What she made up for in spirit, she certainly lacked in singing talent. Diane managed to butcher "Saving All My Love" by Whitney Houston. I mean, it wasn't the very, very worst, but it was pretty damn bad. Unsurprisingly, the judges sent her home empty-handed, and after she left the room, Simon reflected, "It was the most extraordinary dress I've ever seen in my life!" Amen, my friend. Plus-sized women -- they really don't have a lot of non-mumu options, do they?

mandisa013007

Bernard Williams II showed up next, and he nailed Michael Jackson's seminal disco classic, "Rock With You." Simon gave him an unequivocal yes, but Paula, shockingly, said that she thought his tone was good but off key. Huh? What? Paula is officially high.

paula2013007
"Gaboobibababuuppiiizzzazzggeeeurrrrgle."

Luckily for Bernard, Randy also liked him, and he made it through to Hollywood, despite Paula's dubious concerns.

There was no confusion about the next girl. Her name was Margaret Fowler, and she was fat and dressed like Big Bird, if Big Bird were an old stripper. Margaret claimed she was twenty-six, but we could tell she was much older. This wasn't her biggest offense. No, Margaret's big problem (aside from the fact that she blatantly was doing whatever to get on TV) was that she had no problem parting her shirt and revealing her massive, rippling gut. Make it stop... make it stop... Is this what Big Bird does to Snuffleupagus when we're not watching?

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Anyway, I know this might come as a shock, but Margaret was terrible. The judges warmly rejected her, and then Simon asked what her real age was. She smiled bashfully and said thirty three. C'mon now, Maggie. Your real age. She paused, smiled again, and finally admitted that she was fifty. SHEEEEE'S FIFTY! And she likes to KICK! STRETCH! AND KICK!!! SHEEEEE'S FIFTY!

For whatever reason, Paula then cooed, "You are amazing!" Huh? She was a looney who lied about her age. There's nothing intrinsically amazing about announcing your age.

But then I remembered that Paula was crazy and calmed down.

We then watched a montage of all sorts of people getting the golden ticket. Curiously, almost all of them were girls. Would the trend continue for Jamie Lynn Ward, the biggest sob story since week one's crack baby diva?

Jamie was kind of like the second coming of Carrie Underwood: sad backstory, Southern accent, middle American appeal, and totally boring. Her whole thing was that she lived with her grandma and daddy because her daddy was paralyzed and she took care of him. Awww. And if she won Idol "I would get my grandma a house with one floor!" That's so sweet. NOW SHUT UP.

Interestingly enough, Jamie's sob story had an intriguingly dark and grim underbelly. That's because Jamie's dad had paralyzed himself after he had shot himself in the neck. Why did he shoot himself in the neck? Because he had caught his wife, Jamie's stepmom, cheating on him.

"And it wasn't the first time!" Jamie noted, as if this somehow made any of this totally okay and normal. Yes, apparently Jamie's dad had actually shot the cheatin' ho'-bag first and then shot himself, making him the victim of a botched murder-suicide. Lovely! Sure enough, the judges really didn't know what to say about all this. They kind of just let out a bunch of sighs and sympathetic "Wows." Jamie, meanwhile, was just like "Oh, it's okay," as if she'd just told them about the time in first grade when she spilled some apple juice.

Nevertheless, Jamie sang a song that I didn't particularly like. It was too Broadwayish for me, and at times, I thought her voice was off. Still, the judges liked her enough to send her to Hollywood, warning her to not force her voice too much, otherwise it'll get nasally. The judges then all pet Paula, who pretended to be a puppy (don't ask. Blame it on the pills).

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Next was a guy named Chris Sligh, who I kind of wanted to hate at first on account of his unwieldy, curly hair, but he turned out to be pretty cool. His pre-audition material was a bit too jokey and ironic for me, and the producers were definitely trying to set him up to look like a total failure. Too bad the promos all outed him to be a great singer.

Anyway, Chris pretty much won me over when the judges asked him why he wanted to be on Idol, and he said, "I really want to make David Hasselhoff cry." Shockingly, Simon and perhaps Paula had no idea what this was in reference to, but they still laughed nonetheless.

Recap: American Idol: High On Auditions Sections:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4 

« Recap: Bad Girls: Bleached Blondes | Main | Recap: The Real World: Climb Every Mountain! »

Comments (36)

gamera87 Author Profile Page:

Great PaulaCaps. As much as I love Idol, the greatest show on television, I cannot help but be jealous of Paula for earning so much money for doing so little.

Chris's performance of Kiss From A Rose was just awful. He really cannot sing. Bernard was terrific and I couldn't believe it when Paula claimed that his pitch was off the entire time.

Audge Author Profile Page:

I'm a big fan of Chris - I'll be rooting for him. If nothing else, at least he'll give some funny soundbites.

And I loved when they played the Sesame Street theme as the background for the Margaret bit.

http://audgepodge.blogspot.com/2007/01/recap-american-idol-birmingham.html

BigMax Author Profile Page:

Did anyone else think that the woman with the girlish voice sounded exactly like Yeardley Smith/Lisa Simpson?

Rock Star Author Profile Page:

Re #1: His rendition of Like a Rose was awful? Did you listen to it?

Also, they should have allowed the girl who they thought was too nasal to go throw, that decision was bullshit.

Also , when they showed that montage of people saying thank you after not making it through, not all those people were rejected, because at least one of the people they showed in that montage was also shown as one of the people who made it through to Hollywood. Shenanigans!

soflat Author Profile Page:

I was really shocked when they told that girl she was too nasally and rejected her.

I'll be glad when the audition shows are over - there are just too many people acting weird for the camera.

And have they edited out much of the cruelty since Rosy went on her rant? The judges have been almost too nice since the bush baby episode.

LeslieAnne25 Author Profile Page:

As much as I like seeing the crazies try and get on TV only to be humiliated, the judges aren't being nicer now since the so-called "Rosie Rant". These shows were taped in September. If anything, the editors are now mixing in more footage of the good with the bad, instead of keeping it so one sided.

That being said, I still think Simon is great. I loved his dress comment on that enormous lady.

mom_to_travis Author Profile Page:

Paula's "family obligation" = "rehab"...hilarious!

I did love it when Simon said to the last girl, "You are barking mad, aren't you?" HA! My new favorite expression!

wniffene Author Profile Page:

I don't know if my theory can be verified in anyway but it seems to me that a big girls ability to sing can be directly associated with her fashion sense, if she knows she's big and dresses respectably then the odds of her actually having a good singing voice seem to go up several fold.

Stefunny77 Author Profile Page:

I am a student at Auburn where Ericka goes, and there was an article in our school newspaper about her last week. She actually said that she doesn't think shes a bad singer because "i made it so far in the audition." she doesnt realize they take the bad people too to simon, randy and paula! ah! also, another auburn student made it to hollywood but they didn't put him in last nights episode. so look for errick johnson later on!!

layla Author Profile Page:

I thought Paula was funny and right on w/her critiques last night. I liked seeing a little bit of extra personality.

Excuse me now - it's time to take my oxy.

Bauer's Sweetheart Author Profile Page:

And what about when Simon returned to the room after needling Brandy - he tried to open the WRONG DOOR!

sarah Author Profile Page:

Paula may be crazy but I love her. I read somewhere that Idol approached COURTNEY LOVE to replace Paula. Gross.

And I think Jamie Lynn Ward screams Kellie Pickler more than Carrie Underwood. Kellie was way annoying (like Jamie Lynn) and Carrie can sing (unline Jamie Lynn).

Remy11 Author Profile Page:

Bauer's Sweetheart, thanks so much for bringing up Simon trying to go out the wrong door. That was my favorite part of the episode! How does that joke never get old??

626 Author Profile Page:

I too was thinking Kellie Pickler the entire time Jamie Lynn was on screen. Even their backstories are similar.

I felt that the girl with the long hair had a very pretty voice. Obviously not marketable for Idol but the judges treated her like she had no talent at all when she obviously could sing, just not pop music.

Simon using the wrong door was awesome. Especially since they made such a big deal out of the wrong door during the first episode this season.

Jojobear Author Profile Page:

I, too, was laughing when Simon tried to go in the wrong door! LOL! He tried to play it off so cool too. And what the heck was Paula doing on her knees? It didn't make sense, but then again I guess nothing she does makes much sense. Loved the family obligation/rehab comment!

Booncy Author Profile Page:

By criticizing Paula's recent crazy and so-called "drugged" behavior you're no better than her B-Side. You're also just confirming what Rosie said on "The View" about how the judges of American Idol (and America in general) find some sort of (sick IMO) humor in being cold, condescending, and crude towards others. I doubt Paula's "drugged" as you (and ironically Rosie) says she is. I think she's probably got a drinking problem yes, but not a drug one. Even if she does have one who are you to judge her. No human being on this Earth is perfect, and we're all bound to make mistakes here and there. Hopefully Paula will wake up to reality, get over whatever problem she has, and learn from her mistakes in order to grow into a better person.

I've also read your "funny" yet offensive comments on the cast members of The Real World recaps you've done. Honestly - it's as if your cruelty knows no bounds. The way you rip apart at each and every single cast members faults is totally disgusting. I guess people like you prove a saying my mother's told me. Sometimes intelligence DOESN'T equal class, manners, or (most important of all) MORALITY!

24Ever Author Profile Page:

RE: Post 16 Cry me a river,you need to lighten up, people read this stuff for fun. We don't need a "crusader" on the message boards trying to ruin it for everyone else. The cruelty that, "knows no bouds", is freaking halarious.

NateTheOkay Author Profile Page:

I can't believe you didn't mention Simon getting hit with the old wrong door gag. Haha, that was priceless, and is sure to be worked into a wrong-door montage in the season finale.

And I thought this episode was brilliant. Classic Idol. Drugged up Paula that the producers didn't even try to tone down in editting, borderline good/bad singers, and a missing judge for day two. This one had it all.

Not to mention one of the most darkly hilarious sob-stories of the entire franchise: a botched murder suicide/touching family moment as the daughter sets off to get enough money to buy a house for her grandma. The fact that she has a fairly decent voice tells me that she could go deep into this thing a la Kelly Pickler.

Booncy Author Profile Page:

24Ever, Once again you're just proving my (and Rosie's) point. The fact that people read this stuff for fun says ALOT about what America finds to be humorous! It's one thing if the people B-Side were criticizing on television were professional comedians, and are trying to make the viewers laugh at their antics. Criticizing them however for their faults (i.e.: the cast members of The Real World) OR for problems in their personal life (i.e.: Paula Abdul) is a totally different story.
I'm sure if the cast members from The Real World or Paula Abdul saw these comments they wouldn't view them as "hilarious" either. These people aren't clowns for you to pick apart for your own personal amusement. They're real human beings with feelings and emotions just like yourself. All I'm saying is cut them some slack. I'm sure if any one of you were live on national television with 50 million viewers watching your every move you'd probably (unintentionally) do some stupid things too.


PS: I didn't appreciate being referred to as "hilarious" in your reply to me about my "cruelty knows no bounds" comment when I was very serious in my original reply to B-Side.

B-Side Author Profile Page:

Booncy -- I appreciate your comments. I understand that these are real people, however what we see on TV are truly just characters assembled for us by editors. Do I think Paula *really* has a drug problem? Well, I don't know. But if all we see is her acting loopy all show long, I'm not above poking fun at the representation.

These are all jokes; albeit some of them are quite mean. What can I say? If a 50 year old woman steps on TV, bares her stomach, and makes a fool of herself just to get noticed, I'm going to comment on it. I'm a judgmental guy. Is that good? Well, probably not. But to quote many a self-absorbed Real Worlder, "That's just me!" Kudos to you for being bigger than that.

This site is all about sharing the TV experience, and part of that experience is the mockery that comes with certain people being totally dumb on TV. You can't tell me you don't watch a show, roll your eyes at someone and either make a comment to a friend or think one. I'm just verbalizing it. And if you don't do that, well, that's impressive, and maybe this sight isn't for you.

Anyway, I do appreciate the comments. You raise interesting points. Everyone feel free to debate away!

IJustWatch Author Profile Page:

Wow, Booncy...are you serious? You're really citing Rosie O'Donnell to prove your so-called "point"? For one thing, Rosie should definitely not preach to the public about making fun of other people in a cold, crude manner. Are you kidding me? The same woman who is so ignorant as to make fun of the Chinese language? Who will unoriginally mock Donald Trump in a desperate attempt to be "hilarious"? These sites are created solely for avid TV observers to join together and comment on what they see.

And who cares what the cast of The Real World thinks? I'm sure they're nice people, but they're putting themselves on TV, knowing very well what they're getting into 2345665 seasons later.

I commend your crusade for a better America, but honestly.. no one here who reads B-Side (and others) blog's religiously are ready to join you just yet. So while the rest of us are maturing, trying to catch up with you, I suggest you continue on with your life full of morality and non-judgmental behavior.

chief113 Author Profile Page:

B Side, why are you even responding to this moron? Don't waste your time. You should be spending your time working on a clipgasm of that kid that was imitating a panther tonight. That was the funniest thing ever on the show.

Great recap, B-Side. I was shocked at Nicole's rejection as well. And excellent reference to Molly Shannon! I totally loved her on SNL.

I don't know what it is with me, but I tend to jump all over the great guy singers when I watch the shows (I'm a guy, btw). Like right now I'm totally eager to see Sundance, Sean Michel, and now Chris Sligh. Let's hope the troupe of girl singers suck again. :D

pearlblackdragon Author Profile Page:

B-Side, I can't stand the audition part of the show. Your re-caps are the only good thing that comes at this stage of the show. Thank you for another great one.
#16 - If I ever go through an audition and get on a reality TV show, and make x amount of dollars per episode, then I give you full permission to laugh at any stupid thing I may do. In fact, you may even snark on me. As you can see I would be perfectly aware of the situation I would be putting myself in so don't worry about my feelings. I am willing to bet the other people you choose to speak for are smart enough to know what they are getting into as well.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: Diana DeGarmo also hailed from Birmingham. Is it any surprise she wasn't mentioned 15 times during the show like Bo, Taylor, and Ruben were? :P

Rock Star Author Profile Page:

Re #25: Huh? What's the reason they didn't mention her?

greeneyes Author Profile Page:

ITA IJustWatch (#21) about Booncy's using Rosie O'Donnell to bolster his point. Rosie is one of the most vindictive and petty women on tv. Her calling someone else cold and crude is definitely a case of the pot calling the kettle black. If she and anyone else thinks AI is too mean, don't watch! The quickest way for the producers to change their ways is for ratings to go down. But since AI is still phenomenally successful, the producers know they are giving the public what it wants. This is season 6, it's no secret Simon is mean, cruel even. Only idiots, not the merely deluded, go on the show not knowing there's a better chance that they will be mocked in front of millions. People with delicate sensibilities know
to stay home.

The same applies to this site. I'm fairly new to TVGasm but even I can tell that the writers on here don't pull any punches. That’s what makes the site fun. In fact, I voted in the TVGasm writer contests specifically for the snarkiest writers because they also happened to be the funniest. If B-side started writing stuff like “Paula appears a little indisposed today”, I’d probably tune out and stop reading, which would totally be my option, just like anyone who thinks B-side’s too mean should do.

If my vote counts for anything, I say keep on keepin’ on B-side! Personally, I think the review of the Margaret Fowler was too restrained. I probably would have said she looked like the end result of Big Bird's weekend bender with the Sesame Street crack ho. But then, I'm mean, cruel even. :)

roleepolee Author Profile Page:

I really hope B-side doesn't go all soft on us just because one person says his jokes are too mean. His recaps are one of the funniest things I've ever come across. It's edgy, informative, and again, hilarious.

I just think 'booncy' is a little naive, but a good person to express his opinions regarding the level of "meaness" of B-side's jokes. You should understand 2 things, Booncy. #1: The people of AI and also real world are all characters. The producers of the shows tell each and every main characters what to do and say, because the producers are the ones with the $ to pay them. The judges of AI, the RW Cast, hell, even some of the people auditioning are all not really like that in real life, AND THEY KNOW THIS. Therefore, they KNOW that they will be judged, made fun of, and ridiculed by people like B-side and the rest of us commenting. So it's ok for them to hear mean things from us, because they get paid...a lot..

#2: They (AI judges and the Real World cast) don't give two shits about what we (the internet community) say about them. They are celebrities. They go out, get recognized, get drunk, and have casual sex with their fans (*cough* Paula). Their lifestyle is completly different from normal folks, and too busy to read comments regarding them. If they do read it, I think they would be ok with it since they have their own fans praising them (Although I doubt stephen from the RW has any fans).

Was I wrong to say that Booncy? If yes, then I'm sorry. I will go to church and ask for forgivness so I can join you in heaven with Rosie and Paula.

roleepolee Author Profile Page:

And one more thing: I thought Chris from this ep. was amazing. His voice is very original, and what #1 commenter said was outrageous. I will go on and say his version of Kiss from a rose was far better than Seal's version in terms of soul and range.

Chris reminds me of Taylor hicks, not looking like a star, but has talent. Except Chris could sing, and Taylor's talent is acting like a professional retard..

goobs Author Profile Page:

Booncy, Booncy, Booncy, Booncy...whatever will we do with you. This site is not set up to ridicule, belittle, and pick apart people who we see on the street minding their own business. This site is meant to provide a humorous commentary on people who make the *choice* to put themselves out there on their respective reality shows. I did not force them to make that choice and neither did B-side. So chill out.

You think that people making fun of attention whores on TV is what is wrong with America - I disagree. I tend to think it is all the holier-than-thou hypocrites (not unlike you and your dearest Rosie) who think that they are morally above the rest of us. Please. Get over yourself.

suebee Author Profile Page:

#25, Diana was from a suburb of Atlanta...

Booncy Author Profile Page:

To all the posters above who've replied to me I can only end this arguement with this: What else can I say, but go ahead and continue on mocking them. You're all adults (I assume), and I can't force you to change your views/opinions. I'm not trying to be a crusader, and preach to you guys (I apologize if my statements came out like that). I just wanted people to look at B-Side's recaps from a different perspective. I for one hope that B-Side does lighten up in the future when judging the cast members of The Real World and Paula, and if he doesn't then I can accept that.

Booncy Author Profile Page:

Also I just have to add this in. Given Paula Walnuts realistic (at least to me) problems she displayed last season on The Real World: Key West I HIGHLY doubt she was paid to make a total ass of herself and act all crazy. She seemed a bit suicidal. She even said herself at the end of that season that she owes HER LIFE to her new friends that saved her! I don't think something like that would be scripted, and if it was then the Producers are more cruel than I originally thought B-Side was.

busybee68 Author Profile Page:

Booncy: Why don't you just stop reading this site? Obviously, it offends you, so why frequent it?

katie Author Profile Page:

if that girl's dad shot her mom then why the hell isn't he in jail?

and i agree with the above posters.....kellie pickler wannabe not carrie underwood

#26 - Because she's Diana DeGarmo. XD

#31 - I had heard she was from Birmingham from someone. Checking the Wikipedia, it appears we're both a little right. She lived/lives in a suburb of Atlanta, but she was BORN in Birmingham. Guess that explains why she wasn't mentioned.

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