Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2010 > January > 26 > Entry
‘Idol’ auditions: Los Angeles
The “Idol” train rolled into Los Angeles Tuesday night and guest judge Avril Lavigne looked like she got lost while trick-or-treating. Her pretentious but cute black devil costume was only missing a pointy tale (and, I guess, the color red).
The first golden ticket goes to worship pastor Jim Ranger, father of three. He impresses three of the judges with an original song called “Drive,” although with the way Randy specifically asks Simon what he thinks of the “voice,” maybe he doesn’t dig the song so much, dawg. Lavigne lectures Ranger on what he would have to give up to go on the road and Kara tells him she doesn’t understand how he can do “everything at once” and that his church will suffer. Umm, Kara, don’t you have about 30 careers? In the end, Lavigne is the only “no” vote.
Next up, Damien (no last name provided), a martial artist/pacificist/sandwich maker/not-as-pretty-and-much-taller-Justin-Timberlake-look-alike who likes old rock and pepperoni sandwiches sings a Righteous Brothers’ song, even though he can’t recall its name (it was “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”). He chokes (literally) during the first verse and exits in shame.
28-year-old Mary Powers from Burbank (why doesn’t “Idol” provide this information for everyone who auditions?) sings Pat Benetar’s “Love is a Battlefield.” Her faux-rocker chick look is pegged as “cliche” by Simon (and he’s right) and her vocals are nothing special, but the judges fawn all over it. “Mary’s bringing some rock to Hollywood,” Seacrest voice-overs.
Sigh.
Rounding out L.A.’s day one auditions, nightmarish A.J. Mendoza tries to look like last year’s runner-up Adam Lambert, but it seems as if he’s trying to sound like me (that’s not a compliment). The judges fall into hysterics at Mendoza’s destruction of “Cult of Personality” and boot him out of the room.
Day two guest judge Katy Perry looks as much like an angel as Lavigne resembled a Halloween-costumed devil, but you get the idea that Perry is by far the more evil of the two. She describes herself as “brutally honest.” I’ll say. Her comments to the contestants and the other judges make Simon Cowell seem as nice as Paula Abdul (but not as loopy. C’mon — she’s Paula).
Randy, Kara and Simon fly in via helicopter (‘nother sigh) and take in freakish, 19-year-old Austin Fullmer. He wails Cheap trick’s “Surrender,” and the judges are ready to wave the white flag. Half way through his audition, Fullmer begins strutting like a rooster and adopts a British accent. This guy made it through a preliminary round. “Idol,” you’re wasting my time again. Four “no’s.” Perry asks if the contestants are frisked before they enter, then lets out a weird, staccato sigh-purr.
Sigh.
A montage of tearful, rejected hopefuls is followed by 23-year-old Andrew Garcia. Freaky! He looks and sounds eerily like last season’s Danny Gokey, right down to the husky vocals, black-rimmed glasses and penchant for goofy hats. 4 big yes votes send Garcia to Hollywood. Simon calls him the day’s only genuine, good singer. Simon drools all over this guy. Randy says he has “mad vocals.” He gives Perry chills! Nobody mentions Gokey.
Okey-dokey.
26-year-old personal assistant-slash-minister (California’s got religion tonight) Tasha Layton wows the panel with Joss Stone’s “Baby, Baby, Baby.” Perry loves a southern belle. “I think people may like you, Tasha. Interestingly,” Simon says, which was kind of nice up until he added the “interestingly” part.
Time for another freak. 21-year-old Jason Greene vamps to the Divinyl’s “I Touch Myself,” then flirts with Simon and Ryan, to whom Greene gives his phone number.
Finally, the night’s last contestant, Sideshow Bob. No, wait, that’s tonight’s sad story, foster kid Chris Golightly, who only stole Sideshow Bob’s hair. Chris says he’s lived with 25 foster families. Chris does a really good job with “Stand By Me.” Kara is touched by his incredible “story and pain and stuff you’ve gone through in your life.” Perry points out that this is “American Idol,” not a Lifetime movie. Ha! Take that, Kara. Simon gives Chris a “small y” yes. Perry, too. Kara gives him a “big y” (a capital one, I’m guessing) and Randy awards a “GIGANTIC y!”
In all, 23 hopefuls were put through to Hollywood. That’s a lot of “y.” You can see them all at the “American Idol” Web site.
Wednesday night the bandwagon comes to Dallas. Will you be on board?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: American Idol, Entertainment
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.
By Dale Roe
January 27, 2010 9:51 AM | Link to this
That's a great point, gdub. I think they make it easier each year. It seems as if there are fans who tune in primarily to spot the good singers and others who watch mainly to catch the train wrecks. As the years go by, I find I take less pleasure in seeing the untalented hopefuls, especially those who clearly have no self-awareness.
By gdub
January 27, 2010 1:20 AM | Link to this
OK, I swore I wasn't going to watch audition shows this year. But the loser montages are telegraphed well enough that you know when to hit fast-forward. So you can watch all two hours in an hour or less and you know when you avert your eyes from the train wrecks. I wasn't really sold on anyone they showed tonight. But since we only saw a handful of the 23 they put through, looks like they're saving some to impress us later. I hope so...