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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > January > 16
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
1/16: Dallas auditions, American Idol
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re in Dallas and is it just me or is Simon getting soft? He seems to be pulling his punches and even liking folks we’d never expect. He even called some bad singers “sweet.” Did someone put a Paula pill in his Coke? What’s going on?
And people keep stupidly singing other “Idol” singers’ songs. Why bring up those types of comparisons?
A few people I wasn’t a fan of got through. But I really liked Alaina Whitaker and was oddly charmed by the nerdy Kyle Ensley. But versatile Kady Malloy looks to be the best of what we saw, a potential top 12 finisher, despite the fact she tried to imitate Carrie before switching to a better song.
First singer: Jessica Brown, single mom, former crystal meth user. Great voice but definitely lacking stage presence. She had enough potential to start episode two no a high note.
No. 2: Paul Stafford, a park attendant who looks like a disaster without uttering a note. And he is, mauling Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You.” Thumbs down! Simon didn’t “go down” on him, thank God because “he goes down on just about everybody.” No double entendres there.
Kelly Clarkson fan and singing waitress Beth Maddocks has awful tone, just awful. “I have no idea what that was,” Simon said. Esteban Deanda: blech. Victoria Metz: double blech. Drucilla Wideman: triple blech. Alaina Whitaker, compared to Carrie Underwood in looks, actually sounds great, is definitely a keeper. “I don’t think you are as good as you think you are,” Simon said. “Work on the breathiness of your voice,” Paula said. (She’s on the spoiler 50.)
Gregory & Mia Tobias do an annoying duet that sounds like two completely different songs. Bruce Dickson, a 19 year old who isn’t bad looking but has never kissed a woman, appears way too close to his dad. He is waiting for his wedding day for that first kiss. As a singer, he’s decent but Simon doesn’t see him working on the radio. “I’m not sure who you are as an artist,” Paula said. Advice: “Kiss some girls,” Randy said. “Avoid Ryan on the way out,” Simon said.
Pia “Zpia” Easley is an R&B backup singer with a little mohawk who did very well. “I like you,” Simon said. “You’re interesting. Most backup singers come in like whipped donkeys.” She’s Hollywood bound.
Brandon Greene(above), with a bag of peeled fingernails, actually has some charm. “Forgettable,” said Simon. “I kinda like you,” Paula said. “I like the tone in your voice,” Randy said. Simon said no but he gets through. (A third Spoiler 50 of the night.)
Farmgal/mom Kayla Dawn Hatfield, who got in a nasty accident a few years ago and lost sight in one eye, was just bad in her attempt to channel Janis Joplin. Somehow, she got through via the sympathy card. Simon loved her. Go figure!
Erick Mauldin: he’s no Ruben Studdard. Charles Markham is purely offkey. Tristan Clements is out of control. Attractive blondie Kady Malloy does a great imitation of Britney Spears and then imitates Carrie Underwood. Then she takes Simon’s favorite song “Unchained Melody” and does a lovely job. “Of all the people we’ve seen, you’re the best so far. You are super super talented.” She’s a winner.
12 people made it through day one. We saw six of them sing.
Day two and hour two spends way too much time with the baddies. Douglas Davidson has “loser” written all over him and he doesn’t surprise us on that front. He tests his voice in front of the judges, sings horrendously and seems incredibly out of breath. Then he won’t leave and has to be escorted out. The bit goes on wayyyy too long. The guy takes up more than four minutes. Is he for real? “I think that was pretty decent,” he said.
Three more minutes are set aside for Angela Reilly, who gets his hubby in there to cheer him on but she is just crappy in a late-at-night-drunk-singing-at-the-bar crappy. She is enthusiastic, at least. “Love is deaf,” Simon said.
Earnest would-be politco, tie-wearing dorky Kyle Ensley does a surprisingly passable version of Queen and passes through. “I felt like I was at a glee club or a fraternity,” Randy said. “I thought it was very academic.” He said no. Simon actually said yes and Paula became the rare tie breaker. She almost said no but said yes.
Tammy Tuzinski is a very quiet Celine Dion fan who announces she is singing “Power of Love” but actually sings “If You Asked Me To.” Either way, she is laughably bad and has the personality of cardboard.
Colton Swon (above) does a passable version of Little Big Town’s “Boondocks” but as Simon noted, you could hear the same thing in 1,000 country bars across the country. Still, he gets three yesses (including a reluctant one from Simon) and is through. (He’s the fourth on the spoiler 50 sheet of the night.)
After a commercial break, “Idol” shows a bunch of guy singers who look like women and one guy in a “Bosom Buddies” type dress. I bet these are from all over the country and not even necessarily from Dallas. It was just a compilation “Idol” felt like putting in.
Then there’s country farmer Drew Poppelreiter from Mississippi, who isn’t as good as Colton but has a more distinctive growl, more George Strait-like. He could use more stage presence and gets a “no” from Simon. “I actually like this guy,” Randy said. “I think that you are who you are, you have a good tone to the voice. I didn’t feel any wow factor with your performance,” said Paula. But she says yes anyway after Simon implies she might just say no. (Fifth of the night on the spoiler list.)
Too tan elementary school teacher Kyle Reinneck of Edwardsville, Ill. does a Kelly Clarkson song “Never Again” is incredibly flat. “Very menacing,” Simon said. “It’s verging on scary.”
Speaking of Kelly, her “Since U Been Gone” was used for the “group” sing. No need to comment on that.
Burleson’s Nina Shaw, from Kelly Clarkson’s hometown, does some Whitney “Run To You” but it’s very shrill. “It’s overthought, very overdone and cabaret,” Simon said. She lacks real charisma to me. Randy liked the jazz thing. “Old fashioned,” Simon said. Paula says yes and she’s off to Hollywood. No way she’s going very far.
Theatrically dressed Renaldo Lapuz (age 44? Obviously a plant!) sings an original diddy called “We’re Brothers Forever.” He has Simon’s name is on his hat in honor of how famous the man is, causing Randy and Paula to yak. And Renaldo sings with great verve and isn’t half bad—at least he’s better than the Philly ringer, the “No Sex Allowed” dude. And Paula choreographs it! “I have a horrible feeling that’s going to be a hit record,” Simon said. “You’re very entertaining. But it will be a no.” They convince him to hug Simon.
The tally: 16 bad singers were shown, 10 good ones were featured (same as in Philly), 24 made it through.
San Diego is next Tuesday. I also hear Atlanta will be the Wednesday January 23 episode. I’m sure that will mean I’ll be tracking down the freaks from Georgia who pop up and possibly the “inspiration” story, too.
1/16: Idol ratings down, Blake Lewis giveaway!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My first (and easiest) prediction came true: first-episode ratings would drop. I predicted 20 percent but it was more like 11 percent, based on preliminary numbers. That’s not really that bad. Last year, the show drew a record 37.4 million but dropped to an early estimate of 33.2 million this year. The 18-49 demo numbers fell about the same amount. This would be the lowest debut since 2004. (The numbers often go up by a half million or so in the final analysis so it may end up closer to 34 million.)
I think last year showed signs of “Idol” fatigue and a bunch of folks decided to move on, never to come back. That’s not surprising. And look—that’s still a monstrous number when even hit shows like “House” and “Desperate Housweives” draw 22 to 25 million viewers.
What will be interesting is to see how much ratings fall off over the next seven audition episodes. Last year, most of those eps were in the low to mid-30s. (I’ll update this entry with final numbers when I get them.)
Anyway, I have the opportunity to give away a Blake Lewis CD and autographed poster. Through Friday at 6 p.m., I’ll take all emails on why you think you deserve such a vaunted prize and I’ll reward it to who I think wanted it most. Email me at rho@ajc.com and I’ll need your name and address so the publicist can mail it directly to you.
And not surprisingly, Chris Daughtry has no qualms dissing “Idol” after a lackluster year, according to Rolling Stone.:
“It’s in a state of decline and if they don’t do something about it, it’s probably not gonna last too much longer. I’m sure that’ll be used against me, but that’s the truth, you know?”
He isn’t a fan of the audition portion packed with tuneless singers:
“People get tired of seeing people that suck,” he says. “It’s funny at first, but come on. They spend three weeks on people that can’t sing, and that’s what they’re banking it on. [They should] find some people that you can really invest in.”
I spoke with Justin Guarini last Friday for my print edition story yesterday and he thinks the show will end on a glorious high note if it closes shop in 2010 when Simon Cowell’s contract end (and presumably throws in the towel after nine seasons.) I think Fox will ride this baby until it’s no longer viable to do so, which means even if Simon’s departure causes 1/3 of the audience to leave, the show will keep on going until ratings drop below 10 million. That could be a long time from now, perhaps 2013 or 2014.
