Idol 10: Hollywood week part 1
The opening of Hollywood week had a bit of sci-fi feel with an echoey, almost ethereal, voiceover from Ryan over a spacey, haunting melody as we looked at the studio sky ceiling. Just as I started looking for the spaceship, the scene switched to Season 10’s aspiring stars who are ready to boldly go set forth on the “epic journey” Ryan called Hollywood week.
Ryan kicked things off telling us everything’s doubled: the number of contestants, the amount of talent, and — of course — the amount of drama.
The judges got together with Ryan for a quick huddle before they worked their way through the 327 contestants who made it through to Hollywood.
Brett Loewenster and Symphony Music Howlett were the first to make it through. As the judges deliberated, Ryan explained that half the contestants would leave today.
Going through: Rachel Zevita, Thia Megia, Casey Abrams. First to leave was the incredibly annoying Victoria Huggins, who butchered Julianne Hough’s My Hallelujah Song.
As the show continued to focus on contestants we’d already met, we saw Paris Tassin, James Durbin and Lauren Alaina make it through to the next round. Ryan reminded everyone that the one thing that hasn’t changed is the pressure, as Stormi Henley reached the end of the line.
Ryan congratulated Chris Medina and two other contestants who made it through to the group round. Jacee Badeaux, Robbie Rosen and Hollie Cavanagh also made it through, then Steve Beguhn, Sarah Sellers, Jacquelyn Dupree and Heidi Khzam were sent home.
With a full day and 160 contestants auditioned, Ryan checked in with those who’d face the judges on day two. There were a lot of nerves.
We finally met some new contestants, but they were all having a bad day: Stephanie Schimel, AJ Melendez, Sade Mitchell, David Cohen and James Ethan Clark all blew their only shot.
The producers decided it would be fun for the annoying “power couple” and the uncomfortable exes to room together. Rob Bolin and Chelsee Oaks both made it through to continue their awkwardness, but the judges pulled the plug on half of the power couple, keeping Jacqueline Dunford around and sending Nick Fink home. After the judges shut down his attempt to beg his way through to group day, Nick expressed his concerns over Ryan’s emotional state.
Scotty McCreery, Jackie Wilson and Jerome Bell repeated their audition songs, but made it through anyway. Tiffany Rios insulted her fellow contestants and sang badly, but the judges put her through. I guess that will make for some group day drama. Travis Orlando didn’t make it through, but through to group round are Clint Jun Gamboa, Julie Zorrilla, Naima Adedapo, Mark Gutierrez, Aaron Gutierrez, Molly DeWolf Swensen, Emily Anne Reed, Stefano Langone and Ashley Sullivan. 168 contestants made it through.
