American Idol 2011: Auditions in Milwaukee, WI, AI#10

On opening of the American Idol show on Fox, one of the contestants is shown saying, "We like our cheese and beer." You might remember that Danny Gokey is from Milwaukee and Gokey was on hand to welcome the contestants. He says, "From this moment on, your life can completely change." As usual, it is not just the locals trying out for Idol. One of the first has traveled from North Carolina.

Scotty McCreery, Garner, NC, 16, Student

Scotty has been playing baseball all his life, and his family says he is one of the better pitchers.

I don't know if Scotty will win Idol, but he is going to win something. He had a wonderful very distinct, baritone voice. Steven Tyler said, "Hell fire save matches f*** a duck and see what hatches." I guess he isn't allowed to say that but J.Lo said they might suck a duck later. Steven asked Scotty if he could show a bit more range, and Scotty sang a Travis Tritt song, 'Put Some Drive in your Country'. Tyler told him, "You sang beautifully." Scotty got three yeses, and Randy loved the throw back-country he exuded similar to Randy Travis. As he was walking out, we overheard them say, "This kid could have a life-long career with the right songs."

Joe Repka, from Swanton, OH, 19, College Student, University of Toledo

Joe is a student at UT and wants to be disc jockey. He talked with Ryan Seacrest who said to him, "Nice to meet a budding radio personality." Joe responded, "It is nice to meet a current radio personality. Then he said, "I can't wait to meet Miss Jennifer. Joe sang 'The longest time' by Billy Joel. His mother says he sings it everywhere but it was way off. Tyler said to him, "I am going to be brutally honest, you came in here to hear it, right?" Joe replied, Yes. Then Tyler said, "Don't sing, I like the talking voice. Dude definitely radio, but don't sing." They did however put Joe on the local radio and we heard him talking as Emma drove in to the auditions with her entire family in the car.

Emma Henry, Littleton, CO, Age 15, Student

Emma Henry said, "As soon as my family heard that they lowered the age to fifteen, we loaded up the car. I just got my permit so I drove most of the way. The drive was symbolic, I felt like I was on the way to my opportunity. I have been watching since I was five and Kelly Clarkson won American Idol. Music is basically my life. This is my dream, this is all that I want." Emma told the judges, "I am going to sing 'True Colors' by Cyndi Lauper.

When she was done the judges weren't sure. Randy told her, "This is the best talent show ever. You have to work on your skills and develop them." The finally told her no and she started crying. They warned her that she was going to get swallowed up. She replied that she wouldn't and that she would work hard. J.Lo and Steven relented and put her through and they gave her another shot.

Kody Zalewski, No.

Juanita Borges, Milwauke, WI, 28, sucked

Kamil Anthony, No.

Kanisha Miller, that was terrible.

Naima Adedapo, Milwaukee, WI, 25, Grounds Clean up.

Naima sang a Don Hathaway song, 'For All we Know'. She said she works summerfest a huge Festival in Milwaukee and she does grounds clean up and janitorial. She said, "I decided to audition because I feel like it would change my life. If I could provide for my family, and give them what I didn't have, I would be so happy. I pray that it goes well. I feel like it will."

Naima was dressed in bright colors and sang with soul. Steven said, "I like you a lot, I think you are all that." Naima told Steven, "You are all that. " J.Lo said, "Steve" and he corrected her, "Steven" He said, yes, then Randy Jackson said, "It's yes, you are going to Hollywood." On the side, Steven Tyler told J.Lo, "You can call me late for dinner and I would still love you. Just don't call me late for lunch." J.Lo walked off the set for a break saying, "I don't want you guys to call me at all." But it was all in good fun.

We saw J.Lo walking by Ryan Seacrest who she referred to as a diva.

A quick audition by Chris Krammer ended with Randy telling him, "Sing in your car, only, with the windows up."

Jerome Bell, New York, NY, 27, Bar Mitzvah Singer

J.Lo loved Jerome's sneakers Jerome sang " Let's get it on" by Marvin Gaye. Randy thought he had "Crazy vocals, controlled, in tune." J.Lo said he was "Loud, soft sweet, powerful." Randy said, "All the isms, jumping off." Tyler said, "None of the was-isms." Jerome got a resounding three Yeses.

Valerie, from Wisconsin, was age 5 and in Kindergarten but was a bit too young.

The rumors are true, Idol lowered the age limit to 15 this year and there is serious competition.

Thia Megia, Mountain House, CA, 15

Thia Megia said, "I've been watching this show since it started. Randy, I've been seeing you on television since before I started reading." Then she told the other two judges, "He looks exactly the same, or even younger."

The judges thought her name was star-like and that she had a nice voice. J.Lo said, "You are the total package." Steven said, "I loved your voice, it has a lot of character and muster, heat." Randy said, "I liked you a lot." Thia received three yeses.

By 4:00 pm, every 15 year old whom walked in walked out with Gold. It was one person after the next. Steven Tyler said "It feels so good to hear people who can sing." Of course, that was short lived.

Nathaniel Jones, Mt. Zion, Wisconsin, 22, Civil War Reenactor

Nathaniel is a Civil War re-enactment actor. He brought his dad with him. He tells us that people will ask him if his dad is a hippie. "No, he is not a hippie; hippie's believe in sex. He is not a hippie, he hasn't gone anywhere with anybody since my mom left." Nathaniel performed, 'The lion sleeps tonight' though his song would have woken comatose tigers. Steven Tyler said, "I don't think it was for American Idol, but I liked it." When he asked if he could sing another song, Randy shook his head no telling him, "We kind of got the measure of what you are, you know what I mean?" He saluted them and marched off the set. " J.Lo commented, "Commitment.", but he became a casualty of the day.

Mason Wilkinson, West Allis, WI, 23, Construction Worker

Mason sang in a monotone and left the judges' speechless. Finally, J.Lo said "shall we vote?" but really there was no need. The answer was obvious.

Molly DeWolf Swensen, Seattle, WA, 22

Molly is doing something right, her stars seemed to be aligned. She recently graduated from Harvard, and is now an intern at the White House. She said she sent in her application on a lark and got the job. She said she loved this President, but not in the same way as a Monica Lewinsky /Bill Clinton intern kind of way. Her love for Barack Obama was purely platonic. She told the judges, "I'm going to sing, 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay'.

Molly started out with an extremely deep note for a female but she carried it off with flair and confidence. Randy said, "Who knew what is going on at the White House. You got attitude and you know where to put it." Steven said, "As soon as you started off the way you did, I knew you were going to go somewhere with all that. I was impressed with the very low start you had." Molly got three yeses and a black eye. Well not really, but Randy did smack her in the face, a he was running through the crowd giving high-fives to the contestants before the show. He apologized.

Day 2, Milwaukee Auditions for American Idol

Haley Reinhart, Wheeling, Il,18, Student

Haley sang 'Oh Darling, Please Believe me'. She had been on the show once before and they told her to come back. Randy said, "You have to be able to sing those runs and close them." This time Haley got three yeses.

Tiwan Strong, Chicago, Il, 29, Daycare Teacher

Tiwan said to the cameraman "I want to get up there and be me." Tiwan had a nice melodic voice that was full and clear. Tyler told him, "I see the sparkle in your eyes. I liked your voice, and I like you man." Randy said, "You did a good job with that. I say Yes" J.Lo agreed, Tiwan got three yeses and we'll be sure to see more of him.

Steve Beghun, Bloomington, MN, 27, CPA, Auditor

Steve told us he is a wedding and funeral singer part-time but that the wedding gigs are more fun. He said, "I am ready to step it up." Steve had a great tone and range.

J. Lo told him, "So surprising, you are big, and your voice is high, and what the ?." J. Lo told us that is how her two year old talks. Like what the ?" Tyler told Steve, "I found you to be disturbingly great, you have that certain something that is really different. I say Yes", then J.Lo, "Yes," and Randy, "Yes too. You are going to Hollywood." A first ever accountant cashes in on a trip to Hollywood.

Vernika Patterson, Milwaukee, WI, 20, Student/Cook

Vernika sang, "Loving You" which is a really hard song to sing, and she did it no justice, with her voice all over the place with no tone or note control. J.Lo said, "That is such a beautiful song" to which Vernika said, "Thank you."

I don't think Venika realized that J.Lo was not complimenting her singing but on the song itself. J.Lo shook her head and said, "This is not going to work for you." Steven Tyler said, " I'm not sure if you are ready for American Idol." Vernika got upset and said she was a better singer than fifty percent of the other singers there. Then she asked if she was getting no's because of her size. Randy said, "We are just trying to be honest with you. This is not about size or look. It is about talent." Vernika walked off the stage without the judges saying anything more. Then Randy said, "I guess that is a no, she gave herself a No." J.Lo said, "She said no to Hollywood."

Albert Rogers, III, Oglethorpe, GA, 24 Student

Randy asked him who he thought he sounded like, and he said, "I've gotten Ruben Studdard and Luther Vandross." Tyler said, "You squeezed those notes out like it was Eleanor Rigby." Randy said, "I thought it was terrible and a joke. Do we even need to vote? I say No". The others agreed" No, You are not up to this."

Scott Dangerfield, Milwaukee, WI, 22, Student Teacher

After Susan Boyle, American and the UK judges have learned, never judge a book by the cover. Scott looked like of geeky with messy hair and shorts on, but J.Lo advised him, "Keep the hair, keep the look. I love the look." Jennifer Lopez said she thought he was her favorite so far." After he left, J.Lo remarked that "He felt it, you could see it in his body."

Megan Frazier

Megan's passion is the Green Bay Packers she told the American Idol viewers. She said, "I became a huge packer's fan because of my dad. It is an intense environment at my house on Sundays." After Megan sang, in true team spirit, the judges counted out, one, two, three, and in unison said, No!

Alyson Jados, Chicago, Il, 26, Bartender/Waitress

Alyson said, "Steven Tyler is one of my idols. When I saw him walk out earlier, I cried. I was pouring tears. I want to bring an edge; more rock and roll to American Idol." Alyson sang 'Come Together' by the Beatles. Steven Tyler put her through after J. Lo said yes and Randy said she wasn't ready yet.

American Idol found some sensational talent in Milwaukee. The last contestant had a sad story but a happy ending to his audition.

Chris Medina, Oak Forest, IL 26, Barista/Caretaker

Chris is engaged. He said, "Julianna and I have been together for eight years and engaged for two. After we got engaged we decided to plan for our wedding in two years. Then she got into an accident two months before our wedding, and we are still not married. She suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was in a coma but I felt that she wasn't going to die, and after a month and a half she woke up. Now her mother and I are her caretakers. I was about to make vows just two months before the accident. What kind of guy would I be if I walked out on her now when she needed me the most? I would love to go to Hollywood. I think it would give her something happy to think about. I am going to sing 'Break even' by the Script.

When Chris was done, he was asked to bring in Julianna. She was in a wheelchair and obviously disabled. After the judges told him he was going to Hollywood, Julianna said, she knew it. It was a sad story that ended on a high note.

Source:
Fox Television, 1/26/2011, American Idol Auditions in Milwaukee, WI