American Idol Season 7: the Philadelphia Auditions
American Idol season 7 premiered tonight, as always with the audition episodes. This year the show went to seven cities for auditions, with tens of thousands of people auditioning to become the next American Idol. The first stop on the audition tour: Philadelphia, PA.
There were some really good performers tonight that are moving on to the Hollywood round. Joey Catalano was the first performer on the show tonight to move forward. He has a great story, having lost over 200 pounds. Melanie Nyema, a backup singer for previous American Idol winner Taylor Hicks also made it to the Hollywood round. Kristy Lee Cook, a horse training, kick boxing cage fighter from Oregon also got her ticket to Hollywood. Beth Stalker also made it to Hollywood, but it was not a unanimous decision. Randy and Paula said yes – Simon doubted that she would stand out in the group. Brooke White was the final audition in Philadelphia and also the final person to make it through to Hollywood.
There were also some not so good performances tonight. Yuka (not sure if this is how you spell the name), a gentleman originally from Egypt was the first person to be told by Randy that “singing ain’t your thing dawg” or whatever version of this statement he uses. There was also James Lewis, a tour guide from Philly encouraged by his co-workers to audition that didn’t make it. In fact Randy and Paula rudely turned their backs to him and laughed hysterically while he performed “Go Down Moses” as his audition piece. However he took it all in stride, saying that he will be back next year to audition again. Young Temptress Browne won over the hearts of the judges, but not a golden ticket to Hollywood. She actually even touched Simon, when he volunteered to walk out of the audition with her and the other judges to tell her family that she did not make it to the next round. We also saw Udi, the singing finance professional who should, as Simon said, “keep batteries in his calculator” because that was where he would find a future career.
Several creepy moments were on the show tonight. The first was when 39 year old social worker Milo Turk sang his original song “No Sex Allowed.” I appreciate his intentions, but really…..just kind of creepy. Then there was Paul, the guy who wrote a love song for Paula that really was more like a manual for stalking. What was one of the lines – I’d break into your house and try on your underwear or something like that. OMG, creepy. Simon actually asked the security guys to escort him out of the room. Then there was Ben, the guy with all the chest hair. He came into the audition in a cape to keep his costume a surprise (which reminded me of the outfit worn by Jasmine in the animated movie Aladdin). Paula said the chest hair was a distraction. He asked if he got rid of it could he audition again, and she said yes. Off Paul went, looking for someone to wax his chest. Yuck. He did come back, and sang all of two or three words of “Dontcha” when he was told to leave. Simon commented that all he wanted to do was get on tv. He must have really wanted to do that because it appears he waxed his chest, back, and the legs were looking a lot less hairy. Ewww…..I also thought the Princess Leia look a like was kind of strange. She got a little angry after the audition. Just a little bit, not as bad as the girl from Allentown.
One thing I have to say about the people who were sent home is that they all seemed to have a positive attitude and were not really angry or bitter about it – that is, all of them except for Alexis Cohen, a 23 year old hopeful from Allentown. The first hint that should have gave it away to me that she did not make it to Hollywood was when she said that Bon Jovi wrote the song “Allentown.” She was just angry and bitter and hostile when she left the audition after Simon’s critiques. Now Randy and Paula also were critical of her performance but she just goes off on Simon, giving him the bird multiple times and calling him a variety of four letter words.
I do have an early favorite – Angela Martin from Chicago. She is a single mom who entered the competition hoping to win, not for fame or fortune but rather to be able to get the best in medical care for her daughter. Her daughter has Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects her ability to walk or speak.
In the end 29 people made it through to the Hollywood round.
Tomorrow night the American Idol auditions move to Dallas, Texas – hometown of Kelly Clarkson (the first American Idol). It airs at 8:00 p.m. eastern time.
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