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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > January > 29
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
1/29: American Idol Omaha auditions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Danny Chapman, an “Idol” fan since season two and an Emory freshman, co-hosts the Fox-sponsored Idol party Tuesday night. CREDIT: Rodney Ho
Fox has commissioned a bunch of college campus parties across the country in audition cities. Locally, they picked one of the smaller schools, Emory University. I was invited and figured it might be interesting to see how many folks would show up.
Demographically, “Idol” has been aging so this modest marketing move makes sense because they are trying to get this younger demo excited this season after last year’s lackluster crew.
The turnout was respectable: about 60 Emory students. Not surprisingly, about 50 were female. I watched the show with the students. Two of them hosted the hour, giving away caps, “Idol” bouncy balls and “Idol” sweatshirts. They did a bunch of “Idol” trivia which most of you readers would find insultingly easy (“Who won the first American Idol?” “Name the top 3 last season.”). Toward the end, when they ran out of questions, I jumped up on stage (to promote this blog, of course) and asked three questions which I figured somebody would know: “Which American Idol finalist is on ‘Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.’ ” A guy knew that one (Jessica Sierra.). The second: “Who starred in ‘The Color Purple’ on Broadway?” Yes, someone knew Fantasia. But I stumped them with “What’s Ryan Seacrest’s hometown?” Atlanta would have been acceptable but nobody had a clue.
Anyway, on to the actual show. Two observations: Poor Paula Abdul seems to be back to her early-season wacked-out ways. She got there late and must have been sleep deprived because she hiccuped, slept, spun around in the chair, clapped like a seal and even yelled “Touchdown!” It was like Paula’s greatest judging hits in one show!
Second, “Idol” actually showed good singers, lots of them, while relegating most of the bad ones to montages. Or maybe those Midwesterners lacked a certain delusional quality and/or Vegas-like flair. Still, it was nice to see both an arm wrestler and a pro wrestler! (Both female!)
Paula’s plane was late so the odd sight of Randy and Simon started the episode. (Proving I’ve been watching this show forever, I recall the time Paula missed the Atlanta auditions season two back in the fall of 2002.)
For Chris Bernheisel, this is the biggest “life alternating change” in his life. And he’s a big Kelly Clarkson fan and gave Simon pictures of him with Kelly. Then he proceeds to kill off “Since U Been Gone.” Simon likes the sucking up but said “the singing was not good enough.” Shockingly, Simon was not mean! Then he auditions to be the local reporter to be at the red carpet finale. Simon promises Fox 42 Omaha will help him out!
Jason Rich, a good looking farmer from Stout, Iowa, starts a Keith Whitley song but forgets the words three times. Finally, he gets it right the fourth time. Simon is shockingly patient with the poor guy who actually has a good voice and decent presence. He doesn’t appear to have made the final 24.
Then a sequence of folks who couldn’t remember the lyrics, plus Paula’s arrival.
Arm wrestler Rachael Wicker is pretty with muscle (Simon was too wimpy to face off against him but she strong-arms Paula.) I agree with Simon. She sings real old. She’s 23 but feels like a latter-day Faith Hill. Blehh. I’m surprised she even got two yesses.
Former pro wrestler Sarah “Lady Morgue” Whitaker of Council Bluffs, IA with the evil laugh is possibly the most pitiful singer of the night. Shockingly, she left in good spirits. Even the wrestlers are polite!
In what might have been a rigged bit, Simon invited Ryan to swap with Paula. Samantha Sidley, an adorably cute singer from Los Angeles, did a lovely Norah Jones but was clearly nervous. “I like your voice but I think you need to work on your self confidence and stop spinning around the mark,” Ryan said in his first-ever judge critique. Paula comes in, agreeing with Ryan that she could use more “showmanship.” All four say yes.
Other good singers: Elizabeth Erkert is solid with “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” (“I am America’s Next Top Model,” she accidentally proclaims.) A Fantasia look and soundalike Denise Jackson from Madison, WI is solid. Michael Sanfilippo does a fine Stevie Wonder.
Sob story alert: Angelica Puente of Kenosha, WI moved out of her house because she had difficulties with her family as a teen. But she still loves her dad, who paid for her to come to “Idol” auditions. Awww…. When I heard she was going to do Celine Dion, I braced for a bad voice but in reality, she wasn’t half bad and hit her notes. She could use a little more stage presence and personality. I’m surprised she gets through!
Mohawked David Cook(right), of Tulsa, one of the possible final 24, pops up singing a stylish “Living on a Prayer” much better than Jordin did last year. Great voice, not sure about his personality. “Work on some persona,” Randy said.
Johnny Escamilla, “one of the weirdest guys you’d ever meet,” is possibly the strangest dancers ever doing “Shout,” Otis Day edition. Where did he get that sparkly jacket? B-bye Johnny!
Fortunately, they end with a decent singer: Leo Marlowe of Charlotte IA, who does a sophisticated take on Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You.” Didn’t Elliott Yamin sing that song, too? He’s through and we’re on to Miami!
We actually saw 9 out of 19 of the Hollywood bound. Mike S was nice enough to do the tracking: 39 out of 125 and 8 out of the rumored final 24 so proportionally, that’as about right. We’ve now been through seven hours, so that’s an average of 5.5 good singers per hour. With three more hours, that means we’ll see 17 more good singers and probably half of the rumored final 24.
