Josh was basically a Chris Daughtry wannabe, and considering that Chris was already a Nickelback/Live wannabe, this was bad news. As we all know, every layer of wannabe-ness that's removed from the core inspiration just gets worse and worse, kind of like a Xerox. Normally, I'd launch into discussion of the simulacrum effect, but honestly, it's late and I'm tired and we're at the end. Point is that Josh sucked. He tried to sing a Fuel song, but he did that high school garage band thing where he made his throat sound all hoarse and breathless. Say what you will about Chris Daughtry, but that style works naturally for him. It didn't for Josh.

The judges all told him this, and even though they actually liked his personality quite a bit, they didn't feel comfortable putting him through to Hollywood... unless he could show some versatility. Simon told him to go out and return in fifteen minutes with an Abba song. Now things were getting interesting. After a brief encounter with the wrong door (yes!), Josh ran around urgently, trying to find anyone who knew any sort of Abba song. Sure enough, he was paired with "Dancing Queen," and when he returned to the judges, he sounded... exactly the same. It was like listening to someone crooning Abba while taking a dump. Except worse.

The judges affectionately said this wasn't for him -- he should stick with his band -- but then Josh seemed to suddenly understand what they were talking about. He said he could do a Barry Manilow voice, causing the entire panel to perk up with anticipation. Alas, he merely wound up singing Copa Cabana with his pseudo-Fuel voice again. Sadly, this was the last straw. Josh was sent packing, which was too bad because if he could have simply gotten out of his own head, he might have had a shot. Eh, who cares, right?

So from 10,000 people, the judges only sent seventeen to Hollywood. That's right. seventeen out of 10,000. That's a success rate of .17%. What did you think of the premiere? Who were your favorite singers? Who were your least favorite? Who were the funniest?

Recap: American Idol: Is Idol Back? You Betcha! Sections:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7 

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Comments (28)

raggedy_andy Author Profile Page:

The premiere of season 6 for AI was pretty uneventful. The premiere for your recap of it was great. I agreed with pretty much everything you said.

What was up with the door thing? I can only assume they're going to try to make a montage of wrong doors later on or something. I like the idea of obstacles though. There's no comedy like slapstick!

The crying was painful. It starts out weird and sort of funny, but you end up wishing they had massive diarrhea or something beforehand so they wouldn't have gotten so hurt, but then you realize you'd have nothing to watch if that happened, so you end up just moving on.

I thought they'd let that Danya girl through, especially since she didn't sound too bad at all the second time around. That was awkward when she was singing to her boss, Gary, though. I'm sure, if his wife were in the room, Danya would be looking for another job as well as a ride home. Then again, that might just be me 'cause I'd be protective of that piece of man. mmmmm... Huh? What? Sleep depravation isn't fun.

Anyway, I'm not sure any of the ones we saw that passed would make it to the top 32 (or whatever number it is where the audience starts voting), but we'll see.

YouWannaBMe Author Profile Page:

I was not impressed with anyone!!! Let's just put it this way - I'm a mediocre singer and my roommates were all pissed at me that I didn't audition because I would have made it to Hollywood based on the standards they were accepting. Minneapolis is DEFINITELY not the place for talent. I wasn't even impressed by the "crack baby". And don't even get me started on Chewbacca and Brenna the "Whyyyy Whyyy Whyyyyyyy!!" Girl... Yeah, I was pretty much rolling around on my floor watching those two. And it seems like it only gets better! Did anyone else see the "Life with Louie" and Gollum look-alikes conversing in the previews? I hate to be cruel, but WHY OH WHY would they subject these two to public humiliation when they are OBVIOUSLY retarded? They can't even TALK to each other - how are they supposed to SING? And they weren't the only scary-looking people in Seattle (which makes me wonder if it's something in the water or if it's the rainwater that's making these people so God-awful UGLY?)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to another fun-filled night of being my evil self and busting the Hell out of these delusional souls!! ;)

animalcrackers Author Profile Page:

when the first girl finished singing that jewel song and simon turned to jewel and said "well, Jewel, what did you think? did she sound like you?" and i thought Jewel was going to either get up and run from the judges table or put her head down and burst into tears. ahh it was so great!

Her, the superfan girl with the degree in voice something-or-other, and Randy/Simon's outburst on the voice teacher were the best moments. not to meantion that freaking DOOR! best. ever! and
and the fuel guy - priceless with the barry manilow voice!

realitybred55 Author Profile Page:

It might just be me, but couldn't they have just put a sign on the locked door that read "Use other door?" Maybe even put a big red arrow POINTING to the other door?

It took two Tylenol and three Advil to get rid of the headache that this episode created! All that I can say is painful. I will have to stock up at the pharmacy before I can view any more of this mess.

HoneyBunny Author Profile Page:

Hated Jewel and her "I don't want to say anything"...Hey bitch. You are a judge on AI. If you didn't want to 'tell it like it is' get the hell out. I hate the idea of the guest judge in the first round anyway...it kinda makes Randy, Paula and Simon less volitile.

The singers were (for the most part) the usual suspects. I am looking forward to the Seattle round tonight - Goth and Starbucks!

Oh and I am so glad that there are people who watch "American Idol" and think that makes them an "American Idol."

hb

sugarshane12 Author Profile Page:

I loved how the psuedo-Fuel kid's father said that his son sounds like a beautiful songbird. Apparently the birds sing horribly in Minneapolis too.

And Jewel had an awesome zinger on that superfan that no one gave her credit for! After she said, "I have ten years of vocal training," Jewel commented, "Oh, someone took your money." Maybe it's just because I didn't expect it from her, but it made me bust out laughing.

soflat Author Profile Page:

The show had a few moments, but mostly they let bad singers and spoiled crybabies go on too long. It got to be painful.

I hope they don't ever do this in Minneapolis again.

Jewel didn't add anything. Neither did Paula.

NickelBagofFunk Author Profile Page:

For the record, the first it sounded to "pitchy" to Randy came at the 58 minute mark.

It'll be interesting to see just how awful Seattle really is tonight. Especiall ywith Simon telling some poor schlub that he looks like a Lemur

murphena Author Profile Page:

I think the only good singer that they selected was the girl who sang "Over the Rainbow" near the end. I can't wait to see Seattle. Some of those people are freaky -- wonder if it has to do with all the coffee people drink there.

happy_gal Author Profile Page:

Ok, I am being dead serious here. I am from Minnesota (and proud of it, even after last night) and I did not notice anyone having a "stereotypical Fargo-esque accent." Are my ears blind? Is that how *I* talk and just don't know it?????

PuffMatty Author Profile Page:

Your recaps are better than the show!

After a brief encounter with the wrong door (yes!), Josh ran around urgently, trying to find anyone who knew any sort of Abba song. Sure enough, he was paired with "Dancing Queen," and when he returned to the judges, he sounded... exactly the same. It was like listening to someone crooning Abba while taking a dump. Except worse.

I was crying at my desk after reading this!!

tulip618 Author Profile Page:

i was SO looking forward to a screen cap of Brenna's face when Jason was sobbing hysterically about juggling being "just his entertainment".

also, was anyone else totally distracted by the fact that paula could hardly hold her chin up off the desk?

Katiepalooza Author Profile Page:

Did anyone else love how awkward Ryan Seacrest looked while the juggling kid went off on his obscenity streak and then broke down? Seriously, I think I laughed harder then than the rest of the show (excpet the next girl saying that HeR aND AmeRIcAn~IdOl arE LIkE B~F~F!!!!!!!) (ps- sorry for the obnoxious toggleness, but that's the only way I can imagine her saying/writing that, in pink glitter flash font on her myspace page)

YouWannaBMe Author Profile Page:

Absolutely Tulip!!! I kept saying to my roommates, "Um, does anyone notice how many times Paula is taking GULPS out of her drink and with every gulp she looks more and more f*d up?" LOL Glad I'm not the only one who picked up on that...

jelliepair Author Profile Page:

Great recap B-side! Definately funnier than the show! These audition shows now lean to pathetic in my opinion.

What happened to them showing us the people who made it through so you have someone to root for during the coming weeks. Sure I want to see some of the pathetic losers who obviously have no friends (to honestly tell them how bad they suck) or they are all dillusional.

I wonder if the crazy costumes and displays of crazy are contrived by the show. The Apollo Creed guy actually had a decent voice - without the Uncle Sam get-up, he might have been taken seriously but the Urban-amish guy - please...where does that come from? And tonights previews - I agree, those kids both look and sound limited - why would they use them as comic relief? I am sure it takes a lot of guts to even walk in that place for someone like that -

Paula was not nearly entertaining enough and Jewel had no personality at all - why bother having her there if her best contribution to the night was the correct use of the word Lascivious? Major disappointment for night one. I am guessing since I heard Seattle was worse than MN, we dont have much to look forward to.

tangerine Author Profile Page:

Great recap. I REAAALLY want a picture of the moment with Brenna when the camera pans over to her outside the audition room, and she has a completely blank stare on her face that's just HILARIOUS. SCREEN GRAB, PLEASE???

Curvewatcher Author Profile Page:

Katie.....excellent...
although I also see a wallpaper of her inserted on the judging table over Jool....

and I'm from the Midwest and, yes, Happy_gal....you do talk like that, ya nooo?

Jool....while probably looking hotter than EVER before, must have been there to give P-drunky a rest on the "making it your own" stuff.....she didn't come through.

Randy is getting more Simonly every year (must have been a push by the producers to keep his contract)

finally....the door...gold...solid gold...

Foxbase Alpha Author Profile Page:

Judging by those teeth, Denise Jackson is the crack baby of Condoleezza Rice.

sarah Author Profile Page:

Wait, the Shakira girl asked Ryan if he had a 'lobby' or a 'girlfriend'?

Its okay, B-Side, everyone makes mistakes, I love you anyway =)

roleepolee Author Profile Page:

That Sarah Kreuger (?) girl was very good.. Best audition since Carrie Underwood's last year...actually, maybe she just sounded good cause all the others sounded so bad. I couldnt believe what I was hearing when the judges complimented the crackbaby. She was just too over the top and her voice was forced. I guess they just really felt bad because she looked like a 40 year old mother with 4 kids. I wouldnt be so mean if she was humble, but she was so annoying and so full of pride, I can't help it..That Fuel wannabe was hilarious as well singing the manilow song in a way that only his father would love.

B-Side Author Profile Page:

Well, technically, she could have asked about a lobby!

THanks for the heads up...

NateTheOkay Author Profile Page:

Thank God this show is back, I've been waiting for this since the last finale. Anyway, the best moments of the premiere were:

- The door thing. That never got old and never will. Hopefully they strategically lock one of the doors again tonight in Seattle.

- The look on self-proclaimed number 1 Idol fan Brenna's face right before she went in to audition as that other kid was standing there having a breakdown on camera. (I truly believe that she may be the number one Idol fan, but doesn't she know how the show works? The irony is that she is now one of the crappy ones who think that they're great that the rest of the fans love to laugh at.)

- Best Simon quip of the night: (After one of the contestants asked "Is there anything I can do to improve?") "Yes, leave." ICE COLD. Love it.

- The first girl's excessive crying was hilarious at first and a great reminder of this show's brilliance, but after a while, I felt dirty for laughing at her. They could have cut that a little shorter. Although, her bad-Jewel-impersonator style was true AI genius with Jewel sitting right there.

- And did the last kid remind anyone else of Dwight from the Office if he was younger?

killbondnow Author Profile Page:

According to my partner's coworkers with inside info, Seattle promises to be the WORST CITY EVER, even worse than last night. They said it was dismal.

I had this problem last year too -- stop focusing so much on the sucky ones! Yes, that's what we watch the auditions for, but then they blow by, what was it, 17 people they accepted at the end -- and how many good auditions did we hear, like five or something? In two hours? Show more of a balance -- I want to have hope...

Cody M. Author Profile Page:

Methinks something was amiss in the household of the "nice, young, gay boy without parents" (fantastic, by the way). After he called his mom to tell her he made it, as he broke down he was saying, "She's proud of me," as if that was all he needed. Wow. Good for him, though.

Fantastic recap. I laughed my ass of last night (as I am doing yet again, tonight), and this brought it all crashing back. "Who will save her soul...from hilarity?" So good.

MrsC Author Profile Page:

Hey LionGirl, if you are reading this: Me and MrC LOVED YA!

Oh she had us in stitches! I could just picture some curls and a little red bow...

Damn! you got two hours of horrendousness, I was looking forward to the show tonight, but Irish telly edited it down to one hour. Thank god for the tvgasm recappers.

Great recap, B-Side! I guess I agree with the notion that it was not a SPECTACULAR season premiere, but it was still very fun as you said, and it actually had me CRYING with laughter. Why? It had to be THIS Simon face:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4237/roflsimon7uy.png

That is the face he made while listening to the fat, crooning Wizard of Oz girl. I'm sorry, but that is just the absolute funniest face I have EVER seen Simon make. And his reaction as a whole was priceless, what with the long, dreadfully confused pause followed by "...What am I supposed to say?" Like I said, I was crying with laughter.

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