Summary "American Idol" - Auditions - Jan. 27, 2009

Jacksonville, FL

Simon and Ryan head to the auditions in a limo. Simon gives Ryan a hard time for using his "announcer" voice.

The show opens with video of Randy playing with Journey since this is the city "that bears his name." We see the lines, there are 12,000 hopefuls. The auditions begin.

We meet Joshua who, with his curly hair, looks like Justin Guarini. For some reason Randy and Simon have switched sides. He sings Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," he's not bad but he beatboxes and sings the guitar parts which is annoying. Simon thought it was good, then gimmicky, and corny, like Inspector Gadget. Randy liked the crazy and wild. They put him through unanimously.

We meet the hippie-ish Sharon and her shih-tzu Sasha, who sits on Simon's lap. She sings "Superstar" by the Carpenters. Also not bad, with a nice rasp to her voice and a soulful curlicue. Kara and Paula pretend to make out. They put her through unanimously.

Ryan is driving a golf cart and pretends to get lost.

We meet Dana who sings Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire." Or more like screeches. They send her off.

We meet Kaneswa who is 16 and is supported by her mom. She sings Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture." She's confident but very flat. Simon says he's never heard that song like that, and that it got progressively worse. He thinks she's got a great smile but that she's just terrible. She says she expected that from him. She says her mother tells her she has a good voice. They get mom in the room. Simon tells her the audition was terrible but that she has a great smile and attitude. Mom tries to defend her. They all say no. Mom says she's her "American Idol."

We meet Jillisa who is a beauty queen, who wears a sash and a tiara. She sings "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. She's got volume but overall she's not good. Simon says she didn't make the song sound nice and doesn't like her laugh, they all make fun of it. Paula pouts that no one cares what she thinks. She walks off. The girl goes and gets her. They vote her through unanimously. (Fearless prediction: She won't make it past Hollywood.)

We meet Darin who's a people person running around the audition room chatting and dancing. He bums when his friend gets cut. He starts to cry and does "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye," by BoyzIIMen. And he's bad, very flat. Simon tells him the voice is not there. Kara asks why he's crying. He says everything. She says if he can't take it in this room then the music biz isn't for him. They send him off.

We see a montage of people walking out and crying.

We meet Naomi, who's shivery and nervous. She tells Randy that her friend is his biggest fan. They bring the friend in and she and Randy hug. She sits on Randy's lap while Naomi, who compares herself to Mariah Carey, prepares to sing "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton. Paula sits on Simon's lap. Ryan comes to sit on Kara's lap. Naomi, who claims she can hit "that" note, finally starts to sing. She's worse than terrible. She can't hit that note, or any note. They all laugh at her. She says that everyone tells her she's great. They think she's joking. She starts to cry. Kara and Randy and Paula hug her. They send her off. She claims that she doesn't know what she did wrong.

We see a montage of the nine people who got golden tickets on the first day. Then a montage of terrible people. Simon thinks the first day wasn't very good.

Day Two

We meet Jasmine who is well-supported by her four siblings and her mom. She sings "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie. She's a little heaving in her delivery, emotionless, a tad nasal and her enunciation is a little stiff but she sounds pretty good. Simon thinks she's cute and commercial and has a good voice. Paula agrees. They vote her through unanimously.

We meet bearded George who studies physics. He's nerdy and they mock him by making him do a nerdy dance. Simon asks where he sees himself in his wildest dreams in 11 years. He dreams of a simple house with marble floors. He sings the strangest version of "Walking On Sunshine," by Katrina and the Waves ever with a halting delivery and flat baritone. They look at him quizzically. Simon asks if he's sung in public before. No, only with friends. Randy calls it the quietest audition ever. Simon tells him this is not for him. They found him weird.

We meet Annemarie who's nervous but loves Kara. She sings a little of one of Kara's songs and sounds good. Simon has a little problem already. He's not sure what. Randy knows, it's that she's good but she's not owning it. Simon says she has a great voice and is a beautiful girl but suggests that she come back as a different person, as "you." She goes out to her car and puts on make up and takes off her jacket.

We meet TK who auditioned last year. He sings "Imagine," by John Lennon. He plays around with the melody a bit and does some melisma and power stuff. He sounds pretty good. Kara smiles. Paula says he sounds better this year. Outside his mom talks about his God-given gift. Randy agrees it's better but it was a little too over the top. Kara, Randy, and Paula put him through.

We see a montage of hopefuls being talked up by their family members.

We meet doo-ragged Michael who loves to strum his guitar. He panics when he realizes that he can't bring his guitar into the room. He sings "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind, and it's not bad a little theme park-y. Simon thinks Michael is interesting but his voice isn't. Kara says he probably would be better with his guitar. Michael's family is outside waiting as they call for a vote inside. Simon tells him to not plead- which is ridiculous since they let less talented people beg and cry all the time and even put them through sometimes. Simon says as an 18-year-old he should just get a job like everyone else and do this on the side. They send him away. The family tries to comfort him but he pulls away. He cries and promises that he will make it.

Annemarie returns de-jacketed and made up. They notice the changes she made. She sings "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat. They smile at her, she's very winning and sings well in terms of tone and pitch. Randy likes her whole vibe. Kara agrees. They put her through unanimously.

They leave Jacksonville, where 16 golden tickets were awarded.

• Documentary
• Game Show
• Talent Competition
• Music
• Reality TV