American Idol Commentary - Bring On Hollywood!

Tonight we sat through our last night of auditions, and even the show itself called the episode "Best of the Rest," meaning they knew they didn't have the most entertainment value, although of everyone that was left, they were the best of it. They were scraped off the cutting room floor, and organized into lessons in how to audition for American Idol. Forget about all that, though. Let's just focus on the talent they think didn't measure up to the others, both good and bad.

First the good. We were shown a few more really good female sings and one more male. I'm not sure exactly what they're trying to say. The girls calling themselves the Frisco Carhops tried to bring us three females at once, but only two of three made it. Heather was good, but not even in the ballpark. Ashley was a little better, and made it despite committing a major sin. In the future, you out there that are thinking of trying out, never insult Paula Abdul when you're waiting for her to vote you in.

When Paula complimented Ashley and told her she was so beautiful that she didn't need to wear so much makeup, Ashley thanked her for the "motherly advice." Is Paula old enough to be her mother? Yes. So am I. My son is only four years younger than Ashley. But geez, don't tell her that. I wouldn't have been able to look past the slam, but Paula did, and was the deciding vote on this girl going to Hollywood, as Simon said no. Her friend, Ebony, didn't insult Paula, but it wouldn't have mattered, as she had more talent than the other . Reminding me of a young Whitney Houston, in voice and look, I'm hoping to see her in the finals.

Another interesting talent is Tami, a penny cab driver. Not only did she sing Whipping Post, a song done to near perfection by Bo Bice in season four, she also was unique, fresh, and new, just like he was that year. American Idol took him and turned him into something else in their machine. I'm hoping that won't happen to Tami. It'll be interesting to see if they change up her look if she makes it, just like people are wondering about Sean Michel, the Fidel Castro lookalike. I say leave them be. That's what makes them more interesting.

Gina has been here before, auditioning two other times, and making it to Hollywood last year, only to be sent home. She sings a great rendition of Black Velvet (this song should definitely be on a list to be retired from the show). What makes her interesting is her undying love for Simon, yet it doesn't seem to be as creepy as that of Sparkles from last week. He is a nice-looking man; you have to give him that. What makes Gina especially interesting to me is that she's from nearby Naperville, Illinois. It would be nice to have our area be represented on a reality show other than Beauty and the Geek.

Another great fresh talent is young mother Lakisha. She wants to do this for her daughter. She sings a little Aretha for us, and is great. The judges liked her as well. After she makes it through with everyone across the board loving her, she sits and cries with her daughter. Just another one of those ways the show likes to pull at our heart strings, and call me weak, but it always works on me.

Paul compares himself to William Hung, and it's kind of sad, as it's the only Asian singer he can think of. Listening to Paul sing, I think if William Hung can be a millionaire, than Paul is certainly deserving. He's wasting his talent as a pool cleaner, or by the PC term he used, pool technician. Guest judge that week, Olivia Newton-John, pointed out his unique powerfully smoky voice. For some odd reason, despite the fact Simon likes him, he keeps giving Paula crap, not letting her give Paul a compliment. Up to his old tricks, I guess, as this is stuff we've seen from him in years' past.

Now for the not so good. At least we don't have any of the outrageousness, just severely disillusioned. Well, I take that back. Christa is in outrageous clothes, but she's disillusioned about her look and talent. Wearing black and white checkered pedal pushers, yes pedal pushers, a bustier in black, a red wrap, huge red heels, and black hat that looks like she stole it off a very old recent widow. After blowing her audition, Paula comments on her shoes, and that's what makes Christa cry.

Paula is treated to two delusional fans. The first, Edward, I think he knew he couldn't sing, but wanted to come meet Paula. He just keeps talking about how hot she is. He does get a hug and a kiss from her as Randy and Simon make cracks about them being the same size. Honestly, why is he put through the pre-auditions for this. There isn't much entertainment value to watching a future stalker. The other, Alexander, sings Air Supply, and says he doesn't have money to take singing lessons. That's not all it takes, though, buddy. You have to start with some talent somewhere. And that dancing he was doing that he said he adapted from Paula's videos, even she didn't recognize it.

WES prefers to be referred to in this acronym of his name, and his songwriting isn't much better. His original song fails miserably, and I'm pretty sure he would have still failed singing something that wasn't original. I'm interested to see how this songwriting contest for American Idol is going to work. Most assuredly we'll get to vote on them in some way or another. And that's a good thing. Those original songs that are turned into hits by the American Idol winners leave a lot to be desired.

We'll go to Hollywood with 172 people. One that will be missing, that I was looking forward to hearing again, is Akron, the cousin from last night's show. He received a call a few days before he was to leave for Hollywood saying he was uninvited, but they wouldn't tell him why. It's being assumed that it was because of a past misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana, but Akron claims he filled them in on that before he auditioned, and that it was okay. That's too bad. I was so looking for ward to watching his cousin William cheer him on from the audience.

Now, bring on Hollywood!

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