Summary "American Idol" - Auditions #1-Savannah - Jan. 18, 2012

And, we're back.

The eleventh season kicks off with auditions in Savannah, GA.

We start with a look back at Kelly's big moment way back in the day interspersed with current auditioners watching the show as kids and home video of them singing and then watching them walk into the audition room and talk about how they've been waiting their whole lives for this moment.

Then there's a lot of Ryan talking about "Idol" and how it's the biggest platform for star-making.

We also hear that the auditioners will be telling their stories from their point of view as well, via home video of their "journeys."

Then there's a montage of the many yes's that are to come.

And now... a montage of some contestants preparing for/driving to the auditions.

First up is a very youthful looking 17-year-old named David Leathers, Jr. who claims to be a ladies man. He's very confident. It turns out that he once competed against Scotty McCreery in a local singing competition and won. He sings "Remember the Rain" by Century 21. He's pretty good and they ask if he can sing a Michael Jackson. He busts out "Never Can Say Goodbye," which is even better. He's going to Hollywood.

We're told 9,000 people showed up to the cattle call.

Next up is Gabi Carrubba a singer and tap dancer. We get video of her dancing as a baby. She points out that when Steven likes someone he makes a certain, Zen-like peaceful face and she's hoping to see that. We get a montage of Steven making the face. When she walks in she first hugs producer Nigel Lythgoe who is sitting off camera. She loves him on "So You Think You Can Dance." She sings "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, they all really like her. She's going to Hollywood. Steven makes "the face"

We then get a montage of yes's to Brianna Faulk, Neco Starr, Molly Hunt, and Elise Testone.

Randy, Steven, and JLo are loving how good everyone is on the first day.

Next up is Jessica Whitely who says singing is all she ever thinks about so of course, she's terrible. They are all speechless until Randy says it was awful and that this is not her groove. She says she'll see them in Texas, for that audition.

We get a montage of people acting like Ryan Seacrest. It culminates in him doing an actual impersonation in front of Ryan and other contestants and the other judges, who love his impression. His name is Shawn Kraisman and of course, he's not very good.

Next is Shannon Magrane who is 15 and sporty and the daughter of a former major league pitcher. We get to meet the whole family. She then sings right there in the middle of her family. She does an Etta James song and her mother mouths it right along behind her. The judges start clapping along. She's pretty good for 15. She's going to Hollywood.

We get a montage of the awful and delusional.

Then we meet Amy Brumfield who lives in a tent in the woods because she's struggling economically. She's not amazing but they decide to be nice and give her a trip to Hollywood. Which, just guessing, will be as far as she goes.

Next up is Joshua Chavis, whose biggest dream is to sing the national anthem at a Nascar race. He is overconfident and therefore not very good. He melts down on the way out, flipping off the camera.

Then we meet 15-year-old Stephanie Renae who has wanted to do this since she was 8. We watch her on her way to the auditions. She's got good power and stamina but she's a little shrill and sharp.They tell her that she's good but she needs vocal lessons. Randy says no but JLo and Steven say yes. She's going to Hollywood.

Schyler Dixon auditioned with her brother last year but is going it alone this year. She's nervous without him. The judges force her to bring in her brother Colton. She sings "Breakeven" by the Script. She is good, much better than the last girl. They make Colton sing even though he's not technically auditioning. She is not happy with this turn of events clearly. The judges tell her she's grown and that he has grown even more. The judges want them both. They're both going to Hollywood. She does not seem happy about this.

We get a montage of the teary rejects.

Next up is Lauren Mink who works with adults with intellectual disabilities. Of course we go to her job with her and meet some of her clients. She, inexplicably, sings "Country Strong" and she's pretty good. She gave JLo goosebumps. She's going to Hollywood.

Day 2 brings us montages of people dancing and complaining about the heat.

We meet Mawuena Kodjo, who came all the from Africa. There are weird and mildly offensive subtitles to compensate for his accent. He says he's going to blow them away. He sings a Rascal Flatts song. It is awful. They openly laugh at him. They tell him that he was off key and all over the place and Randy says it was terrible. Mawuena says he's good. Randy tells him to go sing for strangers and prove him wrong. So Ryan brings him out to sing for people and convince them to change his mind. The only ones he can find are some children, whos father/grandfather/guardian who asks if he's a runner. Oy. Mawuena leaves saying he's going to be the first African country music star.

Next is Ashlee Altise who comes on like a classic "Idol" trainwreck-- overconfident, badly dressed, possessed of her own dance-- but she's better than expected on the Beatles "Come Together."

We get another montages of no's.

Then there's country singer W.T.Thompson, who is just not quite good enough on on Little Big Town's "Boondocks." Steven says no, JLo says yes-- he's got a baby on the way-- and Randy says yes. He fakes out his family pretending he got a no.

We get a montage of women talking about how hot Steven is, some of whom he hugs, kisses on the mouth, and dances with.

We meet happy, laughy Erica Nowak from Buffalo who just loves Steven.She hugs him and grabs his butt. He tells her she better sing good. She has train wreck vibe but she's not a train wreck she's just not great on Joss Stone's "Super Duper Love." She gets a hug from Randy before she goes. She grabs his ass too.

Next is NBA dancer Brittany Kerr who sings "Spoiled" by Joss Stone. (What's up with all the Joss Stone?) It's fine, soundalikey.Randy and Steven are obviously smitten, they both say yes. It seems like JLo says no just 'cuz the boys like her. (Later she's overheard saying she thought she was good but that her voice wasn't "strong" enough. (I believe the pot is now on the line with a message for J.Lo).

The final contestant is Phillip Phillips who works at his dad's pawn shop, which we visit of course.We also meet his dad Phillip Phillips, Sr. He brings in his guitar. His mother tells Ryan how handsome he is. PP sings Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." It is growly, overemotive,twitchy, and push his voice too hard. And of course they love it. They ask him to grab his guitar. He plays an acoustic version of "Thriller." He's got a very Dave Matthews vibe about him. He's going to Hollywood.

42 singers made it through.

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