. He is very earnest and Randy is laughing at him. Steven tries to be diplomatic and then after his "signature moves" he is sweetly dismissed. We get a montage of bad singers including some who try Scotty's audition song. Next up is country gal Skylar Laine. We get her whole backstory as a mudding tomboy from Mississippi whose family store/restaurant is struggling. She's a Miranda Lambert-a-like. She's going to Hollywood. We get a quick montage of home video of people preparing for their auditions. Next up is a repeat contestant Baylie Brown. She made it to Hollywood in season 6. We see a snippet of this (she was grouped with Antonella Barba and her buddy). She was 16 then and is now 21. She's also a country singer and she's great: strong, quivery, poised. She' s going to Hollywood. It's the last chance Texaco for Kristine Osorio a mom of three who is 28, the upper age limit. She took out a loan to pay her divorce lawyer but used the money to buy a ticket to audition for "Idol" instead. She has a few little pitch issues. But she's got a strong voice and she's going to Hollywood. We get a montage of singers who get a yes from Jennifer but no's from Steven and Randy. She thinks they're crazy. They all seem as good if not better than people they did put through, which J.Lo points out. Then they go the other way, Randy and Steven say yes and JLo says no. She tells Randy that she thinks someone has slipped him something and feels like shes in the twilight zone. JLo, during a make-up break, starts asking for help to back up her opinions. (It ain't worth much, but I totally agree with you JLo). Next up is clear train wreck Alejandro Cazares who keeps babbling about revolution. He is not good. He begs and babbles some more. Randy tells him he will never have a career in singing. Security eventually comes out.He is not going to Hollywood. It's day two and our first contestant is Cortez Shaw. We get his single parent household/struggling childhood/overcoming adversity backstory. He does a literally snappy version of Adele's "Someone Like You." It's okay. But apparently the judges think it's much better than that and he sucks up to Randy and they put him through to Hollywood. We get a montage of bad singers. And a montage of each one of the judges finally breaking down and laughing right out loud in people's faces. The final contestant is Ramiro Garcia and he was born with no ears, literally. He has hair covering them. His parents were told he would never hear or speak but through surgeries he was able to do both. He is a worship leader in his church. He sings "Amazing Grace" and for someone with his medical background it is truly impressive. They say they're taking a leap of faith and put him through to Hollywood. 54 people were given golden tickets.