American Idol Season 6 LA

Episode 6

Last night's audition show found us in Los Angeles and a truly bizarre evening of entertainment. We had a guest judge last night in the person of Olivia Newton-John. Poor Olivia, I just don't think she was aware of what she was getting herself involved in. The expressions on her face were truly priceless and she out niced Paula.

The funniest moment for me last night was in one of the first clip of truly bad singers and there was a guy dressed in a banana suit dancing and singing "Peanut Butter Jelly Time". I laughed out loud. I would have really liked to have seen the whole audition and the judge's comments.

The first contestant was called "Eccentric" I believe. This was one very scary individual. It is hard to even describe his audition. He came in looking like a rap star reject and threw a book on the floor and then started stripping (not very good if I have say) and then was crawling on the floor, growling and then strutting. Finally Simon yells at him to sing and I think I preferred the crawling and growling. I am not sure I even know what he sang but let's say Simon's comment of "this whole thing is horrific" was an understatement of the century. Eccentric went home without a golden ticket.

Sholandric Stallworth (male - what is with these names tonight - too many parents dropping acid I think) was next with "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" which pretty much put romantic crooners back three centuries. It was totally without a doubt appalling. It was a big fat NO!

Marianna Riccio got a back story. Marianna's mother was one of Dean Martin's "Golddiggers" which were pretty much dancers not singers anyway. Marianna went with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and I didn't need the judges answers to that question. Olivia advises her there will be other opportunities and Simon's comment (quite funny) was "she sounds like Cher after a trip to the dentist." Of course we get the first beggar of the evening and poor Marianna got down on her knees pleading with the judges to let her go on. This portion went on way too long and then she dragged her mother in to it. Luckily the answer remained NO!

Alaina was next and went with "Feeling Good". Her back story was that she has been a struggling artist and this was her last hot or she was off to school. Alaina's voice was pleasant enough but she was totally all over the place with tone and pitch. I would have voted no. Alaina was a beggar to indicating her destiny was up to the judges. All four judges said yes.

Phuong (pronounced Pong) was next with "Dancing in the Streets". The producer's back story included the tag line that she was the female version of Taylor HIcks (oh please!) and that her mother told her that she wouldn't do well and that she is not as pretty as Katherine. The truth hurts and it is better then being an enabler like the other deluded contestants family and friends. Let us just say Pong can neither sing or dance and she gets a NO!

Brandon Rogers was up next and he is a back up singer who has performed with Christina Aguilera and Anastasia. Brandon chooses "Always on My Mind" and was pretty good. It was as outstanding as I think it should be which is probably why he is a back up singer and of course the lady judges were sighing. Simon stated "is the best of the day" (well given who we have seen) and says yes and Olivia felt Brandon in her heart but he got his golden ticket to Hollywood.

Brian Miller who tried out in Season 5 and made it to Hollywood before being cut (and yes I remembered him) was next with "A Change is Gonna Come". He has a really nice note but he way over sang the song but I think he has potential. Simon was the sole no vote so Brian gets a second change in Hollywood.

Our next contestant was one of the most shameless inclusion in an audition show every. Sherman Pore at age 64 is clearly not in the running but his back story involves a petition to let him on the show and his motivation from his wife who was battling cancer was really helped by his petition. Not to step on anyone's pain but Sherman tells the judges his wife died just two days before his audition. There is no way they could break the rules (let's say lawsuit!) but Sherman got to audition. He went with "You Belong to Me" and actually wasn't too bad but he could never be a professional singer. The judges applaud him and Simon is moved enough to shake his hand. The women were tearing up. Shameless, shameless, shameless!

Next up was a happy dating couple who met at a bus stop (whoopee). First up his Cavett (female) who sings something but I am not sure what it was and it really doesn't matter because she was hair-raising atrocious. There is a no for the first part of the couple. Darold is next with "I Wish It would Rain" while I was hoping Darold would lose his voice. Darold was worst then Cavett. It was a no for both. At least they have each other for comfort.

Eric Mueller comes in next with the back story that he has been practicing for American Idol for two years (a truly bad sign) including teaching himself to sing, scary. I couldn't tell what song he was doing but his singing was awful and he was using an incredibly bad falsetto and his diction was in the toilet. The judges ask him to sing in a lower register but still couldn't get there and then tried a third time and was improving and his diction got worse. Eric received a big fat no from the judges.

Then we got the second funniest moment of the evening. As Eric was leaving Simon was reading his profile and it is noted he taught himself to sing using Paula and Randy's DVD and starts running after him with Paula and Randy right behind him. It was another laugh out loud moment.

A total of 40 contests made it through to the next round.

Next week we have our final audition show from San Antonio, Texas.

I can't wait as we are getting closer to the Hollywood round and then to our chance to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Until next week!