AI 11: 2-2-12 St Louis

Eight years ago in 2004 a girl from Checotah Oklahoma set out on a road trip to St. Louis. Carrie Underwood won the crown in season six. Aren't you glad she took that trip? Now a new crop of talent will make the same trip hoping to create the magic all over again. Can they do it? This is St. Louis. This is AMERICAN IDOL!

Cue video montage of a beautiful day in the gateway to the West where a crowd of 10,000 is waiting for their chance of a lifetime.

Let us dish the dirt!

Day 1

Johnny Keyser’s back-story is that he has lived with only his father since he was little. According to his “contestant cam”, his father makes a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich. All I can say is I am there. PBJ equals happy dance for me. Johnny goes with “A Change is Gonna Come” and the man can sing. Johnny shows incredible control over his voice and there was a rich sound. There was definitely a soul vibe going on. Steven was ready to vote; however, Jennifer and Randy start giving feedback and telling him to keep singing. Johnny is no fool and milked every minute of the spotlight. Mr. Keyser is heading to Hollywood and I predict he will make it into the semi-finals.

Cue the video montage of the “best of the worst” over the last 11 years, which starts with the infamous William Hung. This leads us into a silent movie version of current auditions. Excuse me Mr. Producers is it necessary to steal from “The Artist”. Instead of showing us the worst why, don’t you show us more of those singers getting through?

Rachelle Lamb is auditioning for her daughter. Rachelle is going through a divorce and wants to pursue a dream her husband held her back from trying. I got a feeling of déjà vu about this story, oh wait it is because we had this story last night during the Portland auditions with another blond female. Men are pigs get over it. The twist here is that Rachelle brings her daughter into the audition room. Rachelle explains she has chosen a song, which her husband hates, “Find Something New”. Rachelle sounds good and I thought she had a good tone I just do not believe she can stand out, i.e. do we choose Britnee or Rachelle. The judges adore her and she is heading to Hollywood where I predict she will crash and burn.

Cue the next video montage of bad auditions with Oliver McCrary being the only one identified but they were bad and we waste precious moments of time. The clip ends with Jennifer and the judges trying to do some type of Wonder twins’ thing from the Super Friends cartoon. I guess I am old since I remember them.

Reis Kloeckener was bullied after transferring to a public high school from a small Lutheran school. Anti bullying, is one of the major causes I involve myself in because no one should be bullied. The choir teacher hears him singing one day and tells him he should join the choir and the rest is history as his life improves. Thank you “Glee”. Reis goes with “Lean on me” and he has a really strong and controlled voice but there were some weird affectations in his performance. I also thought it was too over rehearsed. I am not sure Reis is American Idol material but if he could loosen up a bit and just sing he could get to the semi-finals. The judges loved him especially Steven since he tells him it was so beautiful it made me tear up. Reis is going to Hollywood.

Ethan Jones played in a band with his dad who apparently found one of the biggest bands in St. Louis but it appears his father has some demons and is currently in drug/alcohol rehabilitation. Ethan chooses “I’ll Be” as his audition song. I thought Ethan’s voice was good but I thought there was did too much shouting and to little singing. Steven says I love the way you sing, Jennifer finds his smile reminds her of someone from a country video and Randy just says you sound nothing like how you look. This matters because. The judges send Ethan to Hollywood.

Day 2

Cue the video montage of contestants as they make their way to St. Louis to chase their dream, which flows, into random contestants telling the judges what they do for a living.

Mark Ingran is a hotel auditor at the audition venue. We see Ryan going with him to find as many of his co-workers that he can. My question is, “Who is providing customer service to the guests when everyone is in the audition room?” All the co-workers tell the judges that Mark sings on the job constantly and they encouraged him to try out. Let us say Mark could not sing his way out of a paper bag because he is tone deaf. Mark’s coworkers say he was great and at that moment the light bulb turns on, these people are nasty and are getting revenge on Mark by telling him he is good. I think I like these people.

Steven tells him he is out of tune and Mark claims he can carry a tune and starts another song, which was worse than the first one. Jennifer hates to reject him but she cannot say yes to his going to Hollywood. Mr. Producer this was just another time wasting audition.

Lauren Grey works in her family’s business, which is a one-stop wedding store. Lauren and her dad are musicians and perform together. Lauren goes with “One and only and she sounds good but was just a tad loud to the point it was almost but not quite shouting. Lauren definitely shows some passion when singing. Jennifer states she has “one of the best female voices” we have heard. She likes the timing of the song. Steven loves how she breaks while Randy loves how fearless she is. Lauren is taking that golden ticket all the way to Hollywood.

We are then suddenly at the end and we learn 45 contestants are heading to Hollywood from St. Louis.

Auditions are over and this can only mean we are heading to Hollywood. Ryan teases us by saying it will be “the most emotional and exhausting Hollywood week ever.” Ronald just shakes his head and laughs.

I will be out of town next week so my comments will arrive late.

Until then…