AI 8 - 1/21/09 Louisville

Last night’s audition show originated from Louisville Kentucky and at Churchill Downs no less. Naturally there were way too many references to the Kentucky Derby, the winner’s circle, bluegrass, the Louisville slugger et al. It was just too much for me.

The opening montage went on far too long and what is up with the red carpet and fanfare for the judges, LAME!

Tiffany Shedd (18) is the first audition we see. There are her parents supporting her all the way or in my world enablers. She gives private concerts to her parents and others. Tiffany tells us no matter what happens she will leave with a positive outlook – AS IF! Tiffany chooses to perform “Hero” by Mariah Carey. Do these contestants never learn from watching prior shows, you cannot out do Mariah! What can I say but it was just horrible and she has really poor enunciation. It was a train wreck. Simon goes with a horse race reference by comparing Tiffany to 22 horses and 1 donkey – guess who is the ass? Kara feels Simon went to far but all the judges advise her singing is not in her future. Guess what, Kara is not happy about it – there went the positive outlook! Her mother tells her don’t let them get you down and Tiffany belts out Celine’s “Because you Loved Me”, butchering my ear drums while her mother is so happy and smiley because she is so Great, oh my heavens her parents should be locked up for abuse! Tiffany leaves shouting the judges are only looking for nerds and freaks; she will never watch the show again. I am happy I will never have to hear her again.

Joanna Pacitti (23) is also encouraged by her mother – oh joy! As she enters the audition room Kara recognizes her; it seems Joanna was previously signed with A&M records. For all those who feel it isn’t fair, the rules indicate a contestant cannot currently have a contract with any company at the time of the audition. This is because if you advance in the competition you are required to sign a deal with the production company of American Idol. Joanna chooses “We Belong” and does a really good job. I thought her voice was strong and it has a nice tone. She definitely has the look of a pop star. The judges give her a unanimous yes.

Mark Mudd, Jr. (25) is the next contestant. Mark lets us know he has been in two car accidents and has nearly died 5 times. Mark is also a descendant of Dr. Samuel Mudd who fixed the leg of John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln leading to the express “Your name is mud!” Oh joy! I realize it is tacky and mean but I just have to say Mr. Mudd needs to visit a dentist; he is the living breathing stereotypical example of hillbilly in-breeding. As Mark enters the room Simon asks him if it is a gun on his belt (as if the producers would let a gun through), it is his cell phone carrier. Mark chooses “White Lightning” (screams hillbilly) and it was pretty awful, his voice was cracking big time. Paula indicates it was not bad (EXCUSE ME) but you are not right for this competition which causes Simon to pipe up with what competition is right – Wheel of Fortune? There is some awkward silence and Mark starts to leave and turns back and says “Be Careful” which the judges take as a threat. Please. In my opinion the producers should have simply left this part out especially given the recent “suicide” of a prior contestant in December. This was just not necessary.

Brent Keith Smith (28) is our next contestant. Mr. Keith was a finalist in the second season of “Nashville Star”. I need a life because I have way too much pop culture trivia floating in my head. Brent definitely has the looks and surprisingly also has the vocal pipes to back it up. Brent goes with “Can’t Get Enough” and sounded really great, there was a nice tone to his voice, very good control and thankfully he can enunciate as well. Paula was surprised by his voice, Simon thought the song choice was ridiculous and should have chosen something more emotional (this coming from Simon), Paula interrupts him with a “yes” vote” and than Kara starts in with Simon but then stops talking, finally Simon says yes which causes both woman to jump under the table (What? – crazy!). Brent is just happy for his golden ticket. I think he will do well in the competition.

Cue another montage which leads up with Louisville being the home of the Louisville slugger which leads to several contestants striking out. Irene Angueloba was screeching “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, Obianuju Omwurah butchered some song I couldn’t recognize, Wil Heuser murdered one of my favorite songs “Tainted Love”, Ryan Renningfield was dressed and had face make-up which made him look like a zebra and poor heavyset Patrick Warner stumbled big time with “Billie Jean” including some really horrible dance moves.

Matt Giraud (27) a dueling piano player from Kalamazoo who never had a piano lesson in his life and he is freaking great at the piano. Matt has a fun personality as well. We can only hope is voice is as good. Matt chooses “I Don’t Wanna Be”. I really like this audition. I thought Matt did a great job, he was on pitch and he played around with the melody. I am pumped to see how he does in Hollywood. Yes he got a golden ticket! Simon compared him to Elliot Yamin.

Ross Bradley Plavsic (26) loves to study challenging subjects and this weird thing with Chinese characters. He says he didn’t think it was possible to learn how to sing but he did by watching You Tube (this has got to be bad). He is concerned because the air quality has caused him to have a scratch throat. Ross goes with “Cara Mia”, what a piss poor choice of song but it really doesn’t matter because he friggin’ sucks the big one and what a very weird lower register he was going for. Naturally he brings up the throat issue and heads over and slips from Paula’s cup using her straw, I was laughing out loud. Ross then attempts “Love Me Tender” but there is no improvement and he is sent packing while Paula asks for a new cup!

Day One ends with 10 golden tickets. Day two starts out with another montage of the judges arriving – waste of time producers!

Alexis Grace (20) who is a 20 year old stay at home mom, the father of her child is away at military school. Alexis says daughter Ryan is her motivation to audition. Alexis goes with “Dr. Feelgood” and it felt good. I thought she was a bit loud and she needs to stop with the head movement but her voice is pure and she was on pitch. She definitely has the looks to succeed. Simon says she has a commercial face, Paula says yes but you need to work on stage presence, Randy wants Alexis to come out of her shell and Kara tells her to sing as if she was making love to her fiancée and she is on her way to Hollywood.

Cue another montage of some poor auditions and these people don’t even warrant their name being listed.

Aaron Williamson (27) is our happy go-lucky contestant with lots and lots of energy. Aaron goes with “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” which is another song I love and let us just say Aaron is very, very, very, very, very LOUD! In fact he was screaming as opposed to singing. Paula indicates she feels good after the performance (Excuse Me). Randy asks if he always performs like that and it is a yes from Aaron. Simon tells him to look for a career where he can scream. Aaron leaves without a golden ticket and American is saved from buying ear plugs.

Rebecca Garcia (24) who is going for her master’s degree gets a little air time because the local Fox affiliate interviewed her for their morning program which Paula just happens to see – PLEASE! Clearly Rebecca has some smarts but yet she doesn’t understand the rule about not performing a song by a winning American Idol because she chooses “Before He Cheats” and she is so nervous she has a cheat sheet of the lyrics wrapped around her arm (which she had to use). Poor Rebecca it was really, really bad. Kara notices on her fact sheet she was named “most humorous in high school” and figures this was one of the humorous auditions, clearly Rebecca did not think so and starts to tear up (if you are trying for a career in show business you need a back bone – rejection hurts – get use to it). Kara asks Paula to hit her because she was mean. Simon tells her to seek a career other than singing.

Cue the next montage but this time we get 4 auditions where a golden ticket is provided but for me there was enough air time for me to really judge. The four were Kris Allen 23 (man), Felicia Barton (26), Ryan Johnson (27) what I heard sounded totally fantastic, and Shera Lawrence (23).

Leneshe Young (18) is the big sob story audition of the evening which we are teased with forever. Leneshe grew up poor, they were pretty much homeless and her mother Leshonda was there talking about moving from shelter to shelter and how it was embarrassing. Clearly it was the hard knock life since the father didn’t provide any support. I wanted to yell at her mother to stop having kids, good gracious. I wasn’t emotionally moved by Leneshe’s story but I really liked her, she had a very positive personality but it wasn’t over the top. Leneshe chose to do an original song called “Natty”. I didn’t like the song as much as the judges but I did love Leneshe’s voice. It was very rich, great tone and she sang with emotion, she sold the dumb song. Simon likes the song and thinks the performance was quirky and fun. Randy thinks she has what the show needs, Kara sees good things, and she is cute, original and brilliant. Paula says no but of course she was kidding. Leneshe is headed for Hollywood.

Louisville went to the winner’s circle compared to San Francisco for out of 11,000 19 got their golden ticket.

I actually agreed with the judge’s choice from last night of the 5 we really got to see. I am also looking forward to hearing more from Ryan Johnson.

Next Tuesday we are off to Jacksonville Florida.

Until next week…