VIDEO: Tears, Tantrums And Celebrations As American Idol Gets Closer To The Final 24
Posted on Feb 17, 2010 @ 01:57AM - 3 comments
American Idol featured more solo auditions on Tuesday night as the 71 contestants battled it out for a coveted spot in the final 24 - and just 7 made it through.
Contestant one Angela Martin opened with her swingy version of Kanye West’s American Boy, and judge Kara Dioguardi bobbed her head in appreciation and mouthed “I love her.”
Casey James, the handsome crooner who went shirtless in his first audition, was nervous about the dancing aspect of the show. “I’ve never danced in my life,” but he managed to impress the judges with his version of Afterward, in a backstage interview, James claimed to not be “super excited.” about his performance. But in the end, he was chosen for one of the coveted places.
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26 year-old Jermaine Sellars pulled a diva move after his performance, offering a senseless explanation of a change he’d made to the song, Man in the Mirror, and admonishing the band.
Siobhan Magnus was told “Have fun and don’t be so old,” by Ellen Degeneres.
Crystal Bowersox brought down the house with Sheryl Crow’s “If it makes you Happy.”
Alex Lambert played the ukulele and sang Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours and cameras cut to clips of him being admonished. ‘You had no spark,” Simon told him.” “You are the weakest link,” a fellow performer remarked.
AI next featured Thadeous Johnson and his hyper supportive mother, celebrating his successes and consoling him through his failures. Thadeous performed but the band started playing Bubby. He shot them a look to kill and said, “I’m not Bubbly, I’m the Man in the Mirror.” After an awkward silence, he said “but I’m a bubbly person.”
Anxiety was reaching a fevered pitch.
Next up Charity Vance sang, Set Me Free, and was chosen to go to the next round.
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Idol hopeful Mary Powers sang Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold. Cameras showed her with her young daughter. But, alas, in the end she was not selected.
Lloyd Thomas, 29, got emotional talking about his wife and his kids back home “how much this is going to change everything for them.”
The singing police officer was very confident in his performance, saying “It went very well.” But he overestimated the judges reaction. He was not chosen for the next round.
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“Emotionally fragile" Hope Johnson, 20, shared about her poverty stricken childhood and paid homage to AI alum Chris Daughtry, with Home. Ellen praised her energy and voice.
Johnson struggled with the lyrics during audition and during practice with the band, and broke down in tears, but nailed her performance, singing Boston’s More Than a Feeling. She was picked to be among the 36 going into the second hour. In the end though, she was not picked to be in the final 24.
Aaron Kelly, 16, shared his emotional story about being adopted by his aunt. He sang Sarah Mclachlan’s Angel.
22-year-old Ashley Rodriguez performed Battlefield by another AI alum, Jordin Sparks.
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Janell Wheeler claimed to be “struggling with my voice all week". And had an emotional break down after singing Taylor Swift’s song Romeo and Juliet. “I couldn’t handle the pressure.” But at the end of the first hours, she was one of the chosen few.
The rigorous schedule was taking a toll on contestants as judges divided them into yes and no groups.
Three judges went into room one, Ellen faked everyone out and made them think they were going home, and then at the last second, told them they were through to the next round and everyone was overjoyed.
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Room two was sent home, and the singers were inconsolable.
Room three erupted in celebration after being chosen for the next round.
26-year-old Michael Lynche’s wife was giving birth to their first child. “How do think you’ve done over the last 2 or 3 days,” Simon asked him. “Our problem is that you don’t feel like you can do this.” But he made it through and he said “This is for my wife and my little girl Layla, Big Daddy’s comin’ home.”
Didi Benami confided about losing her best friend during her audition, and took her place on the stage with the 3 judges to find out her fate. She was in. And she too broke down in tears, so happy to have been picked.
Katelyn Epperly, the curly haired blond shared her pain about her parents splitting. Ellen teased her when she took to the stage to find out how she fared, dragging out the answer, but in the end, she was chosen, and she ran right to her mom to share the news.
The show made a joke out of Kara’s crush on Casey James, and the hunky blond was selected to compete in the final 24.
Aaron Kelly had ups and downs in his performances, but won the judges over to compete with the top 24. “I’m on American Idol, It blows my mind,” he gushed.
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Lee Dewyze also had a rocky road. During his final interview with the judges, he raved about how confident he was in his performance, and Kara said “We didn’t agree, until about 5 minutes ago.” He made it through.
There was a montage of friendships forming and it showcased Todrick Hall proposing to three blonds in bikinis. He was also selected.
Jessica Furney stole the show not with her singing but with her meltdown on stage when judges told her she hadn’t made it through. “It sounds pathetic to beg up here, but seriously you have no idea what I can do,” she pleaded. The judges rallied together and gave her a pep talk before giving her her matching orders. Another one bites the dust..the road to stardom is a tough one to walk.
Contestants that made it through Tuesday were, Casey James, Mike Lynche, Didi Benami, Todrick Hall, Aaron Kelly, Lee Dewyze, Katelyn Epperly
RECAP: American Idol Hopeful Jason Greene "Touches" Himself
Posted on Jan 27, 2010 @ 05:56AM - 5 comments
The Fox TV ratings juggernaut, American Idol, rolled into it's filming home town of Los Angeles Tuesday night, with punk-pop princess Avril Lavigne and newly engaged Katy Perry hitching a ride as guest judges.
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With the auditions phase of the hit show drawing to a close expectations were high for the entertainment capital of the world, and it didn't disappoint, delivering it's usual mix of horor and talent.
10,000 hopefuls lined up at the Rose Bowl in the hopes of bagging a coveted pass to Hollywood. Although most went home with their dreams shattered a few lucky contestants got through, with an exciting array of talent promising this year's competition is going to be as hot as any of the past seasons.
The show didn't kick off with the best though. First up was 19-year-old Neil Goldstein, a self professed "geek" with a love of books and computers. Overcome with nerves, Goldstein gave a shaky rendition of Meatloaf's Rock and Roll Dreams Come True.
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Simon Cowell tried to break the news gently that the hopeful wasn't heading to Hollywood, but Goldstein insisted otherwise, refusing to leave and asserting that he was going to Hollywood. He finally left the room after Cowell asked him if he wanted to leave on his own accord or get an escort!
Next up was 27-year-old Jim Ranger. Ranger gave a strong performance of an original song that he wrote about his wife. Despite a no from a devil horned Avril, who said she thought it would be too tough for him to be on the road and away from his wife and three kids, the Pastor from Bakersfield got through to the next round.
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Damien Lefavor told us he was addicted to martial arts before going on to murder a rendition of The Righteous Brothers classic, You've Lost That Loving Feeling. Not surprisingly it was a unanimous no, with even Damien himself saying, "I don't believe I just did that". Cowell told the wannabe Idol, "You should just go."
Bringing some rock and roll 28-year-old Mary Powers delivered with a version of Pat Benatar's classic hit We Are Young. Simon thought she had a "really good voice" but commented that everything about her was "cliched". Avril said she was "cool" and Randy rounded out with praise, saying, "little girl huge voice". It was a yes all round and a spot in Hollywood for the excited single mother.
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The last contestant of the day, AJ Mendoza shared that he had sent a demo tape to last season runner up Adam Lambert, claiming Lambert had "loved it". Unfortunately the judges didn't feel the same way about Mendoza's murderous rendition of Living Colors, Cult Of Personality, prompting Simon to say it sounded like he had "just come from the dentist ten minutes ago."
Another day, another set of Idol hopefuls paraded in front of the judges. First up water cleaner Austin Fullmer who proudly asserted that "American Idol has never had anyone like me sexually", whatever that's meant to mean!
Giving an appalling performance Austin got a resounding no from all the judges, with Kara commenting she felt he was channeling Mick Jagger, and Cowell saying he felt Austin was "one disturbed young man."
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There were tears galore as hopeful after hopeful were rejected, before 23-year-old dad, Andrew Garcia entered the audition room. With a moving story about a tough life being raised by gang banging parents in Compton Garcia went on to share that he wants a better life for his son. And it looks like he's on his way to providing one. Garcia showcased a soulful voice, prompting Cowell to rave, "you're the only person today I believe is a genuinely good singer". Katy opined, "You gave me the chills." It was a full house of yesses.
Keeping up the talent quota was 26 year old PA Tasha Layton, who moonlights as a minister at night. Giving a lyrical rendition of Joss Stone's Baby Baby Baby, the pretty singer got rave reviews, with Katy saying, "I love a good Southern Belle" and Cowell saying, "I think people will like you."
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However, it's likely that not many people would like the next contestant. 21-year-old student Jason Greene did a laughable performance of the Divynals classic, I Touch Myself. Writhing around on the floor Greene horrified poor Katy Perry who confessed "I feel dirty" prompting Greene to shoot back, "You make me feel dirty Katy." Greene wasn't one to miss out on an opportunity to flirt though, slipping his number to Idol host Ryan Seacrest and insisting he call him!
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Last up for the night was 26-year-old salesman Chris Golightly. With a voice as moving as his heartbraking story of living in the foster care system from the age of 18-months and of being shuttled to 25 families over the years, Golightly moved all the judges, with the exception of hard nosed Cowell. Randy said, "I like you man. I like the voice too." Kara was obviously impressed telling Golightly, "You are one of my favorites from today, if not my favorite. Simon commentd though that the singer "could of been in a boyband" and said he wasn't impressed. With three votes in his favor though Golightly is through to Hollywood, saying "this is the first something that's worth it."
22 other hopefuls also made it through to the next round
