American Idol 2009: Hollywood Week Round 1
The best thing about this show is that Ryan didn’t stop talking the whole way through. Awesome! He threw a few numbers around, saying that this was the biggest season yet with over 100,000 people trying out. One of the 147 contestants who’ve made it to the Kodak Theatre is going to be the next American Idol, which adds to the pressure of the five days in Hollywood.
First of all, how cute does Ryan look in his cardigan at the start of the show! Can’t help noticing that it makes his pecs look huge. In the next segment he’d changed into a sweater which looked just as cute but was actually more flattering.
Welcome to boot camp! American Idol has a bit of an X Factor feel with stylists and vocal coaches to lick the contestants into shape at a mini boot camp. There’s also Barry Manilow as a surprise mentor – why are most of the American Idol mentors so old? He seemed nice enough, saying lots of encouraging things, but it’s all very bland and it’s a good job he’s not a judge if he wants them all to be the next American Idol. I want to see a few of them to crash and burn in an entertaining fashion (but not that lovely Adam Lambert …).
The contestants were split into two groups. The first group headed off to the auditions while the second got the chance to do a bit of sightseeing. The contestants at the auditions went before the judges in groups of eight, taking it in turns to sing. First to sing was Lil Rounds, who had impressed the judges at her audition, followed by Dennis Brigham who hadn’t made such an impression. Lil went through, but Dennis was out — hurling insults at Simon about his clothes (even though he couldn’t be further from the truth) after hearing that nobody would take him seriously as an artist and failing to argue his way back in. Way to make an impression!
Paula and Kara told Ryan that it’s not going well, but the first group including Nathaniel Marshall, Anoop Desa, Jasmine Murray and Rose Flack, all got through. So far nobody was standing out from the singers, but it’s such a Ryan-fest that it’s my favourite programme yet! Next up were Von Smith, singing ‘indulgent nonsense’, Steven Fowler, who nailed his song, and Jorge Nuñez who Paula thought sang beautifully. Some contestants chose awful songs and probably went home because of that.
Nick Mitchell pleased the crowd, but still didn’t seem to be taking it seriously. His shout out to Seacrest was funny though. Paula wanted Nick to strip down, but she rephrased it quickly when it looked as though he might just do that ;) Scott McIntire and Frankie Wilson went through too.
On day two the 83 contestants from the second group got a chance. Ryan was looking good in blue a shirt that showed a little chest, but not enough. The general rule is that Simon should show less chest and Ryan more! Randy Jackson thought that Jackie Tohn was wild in her tiger teeshirt, but she wasn’t celebrating because she was saying goodbye to friends who hadn’t made it through. The show’s bromantic twosome, Jamar Rogers and Danny Gokey, both got through. Paula said that Danny was ready to record records and Randy thought Jamar was different and relevant.
Next was someone else who’d made an impression with the judges: Bikini Girl. She tried to kiss Ryan again, and he looked quite bashful as he told her it was against the rules. He’s just not that into you, Katrina (she’s actually not all that to look at and she’s not winning too many people over with her personality either. It’s a shame as I’d like to cheer on a Ryan fan). Simon thought she sang better than at her first audition and she got through to round two with a suggestion from Kara: ‘bring your pole next time!’
Ryan looked tiny standing next to Michael Sarver — how tall is that guy? Michael went through, but Jesús Valenzula — who looked a bit like a Faith-era George Michael — was on the first flight home. Emily Wynne-Hughes ditched the song she’d prepared and sang something different, disappointed the judges but she still got through — one of 104 contestants through to round 2.
The best bits of part one were Ryan’s cardigan and Simon calling out Paula for telling someone she was going to say yes but had been overruled when it contradicted what she’d written on her notes. Go Simon! But where’s Adam Lambert? Did I miss my favourite? Hopefully he’ll get some more air time tomorrow in the group round.
This should be good… and I mean that in a bad way ;)
