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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > February > 05
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
2/5: American Idol auditions in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I spent the evening at trivia night with “Jeopardy” champ Ken Jennings at the Margaret Mitchell House. And then I watched gobs of Super Tuesday. Now it’s “Idol” time! Ryan Seacrest noted that Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia were “discovered” at the Atlanta auditions in seasons two and three. And we are back for the first time since 2004! Ryan’s parents get a cameo, too.
Overall, it was a decent episode. We saw six of the 19 who go to Hollywood. Maybe I was distracted by Super Tuesday, but I didn’t overwhelmingly love anybody or saw a future Clay or Fantasia. In the end, Alex Lushington and Josiah Leming were my favs.
Joshua Jones, a glassmaker at the Binswanger Glass Company with a soul patch, from Atlanta sings Queen. He’s a solid singer but man, he’s bug eyed, too. “A bit karaoke,” Simon said. They forced him to turn his back and sing. Randy is the tiebreaker and says yes despite his demonic eye popping.
I counted about 12,000 when I was in the stadium back in August. And that’s the number Ryan used. J.P. Tjelmeland of Auburn, Ala. sat two seats away from Carrie Underwood three years ago. (The dude with the hubcap on his body is two people behind him this time. I doubt this is going to repeat itself.) J.P. does Rascal Flatts and he’s not particularly good. “I’m a music major,” he said. “I’m not that bad.” “You were that bad,” Simon said. “My pen has more charisma. There’s nothing. I have to say no.”
Sob story alert: Asia’h Epperson of Joplin, Missouri (a spoiler 24) comes from a hardscrabble life. “Two days ago, I was calling my dad telling him I was on my way up here to do my audition and I wished he was here. Thirty minutes later they told me my dad had passed away in a car accident.” Wow. This one takes the cake! She doesn’t sound half bad but she’s missing notes and sounds really breathy (could it come from all that crying she probably did the prior two days?). “I like you and that was tough,” Simon said. “You sang that very well.” “I commend you and you’re very brave in doing this and your passion came through,” Paula said. “You deserve to go through.” Wow! Was this a sympathy vote?
Brooke Helvie, Miss South Florida Fair, kissed a pig and milked a cow. And is adorably ditzy and oh so pageant like. She goes for Jackson 5. Simon seems enchanted. “It wasn’t bad, I give you that,” he said. “I like you. I think you have a good pop voice,” Randy said. After she left, Simon said, “Possibly the most annoying person I’ve ever seen in my life.” “I didn’t want her to sing well.” I can kind of agree with him on that one.
The group song is Fergie’s “Glamorous.” Ho hum. The usual pablum.
Eva Miller from Atlanta is all attitude. Does she have the skillz? Nope. She even falls to the ground. “This is an act,” Simon said to the other judges. “This is a joke.” “This is not no joke,” she said. “I accidentally fell. I love you! I have a crush on Simon.” She is truly upset when he accuses her of joking. Even after he says he doesn’t like her singing, she still loves him and gets a hug. Awww… At least her attitude evaporated.
Alex Lushington of Douglasville (a spoiler 24) shows up! And her 93 year old great grandma is there to support her. She’s wearing the same thing I saw her in last August. She does “My Funny Valentine.” She does sing older than she looks. “That was excellent,” Randy said. “I was really impressed. The other two say yes and she’s through! Her family is so excited, Randy says, “Is there a party?”
The next Clay Aiken didn’t show up. No to Michael Gregory of Richmond. No to Chris Lars of Marion, N.C. No to the Munchkin-sounding Jared Wiley of Louisville Ky.
Dude, Nathan Hite of Savannah is like all into Paralyzer by Finger Eleven but he’s horrid. “You want to listen or be a smartass?” Simon said after Nathan mocks Simon. “You sound like you’re singing along to the record but not as good,” Simon said. “Not funny, can’t sing,” Simon amends. “Out you go.”
Punky rocker nurse Amanda Overmyer (a spoiler 24) from Indiana channels Janis Joplin. She then goes all CCR. She’s all attitude to me. I don’t like her. But the judges do. Oh, well. “She’s the female Chris Daughtry,” Paula said.
Then there’s big sob story #2: Josiah Leming, a Tennessee singer has lived in his car for the past 10 months. He’s intriguing and sings with a British tinge, which the judges find intriguing. I like him, too. He’s different. And he’s a spoiler 50, though not 24.
In the end, the count was 19 people going to Hollywood. That means 162 go to Hollywood if prior counts are correct. Mike S, is that right? The Sunday night promos said 164. So I’m off by two.
2/5: Atlanta gets its time to shine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s been four years since “Idol” had last brought auditions to Atlanta. We’ll see tonight how well we do. We do know Atlanta’s Alex Lushington will make it to the final 24, based on spoiler sites. She’s the gal I took a picture of last August after one of the Brittenum twins said she was going to win. And based on the fact “Idol” on Sunday promoted 164 finalists and 143 have been tallied from the first six cities, Atlanta will bring 21 more to Hollywood tonight.
I’ll be watching Super Tuesday at Manuel’s Tavern tonight and will blog late about “Idol.” (Hey, a Presidential election is more important than “Idol.” There I said it. Now shoot me!)
Anyway, “Idol” has promised more “back stories” so people can be more invested in the finalists. They have done that in spades. Now here’s a backlash to that, with this MSNBC commentator saying it has been more back story than talent.. I think the writer doth protests too much. This has and always will be an entertainment show first and creating talented, successful musicians is pure validation of that. Sure, a few sob stories might be irritating to some but I think it’s well worth it in terms of a good TV show. Here’s an excerpt of the writer’s moanings:
By giving struggling parents the chance at a better life for their sick children or even just reviving the dream of someone who thought they might never be able to sing again, the show gets to pat itself on the back as a Doer of Good Things.
But what gets lost in the rush to showcase auditioners whose stories resemble first-draft treatments of Lifetime movies is the ostensible purpose of the show itself, which is to be a talent contest. And if Martin, Brown, Archuleta and Guy Who Lives in His Car all make the top 12, it will only get worse next year as auditioners get savvy to the understanding that one way to succeed on the show is to make people feel sorry for them.
And look what Paris Bennett is up to? She helped open a steakhouse in Minneapolis..
And who is dating Taylor Hicks? If you care, check this odd piece of rumor out from Radar.
