American Idol 2011: Auditions in Los Angeles, CA Recap and Comments AI#10

I quickly checked the Nielsen's and noticed Idol's ratings are still up there but reminiscent of 2003 rather than 2009.for the week of January 17. The numbers are still not public for the most recent shows but I am wondering who is watching and who is not watching this year. In past years, the ratings picked up after the Idol contestants hit Hollywood Week.

American Idol in Los Angeles, CA

Although thousands showed for the auditions in Los Angeles, CA, there just was not a lot of talent. Ryan Seacrest told us, "My space took in 16 thousand auditions but only a few were selected."

Cameras showed the judges exiting their limos; Steven Tyler came out smoking a cigar and J.Lo came out hiking her short skirt down. Bleeps were used in place of some profanity, and again we heard about Tyler's statement, about a duck.

Victoria Garrett, Long Beach, CA, 21, Telemarketer

Victoria Garrett said, "God brought Idol to LA for a purpose and I believe I am the purpose. " Randy said, "You sound like an animal." Steven Tyler said, "No- baaaa aaaa ddd. You sound like a little lamb." J.Lo said, "Sweetie-it's a no."

Tim Halperin, Fort Worth, TX, 23, Advertising Sales

Tim Halperin said, "I've had a crush on Jennifer Lopez since I was little. Then in another clip, referring to who knows what, he says, "It's free for you." When Tim sang it was as if he was singing J.Lo a love song and Randy said to Steven, "Dude I don't want to say this, but I felt like we weren't even here." Then he turned to Tm and said, "I felt like you were having a connection with Jennifer. " He told Jennifer, "I had a crushing on you when I was growing up." The judges laughed because he looked so young, and she asked him when and he said, when he was in 5^th or 6^th grade. That got a chuckle but for a different reason. He told her he was 23 now, and when he asked her how old she was in reply, J.Lo told him, "None of your business. " J.Lo was the tiebreaker for Tim, after Randy told him No and Tyler told him yes. He is going to Hollywood.

Justin Carter, Hollywood, CA, 27, Retail Salesperson

Justin was nervous but he had a nice tone. J.Lo said, "It lacked the power." Randy was bleeped and J.Lo then was bleeped. Then there was Ryan out in the waiting area, saying, "There is a problem inside the judge's room." We saw all kinds of food being brought in, they were hungry apparently. I am not sure, if we heard the judging on Justin, or if I just bleeped out the judging on my own.

Daniel and Isaac, two friends

Daniel said, "I came with someone that is also auditioning. There is more support." When Seacrest asked him, "Who has the skill set that the judges are looking for," Daniel said, "Isaac." Then Isaac explained, "My parents do not yet know that I dropped out of college." Then we saw a clip of Cecilia Rodriguez sitting next to her son in the waiting area. Isaac's mom said, "I am proud of my son going to school and coming here too." Oops. She probably will figure it out soon enough Isaac.

Daniel Gomez, Corcoran, CA, 18, Student

He came with Isaac and sang first. Daniel had cotton in his mouth and perhaps a hearing problem because his annunciation and pitch was off. (I know this because I have the same problem without my Siemens hearing aids)

Tyler said, "You are so far from the melody line." Randy said, "This is not for you. It is almost like you are relatively tone deaf." J. Lo said, "It is a no for me too."

Isaac Rodriquez, Lemoore, CA, College Student? 18

Isaac sang Build me a Buttercup, but he is another contestant off time, not to mention off-key, and off-tone. J. LO gave him a typical Ellen DeGeneres response with "You have a nice smile."

Steven told Isaac, "You set the soul on fire but no, it didn't work." Randy said, "I hate to be the tough guy here, but neither of you should ever sing. You both are nice guys but give it up dude." Upon leaving Idol, Isaac and Daniel were both positive, but they will not be going to Hollywood unless they get hearing aids and practice, practice, practice.

Day 2 of Idol LA Auditions

Karen Rodriguez, New York City, NY, 21, Student

Karen was one of the MySpace auditions and part of a select few who were asked to traveled to LA. Karen sang, "Good Love," by Whitney Houston.

Whitney is a very hard artist to follow and Karen did it with grace, although a little nervousness. Tyler said, "Confidence, spit, fire, and melody." J.Lo nodded and said, "Beautiful control." Karen replied, "I sang to you on TRL and you said I had a good voice." J.Lo told her she supported her, and yes, she is going to Hollywood. Karen told the camera operator, "She has met her idol meaning meeting J.Lo. She told the camera man, she wanted to be the first Latin American, Latino American on Idol.

Tynisha Roches , New Jersey, Hoboken, NJ, 25 Entertainer

She walked in with her own microphone and her bio included that she was an entertainer. Randy asked her if the microphone was on and she said, "I don't need the mike, my voice is big enough." Then she did a tribute to Frank Sinatra but I am sure the old geezer was rolling around in his grave. She was off melody, her timing forgotten, and she lost the words but in fact, she did it 'My Way'. She told the judges she had three albums to be composed. I chuckled with J.Lo as she repeated that to Randy. She urged the judges, "Let's do it again." Randy said, "Let's not do it again," and then to Jennifer, "How can we get her to stop?" She does not listen. It is impossible to get her listen. Randy got up and walked to behind the curtains. Tynisha chased Randy out of the room. They had to call security in, and as she was leaving with a great big dude urging her towards the door, Randy told the audience, "This is the weirdest year ever. " To the cameraman, Tynisha said, "I thought Randy was a lot cooler than that, like the Pillsbury dough boy." Ryan thought it was a slam and said, "That's not nice."

As weird as people get, I can imagine the thoughts that go through people's heads as they plan to go to an Idol Audition. I had a friend of a friend who went to the Auditions in Boston last year. She is a sweet kid, honestly, and has a great voice, but I think she would be eaten up by Hollywood, and that is exactly what happened at the auditions. She waited all day, I think in the rain, and then it was her turn and she did not even get past the pre-interviews. I am sure it was crushing to her. Then I think she was sick for a week afterwards, probably from stress and germs.

From choosing the song that best suits your voice and your personality, to practicing it repeatedly, so that the words are rote and you can concentrate on the message, to working on stage presence, and a marketing image, it is a lot for people to take on, particularly on a whim. Unless you are a serious contender, I do not even know why people bother except to say that they tried out, in some cases.

Heidi Khzam, Agoura Hills, CA, 23, Belly Dancer

Heidi Khzam did a shazam. She opened her interview with a belly dance, and the boys liked her. Of course, you expected that she could not hold a tune, even in a gallon jug, but it was a pleasant surprise to hear her sing. She had the whole package and even J.Lo was giving her a smile halfway through her act. She could sing, she was hot, and she could dance. Did anyone else think she was reminiscent of Paula or J.Lo?

This next guy was determined. If I were a judge, that is what I would have told him, instead of a "you have a nice smile"; "You are determined."

Matt "Big Stats' Frankel, West Hollywood, CAT, 27, Freelance Music Producer

Matt explained, "I have a studio, MSFP. We are going green; we did an event for bus passes. Mike (B.S.) Frankel said he rides the LA country transit system. He was dressed in a nice suit and said, "Don't underestimate me because I am a force to be recognized." As he walked in, his mouth went a mile a minute and reminded me of a used car salesman. First, he introduced himself, and then said he was going to do a formal introduction. Then he did this rap, kind of storyboard of his love of music and J.Lo and then Tyler asked him, "Is that your strong suit? Really, cause you're wearing it?" We were introduced to his friend, Jeremy, who explained that they sang together as kids but Jeremy was no singer. I have news for you, neither is Matt. He told the judges, I am a Freelance music producer. I've produced for millions ...err, a bunch of great artists." Randy laughed and said, "Which is it, millions, or a bunch?" Just a minor detail. Matt said he had produced a compilation of songs that had featured Shaka Kan.

Matt's ego was bigger than his voice and he proudly announced, "What you get is what you see." Randy said, "What I see, I don't like." J.Lo said, "This is craziness. Shall we vote?" Matt said, "I'm not going to stop until I get to the top," and J.Lo said, "That is what it takes to make it in this business."

This guy got a lot of screen time. Matt then told the cameraman, "My mom said not to say anything bad about people. Then next sentence was him dissing Randy saying he thought maybe Randy was upset because he wasn't related to Michael Jackson." That is a nice way to show the judges how pliable you are and how easy it is to work with you. In my opinion, Matt is probably as close to Hollywood right now, as he will ever get.

William Roberts, Long Beach, CA - No. Steven told him, "With your voice, I don't think you are ready for American Idol 2011, 2012, or 2013." Then Randy piped in and said, "2015."

Jeannette Manning, Trenton, NJ, 23, Unemployed. If the other contestant sounded like a little lamb, this one sounded like a crying baby. I just wanted her to stop. The judges said, "You were way off."

Daniel Hall, Oceanside, CA, 18, Student

Daniel started badly, and it got worse when he forgot the words. Daniel realized that he messed up and said, "I'm dead," Tyler responded, "Yes you are."

Anthony Granger, Inglewood, CA, 24, Unemployed. He did the pants on the ground song from last season but nearly as well as the guy who did it originally and was close to two times his age. Now I have to say, that is one song that did go viral. This one would be a mere virus.

Arista Pemberton, Culver City, CA, 26, Student

Arista was a sweet girl and the judges gave her a little rhythm as she did a dance, but she got a no all the way around. She just could not cut the mustard.

After a long hard day, J.Lo came concluded that LA is just crazy. It was hours before they saw another winner.

Then the two amigos or two brothers walked in the door. The two brothers, one older by a year at 28 was Mark and the other, Erin was 27. They were the Gutierrez Brothers. We found out Mark is a teacher, and square by Erin's opinion. "Erin lives his own life by his own rules," Mark told us, "And your life always seems boring compared to his." The performed 'Lean on Me' made famous by Bill Withers.

Mark Gutierrez, Redlands, CA, 28, Substitute teacher

Aaron Gutierrez, Redland Ca, 27, Shoe Salesman.

Their audition was powerful. When Randy asked J.Lo, "What did you think of these boys," (probably because of the Latino influence), we found out J.Lo loved it. Randy said, "You two sound really well together. Nothing like siblings who have sung together forever." Steven Tyler said, "It was godlike, it was unreal." J.Lo said, "Yes, you are going to Hollywood."

Seacrest told us unfortunately, there was lots of no's in LA. We have to meet one character.

When he walked in, Tyler exclaimed, "Good Lord in Heaven."

Cooper Robertson, from somewhere deep in Arkansas, said, "I come from on the plantation, you gotta ride in the woods, and then you come off the exit, and road by road, he gave the judges the directions to his house. Then he explained, "We got to walk a certain way because of the snakes." When asked, he said, "I think I am 59 but I'm not for sure." Well Mr. Robertson certainly acted like a spring chicken. He did an impression of James Brown that was more energetic than a snake dance. Tyler said, "You ain't never going to be bit by a snake." Robertson said, "I am the next American Idol and the next movie star." He walked out, and down the street yelling, "I feel good. " He worked hard for it but all they did was nod, and he walked off the stage. It was time for a break and Jennifer walked out the other way to avoid him, joking that she might need protection. After Cooper's exit, Ryan came running in and said, "What the hell was it?"

So tonight was a bit lame, one or two potentials, and lots of hopeful's but nothing where I will remember it the next morning. Of course, it is always hard to judge just on one song but standing out at this point is kind of a destiny thing. Will the contestants have what it takes to get through Hollywood? A few weeks more and we will get that answer.

Source:

Fox Television, 2/3/2011