AI 10 - 1/19/11 - A New Era Begins

Memories of the season nine-train wreck are still fresh and alive as I prepare to return to the world of American Idol amid all the rumors surrounding the changes the producers will be making this year.

In the end, what will matter is whether the contestants can sing because as I complain every year this is a singing competition. Which contestant who was not able to hit a note won last year? Does anyone remember? Season nine is over and it is time to start complaining about season 10, excuse me, providing thoughtful and enlightened commentary. Let the fun begin!

“Forget what you know…for the best is yet to come” is the bold new caption for American Idol. A lofty goal but can they live up to this statement.

The opening video montage of the epic search for the new judges and the final announcement was over the top. We have a new era and new dream makers with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. I know their history with the music industry so you do not have to ram their credentials down my throat. It is what they do at the judge’s table, which will prove the producers right or wrong. The big change is Interscope Records will sign the winner and Jimmy Iovine will be the mentor this season.

New Jersey is the first audition city we get to experience. I can see the references to Jersey Shores coming a mile a minute.

Day One

Rachel Zevita is gracing us with her presence once more as she auditioned in season six but saw her dream crushed in Hollywood. Jennifer tells her she remembers her prior audition, which causes Rachel to tear up.

“Hallelujah” is her song choice, I was unimpressed, and her high note seriously hurt my ears. I just did not like her voice and her tone was off.

Jennifer explains the audition was not the best but knows she can sing and proceeds to say yes based on what she remembers and "urges her to really show what she can do." Steven tells her she has to deliver a song with the same tone and fire as she talks. He wants to “Let her in the door, put water on the flower, ‘cause I think it’s gonna grow”. This statement was just creepy! Randy is willing to give her another shot.

Rachel is going to Hollywood while Ronald would have said so long and do not let the door hit you on the way out!

Caleb Hawley steps in next and uses “Hallelujah, I Love her so” as his audition piece. Caleb has a nice voice and except for a case of nerves in the middle seems to have good control as well. Steven was enjoying the audition since he was providing background harmony and musical accompaniment. Jennifer likes the tone of his voice and states he is cute. Caleb gets the golden ticket.

Kenzie Palmer is 15 years old and must be very happy with the rule change, which allows her a chance to audition. I did not recognize the song she was singing but she brought out a nice country vibe to the tone of her voice. My initial reaction was thanks for coming but it is time to go home but by the end of the audition, I realized she could sing. I doubt she can survive the competition but she has potential.

Steven says you sing beautifully but I was not feeling the power or the pizzazz. Jennifer disagrees and Randy states whatever, whatever your voice is “really” good. In the end, Kenzie gets her golden ticket.

Next is a video montage of three nameless contestants who continue the gold rush from New Jersey. The clips were so short there was no way to determine if they are good singers or not.

Achille Lovle auditions with “Dress You Up”. I personally could not understand a word she was saying and while she sang it loud, it simply was not very good. The entire time she was singing all I could hear was Whoopi Goldberg telling Kathy Nijimi in “Sister Act” to bring it down three octaves.

Steven tells her she has drama but you were not hitting the notes. You need to rein it in. Achille explains that her vocal coach has been working with her on her accent. Jennifer explains it is not about the accent it is the fact she is not much of a good singer. Randy agrees with Jennifer. Achille is leaving without the golden ticket.
Cue the next video about New Jersey where we learn it is all about the fist-pumping, instruction on how to speak the lingo, a fashion lesson and finally a how to in creating New Jersey hair courtesy of our next contestant Tiffany.

Tiffany Rios is loud and proud telling us she has a nice body because she is Puerto Rican. She is happy Jennifer has shown the world it is okay to have a curvy body! Tiffany breaks down in front of Jennifer crying because it was in the second grade after seeing “Selena” that inspired her to start singing. Thanks Jennifer for inflicting Tiffany on to the world’s stage.

Tiffany decides to audition with a song she wrote special for this American Idol moment. It was a stupid song all about why the judges should put her through because America needs her. America needs her as it needs another economic meltdown. I found her voice annoying and let us not forget her wonderful star-spangled bikini top! Steven did have the best quip in “Why do you have jujubes on your ooh-ooh-bees?”

The judges let her sing a different song and she goes with “Glory of Love” which did not impress me at all; however, the judges like her energy, good voice and give her a golden ticket. Ronald just shakes his head and realize the producers need some drama especially after Jennifer states “”She is out of her mind, but I love it.”

Cue the next video montage of five nameless contestants who cannot sing which expands into an expose on how hard Jennifer finds it to say no until she listens to Melkia Wheatfall and has no issues in explaining you are not going to be a singer.

Robbie Rosen gets a back-story video as the producers try to create empathy with this 16-year-old boy who has been dreaming about this moment since he was seven years old. We learn that he had a hip condition, which had him in a wheelchair, but he is better and walking fine.

Robbie chooses “Yesterday” as his audition song and color me surprised but he has an excellent rich voice and has great control as well. This is the first audition, which made me sit up and be happy with the talent demonstrated.

The judges were blown-away. Randy tells him he liked how he took his time with it; you really marinated the notes, just crazy mad vocals. Steven loves the arrangement and the way he jumped from the verse to the chorus. Jennifer liked the tone of his voice and states he is cute.
Cue the next video which is about who did the contestants want to meet the most. This was just wasted filler so we can see all the young women getting excited about seeing Steven. Once again, this was a creepy moment.

Chris Cordeiro gets too much airtime as we learn he is a Boy Scout soon to graduate to Eagle Scout because of his project, which is a commercial on the dangers of texting and driving. Mr. Corderio is not much of an actor and probably foreshadowing of what we can expect during his audition.

Chris goes with “My Way” and simply butchers the entire number. Chris was off key and sounded like a foghorn. While Chris is singing, we cut to Ryan with his mom and family. Ryan is hugging his mother while she sings “My Way” much better than her son. The judges were not impressed but Chris states he has been singing for years and “I think people would tell me if I sucked.” All Randy could say to that is “Really?” Chris leaves without a golden ticket yet is able to continue his scouting activities.

Cue the next video, which contains a cavalcade of no named rejects.

Michael Perotto who proudly admits he burps when nervous chooses “Proud Mary” as his audition song. The audition was pointless, the poor guy cannot sing yet Steven and Jennifer encourage him by keeping beat on the table.

Steven asks if “he at a lot of paint chips as a kid”, explaining this show has a higher standard than this. Michael says he can give that and begins to shout-sing “I’m here” from “The Color Purple”. Randy states we are having a communication problem. Jennifer says he sounds like he is imitating a woman. Randy finally tells him he should not be singing anywhere. Michael leaves empty handed.

Ashley Sullivan tells us Brittney Spears is her idol. The song she chooses to audition with is “Gimme, Gimme” from “Thoroughly Modern Mille”. While she was somewhat entertaining, her style was over the top and did not impress me at all. There is probably no one who enjoys show tunes as much as I do but she murdered this number.

Jennifer tells her “You’re so adorable. The way you sing and the way you act, it’s not for American Idol.” Ashley starts crying and explains she wants to be “the first show tune/pop singer” and “The world needs another Liza Minnelli”. Ronald has instant heart attack at that comment. Ashley starts begging which was just pathetic. Unfortunately, Jennifer and Steven fall for it and send her through with a golden ticket. Randy at least said no.

Victoria Huggins proudly shouts she is 16 and three quarters and has been waiting for this moment since Season 2. I found Victoria to be annoying from the moment she opened her mouth. I could not put my finger on why but I am sure I will figure it out. She chooses “Midnight Train to Georgia” to audition with. Technically her singing was okay but there was nothing, which made me stand up and say yes that is the next American idol. She is too young to be able to understand what this song is about and it showed during her performance. She was not selling it. The judges give her a golden ticket to Hollywood. Crazy is what Ronald is thinking.

Melinda Ademi is the final contestant for day one and she gets the royal back-story treatment. Melinda is from Kosovo and explains how her parents are war refugees. She was sad to leave her home country. Her dad entered a green card lottery to come to America and won. Melinda’s parents want her to fulfill her dreams.

Melinda goes with “If I Ain’t Got You” and does a very good job with a difficult song. The judges are impressed and send her on to Hollywood.

Day 2

Devyn Rush is a singing waitress in Times Square and uses her time to plug the restaurant she works for and the best menu items. I hope the producers charged the restaurant for the advertising. Devyn chooses “God Bless the Children” and did an excellent job while giving it a modern spin.

Jennifer was impressed that someone as tiny as Devyn can sing with such a big voice. Your voice makes you a star but you need to act and dress like a star because this business is about image and being a total package. The judges want to see her again in Hollywood.

We see quick moments with Jimmy Kennedy murdering “Hey There, Deliah” and Genise Deal kill “I’m a Believer”. The judges send them on their way home without golden tickets.

Yoji Asano excuse me I mean Yoji Pop who I can see being the Larry Platts of season ten explains that he has been imitating Michael Jackson since before he was born. Yoji hates “Party in the USA” but decides to sing it for us anyway. WTF? All I will say is Yoji dances better then he sings. Ronald just shook his head at the total waste of time. The judges do not provide a golden ticket but the producers have to bring additional torture to America and waste more time by cueing up a montage of other contestants singing “Party in the USA”.

Cue another video of contestants who are sent packing but at least we get names including Jaclyn Blythe, Ima Abasumoh and Rob Palmay.

As our next contestant comes in Steven begs her “to please be the next American Idol.” Brielle Von Hugel 16-years-old gets a back-story as well. We visit her hometown and learn her dad was in a doo-wop group and is her inspiration. Her father had throat cancer and was afraid he would not make it to her 16th birthday but he is now cancer-free and since he beat cancer, she can make it to Hollywood.

Brielle goes with “Endless Love” and I was impressed with the way she arranged the song and allowed it to build. She has an excellent voice. My concern is her age, she seems way too young and I am not sure she is ready for this competition.

The judges ask her to bring in her dad and the judges tell him how great his daughter is. Jennifer warns that Brielle has some work to do and Randy states she has potential. Brielle is going to Hollywood.

Travis Orlando also 16 is the final contestant from day 2 and receives a back-story video. Travis has a twin brother but they are nothing alike except for their childhood involving drugs, violence, and a homeless shelter. Their father lost his job due to an illness and they lost their home during the recession. We visit the shelter where they lived.

Travis goes with “Eleanor Rigby” which is an inspired choice, I found his voice to be interesting, and I admired the phenomenal control he had for one so young.

Steven requested he sing another song and Travis goes with “I’m yours”. Once again, he impressed me with his style, the arrangement, and the jazzy vibe he brought to the song. The judges are impressed and send him through to Hollywood.

Fifty-one people get to make the happy journey to Hollywood from the New Jersey auditions.
General Comments about the show

I am not happy about the change to Wednesday and Thursday night but my world will not end but I really do not have the time for three nights of television. Tuesday is “Glee” night after all.

After all the hype and worrying the audition show tonight was not any different from any of the other audition programs from season past. There was a happy balance between the good, the bad and the ugly auditions, which was the only bright spot from season nine. The producers are still trying to wring emotions from the audience by picking and choosing the contestants they provide back-stories with and the airtime they receive.

Steven Tyler is emerging as the new Simon of the group. I thought he was very funny and provided the best quotes and quips. The real excitement comes from the fact he is happy to be there and it shows. His enjoyment is infectious. In addition, given the incredible amount of “bleeps” during this episode was incredible. I am looking forward to the live shows where clearly there is going to have to be the 10 second delay so a technician can be ready with the “bleep” button. My only criticism of Steven is the creepy flirting he was doing with all the female contestants especially the 15 and 16 year olds has to stop immediately.

Jennifer Lopez steps into the Paula role without the annoying randomness. Jennifer was not the push over everyone thought she would be. At the beginning, she declared “I am not in the business of crushing people’s spirits” but I did not believe for a moment she was having any trouble saying no. I thought her critiques were well founded. Jennifer like Steven was excited to be there and their moods carry over to the audience.

The new judges seem to provide inspiration to Randy Jackson who seemed more decisive than ever before. Yet he remains the lovable “old dawg” we remember continuing to use his favorite words or phrases in providing comments.

I was impressed with how much chemistry there was with the panel, which we have not seen since Kara arrived in season eight and Ellen did not add anything in season nine.

On a happy note, Ryan Seacrest was practically a non-player during the episode!

American Idol is back! It might not be better than ever but there was a different flavor to last night and while I realize more changes are coming I am willing to give the new season a chance and will keep an open mind.

I remain cautiously optimistic about the rest of the season. Time and the talent of the final top contestants will be providing the answers to how the season plays out.

American Idol visits New Orleans tonight.

Until tomorrow!

P.S. I can tell it is going to be another season with contestants who have names which are hard to pronounce and spell. What is up with parents and the names they choose?