'American Idol' Recap for Jan. 19, 2011: Season Premiere of Season Number Ten

"American Idol," Wed., Jan. 19, 2011, Fox, 8 PM (ET) '" In a pre-show entitled "American Idol: Welcome Home" every winner of the program from the past 9 years appeared and testified. "I'm living the American Dream." (David Cook). "It changed my entire life." (Carrie Underwood). That means that we heard from (in no particular order) Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Reuben Stoddard, Fantasia Barrino, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze---9 years' worth of winners.

The thought to be taken away (articulated by Season 9's winner, Lee DeWyze), who hails from a Chicago suburb (Prospect Park), "I was just doin' my thing. I had a normal average job (in a paint store); I took a chance, and it panned out."

These are words I can relate to and outcomes we all pray for in our lives. It sums up the beauty of the "American Idol" program (for those who succeed on it.)

As host Ryan Seacrest intoned, "We begin our epic search as we enter our 10th season." Seacrest talked about the 125,000 contestants who would pass before the new judges, and the new judges were introduced: Steven Tyler, frontman for "Aerosmith," who has sold 150 million albums; Jennifer Lopez, 55 million albums sold and ½ million dollars in Cineplex movie box office receipts; and, of course, Randy Jackson, who arguably had the best music credentials of the 4 judges from last season (he played back-up guitar and sung vocals with the likes of "Journey" and "Michael Jackson.") Nobody missed Ellen or Kara and I, personally, didn't miss Simon, because Steven Tyler had some good zingers, which was often Simon's forte.

Everyone wondered if "American Idol" could survive the defection in the ranks of Simon Cowell and all the original judges, (save Randy "the Dog" Jackson). Even I was a Doubting Thomas. Guess what? Not only has it survived, Steven Tyler is turning out to be a hoot, and Randy has stepped up to fill Simon's mean old man shoes. Simon Cowell's new show, when it premieres, may have to play catch-up.

There have been some changes in the format. According to "People" magazine, the long drawn-out process of separating the wheat from the chaff and getting to "the good stuff" will be far quicker and, once a contestant has made it to singing time in the (Hollywood) valley, he or she will not be forced to sing every genre in the song book, but will declare themselves as artistes of a certain stripe and stick with that decision. This means no more rockers being forced to croon and vice versa. The age limit was lowered a year, too, so you are seeing some singers who are only 15.

MEADOWLANDS TRY-OUTS: THE GOOD

In last night's premiere (from try-outs at the Meadowlands in New Jersey that took place on August 3 and 4), the All-Important Backstory (coupled with talent, of course) came through loud, clear and positively for 4 contestants:

Kosovo refugee Melinda Ademi from Younkers, New York, 16, sang well, was pretty and had a story that will be hard to beat, involving flight from the former Yugoslavia when Serbia began "ethnic cleansing," especially in Montenegro. Her father took a chance at trying to save his family from genocide and entered the family in the green card lottery to leave the country for a better life. Pretty brunette. Sang well. A good start.

Brielle VonHugel '" from Staten Island, age 16, sang "Endless Love" with a flower in her hair, causing Steven Tyler to say, "You've got a beautiful voice. You hit the notes." Randy, also, said, "You really have potential." What was Brielle's backstory? Her father, Bill, who used to be a member of a doo-wop group, is in recovery from throat cancer. (Bill was invited into the audition room to help celebrate his daughter's golden ticket to Hollywood.)

Travis Orlando, 16, from the Bronx (NY) had a sad story involving life in the Grand Concourse shelter for 2 or 3 years after his family lost their home. He described "robberies, killings, people that had nothing" and said his twin brother encouraged him, saying, "You've got a gift. Use it." Travis' father, onscreen after his son made it through to Hollywood, said, "There's a chance for everybody in this country. That's what makes it great to be an American." Travis' first song ("Eleanor Rigby") was okay, but he really hit it out of the park when he sang Jason Mraz, causing Steven Tyler to say, "I think you sing beautiful." Jennifer Lopez called his vocal tone "unique" and "sweet." As Travis tearfully rejoiced with his family as the last contestant of the day, Travis said, "I really wanted to prove to others that anybody can do this." (Well, maybe not anybody, as we'll see in a moment.)

Robbie Rosen, 16, from Merrick, New York was paralyzed and in a wheelchair for several years as a child. He sang "Yesterday." Tyler said, "Nice arrangement, nice edit, you took your time." Another remark, "That was beautiful."

Those without a backstory who were also good included:

Devyn Rush, 20, a singing waitress in New York City's Times Square, who sang "God Bless the Child." She looked so average in blue jeans and a nondescript green tee-shirt top that most of the remarks were about her appearance ("Your voice is a star, so start acting and dressing that way," said J-Lo). Steven Tyler said, "Nice. Delicious." Randy Jackson: "So unexpected."

Victoria Huggins, 16 and ¾ (#82183) made it through on sheer chutzpah and positivity. She sang "I'm leavin on that midnight train to Georgia" and declared "I'm in it to win it." From Lamberton, North Carolina, her southern accent was thick enough to cut with a knife, and she used that, plus all of "the Dawg's" secret signs to ingratiate herself. As Randy said, "At 16, she's got every trick in the book." Steven Tyler declared, "Lord have mercy. Ya' think?" [Victoria may become cloying if the syrup-y southern drawl persists for too long, but insulin shock has not yet set in.]

Kenzie Palmer, 15, a West Middlesex, Pennsylvania musical theater student wearing black pants, a white top, a simple necklace looked young and beautiful and earned praise with "I thought the voice was actually really good" (Randy) but some doubts with "I just wasn't feelin' that pizzazz" (Steven Tyler). She's apt to blossom in Hollywood, if her extreme youth doesn't do her in.

THE "MEH"

Some contestants were put through because the judges just couldn't say no (Jennifer Lopez actually turned to Randy Jackson at one point and said, plaintively, "How did you do this for 10 years?"). One of those was Ashley Sullivan, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, who declared, "I wanna' be the first show tune pop star" and said she was a huge Britney Spears fan while singing (loudly) "Gimme, gimme" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Ashley declared, "I ramble when I'm nervous. It's awkward." Judges' comments: "That was unbridled enthusiasm" from Steven Tyler. "And craziness" added Jennifer Lopez. "I think they're both insane," said Randy Jackson. But they put Ashley through.

Rachel Zevita, 22, from New York, who had tried out in Season 6 and made it through to Hollywood before being cut (a very operatic voice in Season 6). Rachel put ex-judges such as Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DiaGuardio in their places, declaring herself to be nervous singing in front of J-Lo and Steven Tyler. Of their judging predecessors, Rachel said, "They weren't people I had looked up to since I was 4 years old." Jennifer remembered Rachel from Season 6 ("Marc and I remember you.") Steven said, "Whatever it is, you just need to water it and watch it." She made it through, with that caveat.

Tiffany Rios, 21, from Morris Plains, NJ is a dance teacher, who declared herself a huge fan of J-Lo's since seeing Lopez in "Selena" at the age of 7. Jennifer Lopez gave the girl a hug to get her past her nervousness. However, Tiffany was quite brazen, saying, "America needs me." She was wearing an outlandish outfit with stars on her boobs and seemed quite fond of her butt, as well. Jennifer said, "You have a really good voice." Steven Tyler said, "I like your energy." All declared "yes" to her singing (if not her wardrobe). Jennifer added, "She's out of her mind, but I love it." Tiffany's self-confidence may mask something else, but, so far, she behaved like a potential cast member of "The Jersey Shore" and that, too, could get old very fast.

Another who made it through without making much of an impression (on me) was Caleb Hawley, 25, from Milwaukee, who sang "Let me tell you '˜bout a girl I know" with gusto, but was really reaching for the high notes. Steven Tyler began doing percussion accompaniment on the table. At one point, the comment was made, "We're all here because we're not all there." Caleb made it through.

THE BAD:

The biggest surprise of the night was that Steven Tyler was quite witty. At one point, when "the burper", aka Michael Perotto, 19, of Worcestershire, Massachusetts, appeared and sang a particularly tuneless version of "Proud Mary," Steven asked, "Did you eat a lot of paint chips as a child?" Tyler also added, "What we have here is a failure to communicate -- ..vocally," a rip-off from "Cool Hand Luke." Jennifer Lopez thought that Michael sounded as though he was trying to do an imitation of a woman's voice. Randy simply said, "I think -- don't sing anywhere." (No golden ticket for Michael Perotto). Perotto had earlier declared that he burped when nervous, and his audition ended with a giant one.

Achille Lowel, 25, of the Bronx, who was originally from the Ivory Coast, was not good. Melkia Whitefall of Baltimore, Maryland, earned the comment, "You're very sweet, but this is not for you." Chris Cordiero, 18, from N. Arlington, NJ, was the quintessential geek, with an outfit to match.

I had just said, "Nice hat" (sarcastically) to my husband, when Jennifer Lopez commented, "Nice outfit. Fishing?" This totally sailed over Chris' head. He was wearing a straw hat and tan painter-pants/cargo shorts with huge pockets. Before he came out with his blonde bangs peeking out from beneath a straw hat (which did look like a hat you would wear to go fishing), a Public Service announcement that Chris had made for his Eagle Scout badge was shown that warned about the dangers of texting while driving. They should have warned Chris about the dangers of a wardrobe malfunction of this magnitude at his first audition. Geek doesn't quite catch it. His singing was more like moaning. Even his finger snapping was off tempo. At one point, the comment was made, "You scared everybody in the room."

Jimmy Kennedy of Claremont, New York, age 17: bad.

Genise Deal of Teaneck, NJ: also bad.

And then came Yoji "Pop" Asano, 25, originally from Japan, who said he had been a Michael Jackson fan "since I was 2." Tyler remarked, drolly, "You started early then." The song: "Party in the USA." The robotic moves? Weird. A girl in pink who was horrible sang; the look on Steven Tyler's face was priceless. Jaclyn Blythe: bad. Ima Abusomabwe, NY: bad. Rob Palmay: Long Island: bad. (His hideous green plaid shorts did prompt Steven Tyler to remark, "I almost wore those myself today.")

I'm feeling better about "American Idol: Season 10."

I take back anything ever said about "One and it's done." As Dr. Frankenstein famously remarked, "IT'S ALIVE!"