TeeVee: American Idol Milwaukee Auditions
American Idol, Season 10 (Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM on FOX)
American Idol Auditions were in Milwaukee last night and I have the 2-hour episode recap! Danny Gokey showed up to show the crowd that they can become just like him! (Eh... no thanks.)
Photo Credit - FOX
But 53 lucky singers got Golden Tickets to Hollywood, so let's discuss the ones featured last night:
Scotty McCreery – from Garner, NC – The 16-year old with one of the deepest voices I’ve heard, rocks a couple country songs and makes S.Ty say this “Sh!t fire, save matches; F*ck a duck and see what hatches!” so, duh… he gets a Golden Ticket.
“
Photo Credit - FOX
Emma Henry – The 15-year old that packed up her family and went on a 13-hour road trip to sing Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” for the judges. It wasn’t the best audition, she didn’t push through enough, but she did have that punk-edge to her voice and after the judges debated she gets two yeses and a Golden Ticket. J.Lo thinks she’ll be eaten up in the following rounds.
Photo Credit - FOX
My FAV of the Night – Naima Adedapo – The 25-year old with two daughters that works as part of the janitorial staff for Summerfest. She sang Donny Hathaway’s “For All We Know” and absolutely killed it. She is beautiful, in a totally unique way… has her own style and seems perfectly comfortable on stage. She’s one to watch for sure.
Photo Credit - FOX
Photo Credit - FOX
Jerome Bell – The 27-year old that sings at bar mitzvahs and weddings and likes to wear straw fedoras. He sang Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and the only thing I could think of was if that’s on the set list for his bar mitzvahs. He makes sure to show the judges ever note he could possibly hit and the judges give him a Golden Ticket.
Photo Credit - FOX
Thia Megia – The 15-year old that couldn’t wait for the California auditions so she booked herself and her parents tickets to Milwaukee. She seems kind of shy during the pre-interview with the judges, but then comes out in full R&B rendition of Adele’s “Chasing Pavements”, she easily gets a Golden Ticket.
Photo Credit - FOX
Molly DeWolf Swensen – The 22-year old Harvard graduate/White House Intern/Randy Jackson’s punching bag (seriously I laughed every single time they showed the clip). She was totally fun, and that rocked a cool/breathy version of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”. She gets a Golden Ticket.
Photo Credit - FOX
Haley Reinhart – The 18-year old that was told in previous AI auditions to come back next year. She sang the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling” and Randy said she was much better this year, but she has to be able to control her runs… She gets a Golden Ticket.
Photo Credit - FOX
Worst Song Choice of the Night – Tiwan Strong – The 29-year old that sang "Twistin' the Night Away" in an all-white linen outfit. The judges seem confused, but put him through on his voice. Then when Tiwan comes out to celebrate his Golden Ticket, one of the females in his entourage gets a charley horse in her calf and it was the oddest few minutes, as everyone but Seacrest completely ignored her.
Photo Credit - FOX
Best Fake-Out of the Night – Steve Beghun – The 27-year old accountant that moonlights as a singer for weddings and funerals… The whole set-up was screaming “This guy’s so awkward, he’s going to suck really, really bad!” and only makes it worse by an awkward pre-interview with Seacrest and an even worse joke for the judges. Then he sings the Script’s “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and rocks a higher-pitched man voice! I was with J.Lo when she imitated her son’s “What the..!” comment. He gets a Golden Ticket.
Photo Credit - FOX
Scott Dangerfield – The 22-year old student teacher that S.Ty asked about his lips, to which he replied he was kissing a girl out in the waiting area. He sings Amos Lee’s “Dreamin’”, and J.Lo calls him her favorite so far. The judges love his nerdy-cool appearance and give him an easy yes and a Golden Ticket to Hollywood.
Photo Credit - FOX
Alyson Jados – The 26-year old “rocker chick” that is in love with Steven Tyler; and the feelings seem to be mutual (they embrace). She sings “Come Together”, and then a duet on “Dream On” with S.Ty. She seemed really nervous, and I don’t think she can muster up the vocals to stick around much longer, but she gets a Golden Ticket from the judges. (J.Lo said yes, Randy said no and S.Ty is a big ole softie and gave her a yes).
Photo Credit - FOX
Most Emotional Back-Story - Chris Medina – The 26-year old who’s fiancee was in a horrible accident just months before their wedding. The doctors didn’t know if she’d ever wake up from her coma, but she did, although seriously impaired. He’s still with her, and is auditioning for her. He sings the Script’s “Breakeven”, and although I thought the beginning was shaky at best, he really got into a groove and blew me away (and the judges).
Photo Credit - FOX
They asked if they could meet his wife and he goes to grab her. As the judges meet Juliana, S.Ty both creepily and incredibly sweetly whispered into her ear "He sings so well because he sings for you." He gets the Golden Ticket, to which Juliana retorted “I knew it.” If you didn’t cry at any point of this segment, you have no soul. I, of course, was weeping; tears streaming uncontrollably down my face, because I’m a big baby like that (and sometimes cry at sad commercials… whatevs!)
Now for the BAD...
The WACKIEST Auditions of the night was a 3-way tie – 1) Nathaniel Jone’s, the 22-year old Civil War re-enactor with the “not a hippie” dad that came in and sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”… NO. 2) Joe Repka - who’s majoring in communications in hopes of being the next Ryan Seacrest. They make him do his radio voice more times than I wanted to hear, and then he finally sings Billy Joel’s “For the Longest Time” to which S.Ty told him “do not quit your day job”. 3) Juanita Borges – the 29-year-old that came in wearing a midriff baring black number, see-through platform heels and black lipstick.
Photo Credit - FOX
Photo Credit - FOX
Photo Credit - FOX
Best IRRATIONAL ANGRY Award – Vernika Patterson who after complete bombing and getting no’s from the judges, angrily implies it’s because she’s not thin. When Randy tried to show her past winners who weren’t thin, Vernika wasn’t having it… she stormed out and set off the angry-tirade montage.
Photo Credit - FOX
Biggest Waste of Time – Albert Rogers III – He’s the 24-year old (Randy doesn’t believe is that young) that did the Barack Obama impression. If he didn’t do the impression, there’s no way his crappy version of “Stand By Me” would have made the air.
Photo Credit - FOX
Funniest Non-Ticket Winner – Megan Frazier – She’s the teenager with the die-hard Green Bay Packer fan-family. I think she knew she was only there for laughs, but she was willing to do it for face-time. She auditions with an opera version of Justin Bieber’s “Baby”… she gets a resounding NO from the judges, but takes it easily… at least she has the last laugh, seeing the Packers in the Super Bowl this year.
Photo Credit - FOX
First LESSON of the AI Year = Do NOT sing Lady Gaga if you’re a dude – Kody Zalewski and some other dude… Both get no’s… and side note, you have to look at the audience during your songs.
Photo Credit - FOX
Most EXPENSIVE Filler Clip Award = Back-Flip Breaks Camera!
Photo Credit - FOX
Golden Ticket Winners - Ashley Newton, Molly DeWolf, Ashika Sachdev, Alex Croson, Alesia Miller, Alyson Jados, Angela Cheslock, Anthony Powell, Lesha Sturdivant, Brandon Arnold, Chris Medina, Chrissy Feliciano, Chelsea Hall, Dan Noguchi, Denise Jackson, Drew Machak, Drew Taylor, Emily Vanallsburg, Emma Henry, Da’Quela Payne, Felix Ramsey, Haley Reinhart, Hanani Taylor, Jana Nyberg, Jenica Blair, Jerome Bell, Jon Sullivan, Jordan Meredith, Judy Nanney, Kylie Scrogin, LaTasha Booth, Lauren Verhel, Luke Mitchell, Matt Sato, Mike Aljadeff, Montreal Cain, Nels Leafblad, Peter Frank, Rafael Ishman, Sara Brauer, Scott McCreery, Sophia Shorai, Steve Beghun, Stephanie Schimel, Stephen Sullivan, Tiwan Strong, Taylor Rouse, Thia Megia, Tiffany Engibous, Tatyinisa Wilson
