Have you ever been to Omaha, Nebraska? It's pretty flat, let's hope the contestants aren't. Ha! I know, I know, I should go on the road. Anyways, Idol is in scenic Nebraska and since there isn't much to say about that let's get to it:
We start off promisingly with a fellow named Chris Bernheisel, who comes bearing gifts for the judges. They way he's acting, I'm going to guess he's not so much good. He even starts crying because he's so excited to be on the show... and I'm feeling a tinge bad for just assuming he's going to suck. But then he starts singing and it's just bad. And then in a "feel good" twist Simon encourages the local Fox affiliate to send Chris as their reporter to the AI finale. Not surprisingly, he doesn't get a yellow ticket, but he leaves as if he had. Have I mentioned this is a kinder, gentler American Idol?
As we head into the break, we're teased with Paula's arrival and some pretty bad auditions. I get the feeling they're not going to be as good (i.e. bad auditions combined with crazy breakdowns) as we're led to believe. Have I mentioned this is a kindler, gentler American Idol?
We're back with Jason Rich, who gets a "back story" segment (where they show his home and hometown), but as we've seen this year, that's no guarantee. He's breathy and nervously forgets the words. He even says "when you light the nark" (combining night and dark). When he finally gets to the high notes though, he hits them fairly well. I'm guessing he's in, but in this season, you never know... but he's through to Hollywood with votes from Randy and Simon.
Paula finally shows up and we get a forgotten lyrics montage. All the people in the montage not only forgot their lyrics but they're a little bit horrible. Of course, that's all we get to see of them because the AI producers don't seem to want to harp on the crazy breakdown auditions. Have I mentioned how this is a kindler, gentler American Idol?
Rachael Wicker, who kinda looks like a man (not my original comment, btw), has a relatively deep speaking voice and prepares for her audition by arm wrestling people including Ryan Seacrest. She's a little whiny when she sings, but she has a good voice under the country whine. Randy puts my thoughts perfectly when he asks why country singers tend to yodel. Randy says yes, Simon says no, and then, to no ones surprise, Paula send her to Hollywood. To celebrate, Rachael arm wrestles Paula and ends up ripping Paula's arm off. (Sorry. Does it show that I'm getting a little bored with this season of Idol.)
Back from the break we're introduced to Lady Morgue, aka Sarah Whittaker, who claims to be a former professional wrestler. While waiting her turn outside, she shows off her lungs with a loud cackle. She starts her audition by singing a song that reminds me a strange musical. Randy is on the top of his game as he does a great imitation of her creepy laugh and then drops this nugget: "Noooooo, not... completely not right. wrong." Of course she's leaves without a coveted yellow ticket.
Ryan peeks in following her audition, and ends up trading places with Paula. So we've got our new judge Ryan as Samantha Sidley starts her audition. She's really shy and doesn't seem at all confident... but then she starts singing a Norah Jones song and she can sing. My main complaint is that she seems to be trying to sing too much like Norah Jones and not herself. Randy thinks she needs to work on her performance and as Paula returns she rightfully gets 3 yeses (4 if you count Judge Ryan's yes). I may have to add her to my favorite list, since she's good and doesn't seem to know it.
After Samantha we get treated to 3 pretty good singers who go on to Hollywood: Elizabeth Erkert (who has a good but common voice... lacking some deep tone), Denise Jackson (who has a better voice, but seems to jump around a little too much), and Michael Sanfilippo (who has an Elliot Yamin-type voice).
Angelica Puente gets a "back story" segment centered around her dad. Considering she doesn't seem insane, there was a time when it was a good guess that she would be through. This year? Not so much. She sings a Celine Dion song and continues the trend of people who keep singing songs as if they're trying to imitate the original version. Randy pretty much says as much and even gets Simon to concur. But she's through to Hollywood and AI continues the other trend of this season, not letting on whether the tweeners make it or not.
We get back from another break with a Rocker montage (of course, including many shots of Chris Daughtry). David Cook is one of those "rockers" and he's got a good speaking voice. He does a pretty good version of "Livin on a Prayer" and is through.
A sequin-shirted 17 year old named Johnny Escamilla is up next. And he sings "Shout" with a spastic wide legged tap dancing motion (and that description just doesn't do it justice). Randy's last statement puts it perfectly: "Yeah." Go ahead and take a wild guess as to if he made it through.
We come back from what should be the last break to a montage of really bad versions of "Stuck in the Middle with You." So many of them had crazy breakdown written all over them, but since this is a kindler, gentler American Idol (have I mentioned that?) we get them all compacted into this minute and a half.
Leo Marlowe, who if I'm not mistaken pretty much called himself a homecoming queen, seems to be our last audition of the night. And he's pretty darn good... probably the best developed voice of the night. Of course he's through and thats it for the night.
Well that was relatively uneventful and that works out well since that describes pretty much any visit to Nebraska. In the end, Omaha gave us 19 Hollywood bound contestants and one guy yelling "goodbye!" (yet another possible crazy breakdown that got shortened/ignored).
Tomorrow: Miami, FL.
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