Summary "American Idol" - Jan. 21, 2009

Louisville Auditions

The auditions are being held at the racetrack Churchill Downs. We get a montage of Louisville sights including the Kentucky Derby. We see the 11,000 contestants arrive and explain how to pronounce the city "Loo-a-vuhl."

The judges arrive to trumpet fanfare.

We meet blonde, skinny Tiffany, and her adoring parents. She promises to walk out with a positive attitude no matter what. She says if she doesn't get on she's going to college. She sings "Hero," and she's terrible. Randy starts laughing right away. Simon says the good news is that she's going to college. She offers to try again. They shut her down. When she leaves she doesn't have a positive attitude after all, she cries, complains, and then massacres Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You."

We meet brunette, skinny Joanna whose mother is also very supportive. She moved from Philly to L.A. to try and make it as a singer-songwriter. She goes in and Kara recognizes Joanna from a failed deal Joanna had with A&M records. She sings Pat Benatar's "We Belong." She's nervous but she's got power and some good notes. Kara likes her. They put her through unanimously. She cries as she leaves and Kara says they were real tears.

We meet bald, scary Mark. He's distantly related to Dr. Samuel Mudd who patched up John Wilkes Boothe after he shot Pres. Lincoln. He goes in and sings "White Lightning" by George Jones. He's got a great backwoods country voice with old-timey character but he's not for "Idol" and he hits some bum notes. Kara and Paula laugh at him. Paula says this isn't the right competition for him. Simon suggests "Wheel of Fortune." He tells them to be careful in whatever they do. Simon says that's a threat. Paula thinks it's not a normal thing to say. Mark says he was just saying.

We meet rakish, cute Brent who sings "Can't Get Enough" by Bad Company. He gives it a country spin. He spins a little out of control at the high notes but is overall good. Simon thought the song was ridiculous, he wanted a more emotional song, he thought it was a bit busker-ish. Paula and Kara get mad at this, Simon tells them to calm down. Kara asks if she can speak. She says he's the kind of an artist who with one great song... then Simon butts in and says that's what he said. Kara says she's not going to speak at all. Simon says yes and Kara and Paula go under the table screaming. Randy makes randy jokes about women under the table. After the shenanigans they vote him through unanimously.

It's montage of bad singers time. Including a morbidly obese Michael Jackson impersonator.

We meet Matt a dual piano player from Michigan. He sings Gavin Degraw's "I Don't Wanna Be," it's breathy and raspy but passable. Paula and Kara like him. He reminds Simon of Elliott Yamin. Simon doesn't think he believes in himself. They vote him through unanimously.

We meet Ross an endearingly goofy supernerd. He's very nervous. He sings "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans. He's got a quivery baritone that is not so good. They all start singing with him and laughing at him. They ask him to sing something current. Paula offers him a sip of water, he sips on her straw and she's aghast. He then tries to sing "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. Not so much. They shut him down. He was afraid of that. Paula asks for a new cup. As he leaves he starts singing "Just Once" by James Ingram, it's marginally better and the crowd outside charitably claps.

We get a montage of jubilant golden ticket holders but we don't actually get to hear any of them sing.

Day 2

More montages of hopefuls.

We meet Alexis, a 21-year-old single mom. We see her with her daughter. She's missing her baby daddy who's in military school. Her child motivates her to do this. She sings "Dr. Feelgood" by Aretha Franklin. She's a little strident but pretty good. Randy is surprised by the sound of her voice. Paula liked her. Simon thinks she has a very commercial voice. Kara thinks she can sing. They vote her through unanimously.

A montage of negative judge comments from tired judges.

We meet Aaron a chipper, excitable 27-year-old man in a western shirt. He sings "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" by CCR. Or more accurately he shouts it, only hitting a few good notes and stomping his feet along the way. Kara sings along. Ryan enters freaked out at how loud it was and all the loud screaming he heard. Kara and Paula claim it cheered them up. Simon thinks he needs to do something with his life that involves shouting. They turn him down. He leaves smiling, realizing that he knows he came too loud.

We meet Rebecca who managed to make the local news which was covering the auditions. Paula saw her on the news. She has a cheat sheet on her arm. She sings "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. She's terrible. They laugh at her. (This is getting tedious). Kara sees that Rebecca was voted "most humorous" in high school and said she thought it was funny. Rebecca says it wasn't a joke. Kara says Paula should hit her for being mean. Simon tells her to give up singing.

We get a montage of people I'm guessing we're supposed to think are good but none are crazy spectacular in the little clips they show us. (None approach a quarter of the length that we see of the bad singers. Sigh.)

Tonight's Inspirational Story comes from poverty-stricken, formerly homeless, 18-year-old Lenisha and her sweet mama Lashonda. Lenisha's lovely and seems like a good girl. She walks like a pagaent contestant into the audition. She sings a song she wrote called "Natty" (sp?) it's a swaggering hip-hop soul song that's pretty good. Simon loved it thought it was quirky and fun and current and a well-written song. Randy thinks she's what the competition needs. Kara loves her. Paula says no as a joke. They put her through unanimously. She walks out crying.

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