American Idol Season 9 Hollywood Week Round 1

At the start of the show, Ryan introduced new judge Ellen Degeneres and said that from more than 100,000 people who turned up to audition, 181 had made it through to Hollywood Week.

Ryan, looking good enough to eat in his Burberry suit, then stood in front of the Hollywood Week contestants and explained that only 12 girls and 12 guys will make it through what will be the toughest week of their lives. No pressure there, Ry!

We watched Ryan introduce Ellen to the contestants then have a backstage chat to ask her what kind of judge she’s going to be. A damn good one, I should think. Simon needs to up his game or I might have a new favourite judge this year!

Ryan continued to distract us by looking far better than anyone should be allowed to look, so I had to rewind the show to find out that he wasn’t just being pretty to camera and was actually explaining that the first round is ‘sudden death’ for the contestants, so if they don’t impress the judges they’re on their way home.

Skiiboski and Katie Stevens were the first two contestants we’d met before. They both sang, then Ryan explained a few more rules, this time in a slightly hushed voice that wouldn’t be out of place in a wildlife documentary. I guess the similarities are there! Katie made it through but Skiiboski wasn’t good enough.

Ryan said Simon had been on the warpath for the last hour but new judge Ellen knows how to sugar coat with a little humour in the criticism.

Next contestant Andrew Garcia performed an amazing version of Paula Abdul’s Straight Up which made the judges’ decision rather easy.

Country girl Vanessa Wolfe took her first aeroplane trip all the way to Hollywood, but sadly she fell apart on Day 1 and didn’t get to stick around. Ryan talked to some other rejects ahead of a montage of tears and sad faces.

It continued to go badly for the contestants as Simon told Cornelius Edwards he chose a bad song, Kara told Meagan Wright she was a little all over the place, and Amedeo DiRocco just wasn’t good according to Randy. Amedeo asked for a second chance, telling Ryan it couldn’t hurt to ask, though Simon didn’t appear to agree.

Janell Wheeler was another contestant who impressed the judges playing an instrument and singing her own version of a well-known song, then Ryan introduced clips of contestants should maybe have concentrated on singing.

Country girl Haeley Vaughn played her guitar to good effect and Mary Powers did a pretty decent version of a Pink song, both also making it through. Ellen had a little fun with the last group of contestants, making them step forward and backwards until she had two rows of contestants who were all going through. Simon called Ellen a sadist and Ryan said his goodbyes to Stage Manager Debbie as he told us that 46 contestants survived Day 1.

Day 2 dawned and it was time for the second half of the contestants to try to impress the judges and for Ryan to leave his super-hot look behind for regular handsome. Simon gave them a little advice: “don’t be nervous, don’t be boring, and don’t forget the words.” Beatboxer Jay Stone didn’t really have any words to forget, but the judges weren’t impressed. Lilly Scott made it through, Kara liked her individuality, and guitar-playing Michael Lynche also made it through to group day.

Ryan reintroduced Justin Williams and Tim Urban from the audition rounds. Both were a little dull, but Tim made it through. The next batch of contestants were sent home, but Casey James made it through with his bluesy guitar.

We got to see a clip of Ryan wishing the last contestants of the day luck as he sent them on to sing for the judges. Didi Benami sang one of Kara’s songs … and Simon admitted he liked the song. My favourite, Crystal Bowersox, got to play her guitar this time. Both made it through to the next round.

Ryan said round one ended on a high … it did for him as yet again someone hauled him into the air!

Best performance from Hollywood first round auditions surely goes to Ryan’s stylist for his outfit on Day One. If we have to talk about the contestants instead of how hot Ryan looked, Crystal Bowersox and Andrew Garcia were my favourites and I liked Janell Wheeler, Didi Benami and Haeley Vaughn too.

Time to judge the judges … or one judge. I thought Ellen was great! She didn’t shy away from negative comments and there was a good balance between serious comments and humour. The live shows should be entertaining!