'American Idol' Found 19 Golden Auditions in Omaha

News Type: Opinion — Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:17 PM EST

This cupid couldn't win the hearts of the judges.

This renaissance couple was a little horny. Their words, not mine.

For years I've heard that you've got to watch the audition phase of American Idol, that it was the best part of the show. Either I've been misled or Idol is losing its touch.

Tonight was yet another uneventful night of auditions. Omaha turned out 19 golden tickets out of the 10,000 who vied for the attention of Simon, Randy and Paula.

The up side was that out of the 19 advancing to Hollywood, we actually saw nine of them audition. Interesting that the city that turned out the fewest Hollywood contenders, also showed us more of them.

The downside, for those that enjoy the freaky and bizarre, is that we only saw three auditions that didn't make it. The show lead off with the gift-bearing Chris Bernheisel who was just as happy to try out as a red carpet host as he was to audition his vocal talent and that's a good thing since even bribery couldn't earn him a ticket to California.

Also vetoed was Sarah Whitaker, the former Goth professional wrestler known as Lady Morgue from Iowa and the gold-jacket wearing Johnny Escamilla who rendition of "Shout" would not make James Brown proud.

We were treated to two montages – one of contestants forgetting the lyrics to their audition songs and one of contenders trying to sing "Stuck in the Middle with You" that included a guy dressed as cupid, a renaissance couple and a man in a shower cap and robe.

I know I'm probably the odd ball out, but I prefer these montages to the full out auditions of the eccentric. We get just a taste of all the strangeness while not giving any of them too much air time and without hearing the berating commentary of the judges.

And now for my thoughts on the nine we saw that are headed to Hollywood.

Iowa farm boy Jason Rich had a good voice if only he could remember the words to his audition song. Let's hope those nerves settle before Hollywood.

Six-time arm wrestling champion Rachael Wicker split the judges' vote with her rendition of Lee Ann Womak's "Don't Tell Me." She seemed more interested in arm wrestling Paula (who she beat), Ryan (it was a draw) and Simon (he declined) than singing. Not sure that bodes well for her chances in Hollywood.

The quiet Samantha Sidley barely got out Norah Jones' "I Don't Know Why." She's going to need to work on her stage presence if she wants to be a contender.

We saw quick tidbits of Elizabeth Erkert, Denise Jackson and Michael Sanfilippo. Erkert's version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" was the best of the bunch. But her slip of the tongue in telling the cameras that she was going to be "America's Next Top Model" won't help her much in Hollywood.

Wisconsin-native Angelica Puente will need to find her own sound before Hollywood, but her mimicking of Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" was enough to buy her some time.

Although "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway was enough to prove that Iowa-native Leo Marlowe had a nice voice, it was his story that I found entertaining. If asked if he was popular in the 200-person town of Charlotte, Marlowe replied that hiss mother raised the perfect homecoming queen; too bad it wasn't one of his sisters.

And my pick for the night was rocker David Cook. I'm partial to rock so I was overjoyed to here the Tulsa-native perform Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer."

For those of you wanting to review, here's the rundown so far:

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2.2

{"commentId":1415987,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

If the auditions weren't already lacking excitement, it appears that the identities of the Top 24 have been leaked.

{"commentId":1415987,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1 - Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:24 PM EST

{"commentId":1416277,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Here's the names of the Top 12 girls.

{"commentId":1416277,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:46 AM EST

{"commentId":1417483,"authorDomain":"jyuma"}

Johnny Yuma

The annual "What's wrong with Abdul?" can start now too.

Showed up late,didn't seem focused,belching/farting/hiccups.

{"commentId":1417483,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"jyuma"}

1 vote

#2 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:43 AM EST

{"commentId":1418026,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Her behavior was a little odd, but I just attributed it to the fact that it's Paula.

Maybe it's the nerves of performing that taped Super Bowl performance {sarcasm}

{"commentId":1418026,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:38 PM EST

{"commentId":1417492,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

My notes from last nite's show:

I liked the show better without Paula. Can we make her awol all the time?
American Idol notes:
I felt bad for the ones who forgot the song lyrics – I've had that happen to me where I forget words. (That's why I always type out speeches or bring stories I'm going to read aloud)
I really liked Samantha – she had a great voice.
The goth girl was a trip.
I liked Bon Jovi guy. He has a good voice.

{"commentId":1417492,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#3 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:44 AM EST

{"commentId":1418036,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Can we make her awol all the time?

Okay with me as long as we don't substitute her with Ryan.

I don't think Samantha's voice was bad, but she seems a bit too timid to stand out.

{"commentId":1418036,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:40 PM EST

{"commentId":1418837,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

Simon wins for his line to Paula "go out there and fake sincerity for 5 minutes.." "you just pretend to be interested..."

{"commentId":1418837,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:09 PM EST

{"commentId":1419046,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

greck, I couldn't tell if that was a dig at Paula or Ryan.

{"commentId":1419046,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#3.3 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:21 PM EST

{"commentId":1421329,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

it was both I think, but mostly at Ryan. the dig at Paula was like the sprinkles on top.

{"commentId":1421329,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#3.4 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:13 AM EST

{"commentId":1422015,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I didn't watch AI in the beginning. Was there something that triggered this little war between Simon and Ryan. They seem to try and get a dig in at each other every chance they get.

{"commentId":1422015,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#3.5 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:50 PM EST

{"commentId":1422251,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

I don't remember any specific trigger. IIRC Ryan was kind of playing to the crowd by heaping on Simon, then, of course, Simon started making fun of Ryan, at times it seems kind of serious.

{"commentId":1422251,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#3.6 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:50 PM EST

{"commentId":1422309,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I wonder how they get along in real life? I obviously have too much time on my hands if I'm contemplating all this. :-)

{"commentId":1422309,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#3.7 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:03 PM EST

{"commentId":1422616,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

I wanna say one was in on the joke when the other got "punk'd" so probably they get along ok.

-I guess I have too much spare time too.

{"commentId":1422616,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#3.8 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:16 PM EST

{"commentId":1419484,"authorDomain":"jcookingirl"}

jcookingirl

You all from Omaha need to be embarrassed by Idols portrayal of the city.

Idol, you could have done a much better job.

{"commentId":1419484,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"jcookingirl"}

1 vote

#4 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:25 PM EST

{"commentId":1419835,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I've never been to Omaha so I can't speak to it specifically. But in general, AI goes for the cliche when spotlighting a city.

{"commentId":1419835,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:12 PM EST

{"commentId":1420044,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Here's the recap of Miami.

{"commentId":1420044,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#5 - Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:17 PM EST

{"commentId":1421344,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

Ok, HOW PATHETIC was the girl that was on "american juniors?" She really expected to walz right in and get invited to Hollywood.

She should have paid close attention to past auditions: NOBODY gets through auditioning with a Janis Joplin song.

She was so entitled, she totally needed that kick in the @ss.

{"commentId":1421344,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#6 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:16 AM EST

{"commentId":1422093,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Simon called her precocious. I can think of a better word for her that's not so nice, but I'll settle for spoiled. I wish that hadn't given her so much time.

{"commentId":1422093,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:08 PM EST

{"commentId":1425046,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Why do they build them up with lots of extra time just to tear them down? Or did I just answer my own question?

{"commentId":1425046,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#6.2 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 8:47 AM EST

{"commentId":1425366,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

Yep, makes for good tv.

I admit I was quite satisfied in an "aww, how sad, look what shows like this create for everybody who doesn't win.." type of way. This girl actually thought she was a star going in ("I could have sung the national anthem at a red socks game today...").

Who knows, hopefully the pain will turn her into a better artist and eventually a less spoiled brittney.

That's right, I called her a "brittney"

{"commentId":1425366,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#6.3 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 10:24 AM EST

{"commentId":1425426,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

hopefully the pain will turn her into a better artist and eventually a less spoiled

I'd settle for less spoiled. I think her best singing days are behind her.

Scott, yes you answered your own question.

{"commentId":1425426,"threadId":"210951","contentId":"1264980","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#6.4 - Fri Feb 1, 2008 10:38 AM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"210951","isPrivate":false}

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'American Idol' Found 19 Golden Auditions in Omaha

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