Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 15 > Entry
Two-day, four-hour “Idol” debut promising
“American Idol” wrapped up its two-night, four-hour Season 8 opener last night.
We’ve now seen auditions from Phoenix and Kansas City. Only six more audition cities to go before we get to the real stuff.
So far, I’ve been impressed with the new season. The focus really has shifted to competitors with actual talent, and new judge Kara DioGuardi is a welcome addition. If there’s any tension between her and her former roommate Paula Abdul, it’s not apparent.
The truly awful auditions have not been abandoned entirely. I know lots of people who love to watch the hopelessly untalented, as well as kids who clearly have delusional visions of themselves.
The first audition from Kansas City last night was a woman named Chelsea, whom Simon rather generously described as sounding “like a cat falling off the Empire State Building.”
But when the clearly-out-of-touch, very large guy with the straw-colored hair bombed toward the end of the show, all four judges sent him off with a gentle rejection.
Last night’s highlights included: Matt the Welder, who blew everyone away with his rendition of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and the two best friends who traveled together and botth made it to the Hollywood round. The music teacher/recent widower from that duo was especially fabulous. And Jessica, a sweet girl who takes care of her grandmother, stunned the judges with a commendable version of Janis Joplin’s “Cry Baby.”
On a sour note, the new niceness of the judges could put a crimp in the overall quality of the competition.
At least a few of the not-so-goods were sent to Hollywood out of what seemed to be sympathy votes. Or worse. Bikini Girl? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that one.
Von, the guy with the porkpie hat who screamed his way through “Over the Rainbow,” got a pass; the hyperactive kid who begged and begged to get a yellow slip to Hollywood got one because it’s his “life’s dream”; and wafty Season 7 guy Jason Castro’s pink-haired and equally wafty brother got through with even less talent than his sibling.
On the other hand, the production values are much better this season, and who doesn’t like all those flashbacks to previous seasons? Sadly, I’m hooked … again.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: American Idol
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By mbarnes
January 15, 2009 12:22 PM | Link to this
I agree: Much more promising brood and less emphasis on losers.