Idol is in the ATL! The producers came to the Georgia Dome in June and the W Hotel in Midtown in September. Mary J. Blige is the guest judge. As usual, “Idol” blurs the two together as if it’s the same time.

The talent wasn’t quite as impressive as Boston, based on the sampling we saw. ”Idol,” given the extra 15 minutes last week, decided to stretch out some of the oddball stories rather than the good singers, it seems. And strangely, Ryan did not tell us how many golden tickets were handed out this time though someone in the comments said it was 25.

The “Idol” producers clearly wanted vistas this time. Not quite as pretty as Boston but the judges still get a pretty green backdrop on the 27th floor of the W Hotel. Ryan after the first break notes the city is known as “Hotlanta” but the talent is leaving them “cold.” Oh, those script writers. The editors sure like the glassed elevator ride down with Midtown in the back, too. They have also stopped having everyone sing the same song like they have in the past so they can do a montage of bad singers torturing said song.

Anyway, on to the talent:

Atlantan Dewone Robinson, singing an original song, claims greatest. Since he’s up first, he is obviously one of the “deluded” ones. And of course, he is worse than horrible. “One of the worst original songs I’ve ever heard,” Simon said. Somehow, they have him sing the song twice.

One bad singer must mean a good one. We meet Keia Johnson from Memphis, who once won Miss Congeniality at a pageant and has Nadia Turner-level frizzy hair. She tackles a tough song, “My Heart Will Go On.” “She can sing,” Mary J. Blige said. “I like you,” Simon said. “I can imagine you standing in the line and getting a part in Oklahoma.” Blige said she made it on her own.

Next up are a few good singers who get a few seconds of airtime and tickets to the West Coast: Miriam Lemnouni , a 25-year-old equestrian trainer from Atlanta, Noel Reese, a high school student from Sophia N.C. and Tisha Holland a hostess from Riverdale.

First back story: Jermaine Sellers, from Jolie Ill., a church singer, has a mom with spina bifida. He gives a gospel take on Joan Osbourne’s “One of Us.” What a beautiful voice! “I love you!” Kara said. “Great interpretation of that song.” “Best vocal yet,” Randy said. “The real deal.” “So much control. It was anointed,” Mary J. Blige said. An easy yes.

He was on BET’s’ “Sunday’s Best”:

Chipper Christy Marie Agronow, a host of Georgia TV “411 – the show,” “What makes Hotlanta so darn hot,” she helpfully explained. Too bad her Pat Benatar is just plain aggravating. “Singing is my life,” she said. “I want to go to Hollywood.” “Not based on that audition,” Simon said. “We have our own 411 for you: this shouldn’t be your career,” Kara said. “It’s more like 911,” Simon cracked.

Back story #2: Small town Vanessa Wolfe jumps bridges in Monroe County, Tenn. and works as a “fast food associate.” “I don’t have much,” she said. “I feel so trapped. I want to get out.” She does some country tune I’ve never heard of. She’s not bad. “You were a lot better than I thought you’d be,” Kara said. “It feels real authentic.” Simon even likes her. “You are incredibly ill prepared for this, very very nervous. But when you are good, you’re really good. You’re distinct. It’s self belief.”  Like Carrie Underwood in 2005, she had never been in what she called “an aeroplane.”

After the next commercial break, we have who is clearly going to be a bad singer: Jesse Hamilton in Anniston, Ala. They do three “cheap dramatizations” of him almost dying. Then he notes that he has never sung in public until now. Then silence. Mary bursts out laughing. Before he starts singing. And during. And after. He’s not half bad for someone who has never sung before but really is not “Idol” material. I’m not clear why “Idol” spent so much time on the poor guy. The whole sequence was condescending and insulting.

I got to meet Rockmart’s Holly Harden during the auditions last June. I recognized her from “America’s Got Talent.” No surprise she made it before the judges, wearing a guitar. She crooned “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man” by Loretta Lynn and wore these ridiculous guitar glasses, along with her guitar dress. She’s really good,didn’t need the gimmick. “You’re fun. You have great personality,” Simon said. “You’re funny,” Randy said. “Normally someone dressed up in a guitar I’d write off. But you’re ballsy.” Looking pained, Blige said: “I don’t get it” and says no. But Simon does.  Go Holly! Glad she made it to Hollywood. She’s Georgia’s own Kellie Pickler!

From AGT:

Cavalcade of Georgia rejects next: Lathan Davenport, Lithonia, “is like a cat barking,” Simon said. Hansel Enriquez reps Duluth badly. Blake Smith from Covington does a painfully awful Britney Spears.

Mallorie Halley from Winner, S.D. is gorgeous and she can sing, too. She has Hollywood written all over her. “What I was really impressed you were fearless,” Simon said. “You had great fun, great energy.”

Skii Bo Ski is all personality. Remember that name. If you dare. This dude has confidence. Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler from Orlando. He does a bit of Marvin Gaye and is fabulous. So he backed up his hubris with some skills. “The outfit put me off. The singing was awful. The dancing was terrible,” Simon said. But Kara bought it “You really had a good voice.” “Once you feel me, I feel you,” he said. “I’m impressed vocally,” Mary J. said. She doesn’t like his image. Randy said, “You better lose the other nonsense.” Simon said no. The others give him a yes.

Annoying BFFs arrive and audition together. Lauren Sanders from Baxley has a weak voice, no power at all. Carmen Turner is a bit better. She could use a bit more vocal control but I do like her. “You are really funny together,” Simon said. “You should be in a group.” He wants to keep them together but the others decide Carmen is the only one worth keeping.

A few decrepit singers are carted out and don’t even get their names credited. Probably just as well. Then it’s the cop from Tennessee Bryan Walker, who does Ruben’s “Superstar.” Surprisingly, the man is soulful. Mary J. has a sour look on her face at first but softens up as he sings. (Simon stepped away for some unexplained reason.) “That was great,” Kara said. “The thing that I love about you is being a police officer. You don’t look any way you sound.”

Lamar Royal from Goldboro, NC screeches his way through Seal. My eardrums say OUCH! “That was torturous,” Randy said. “Pitch was all over the place.” Kara: “I’m not going to say you’re a terrible singer.” “You have to find some humility,” Mary J. “Stop trying to exalt yourself.” Randy: “You’re not ready. You’re not even listening.” He is too upset. Two big bald-headed guards kicked him out. “#&$x y’all!” he said. Afterwards: “I wish Paula was here!” You gotta love the crazy mad folks like this! Funniest guy so far this year.

Last one up Larry Platt is not someone who is qualified to be on “Idol” but has a funny song. Obviously, the producers let him go for the laughs. Think “Pants on the Ground! Looking like a fool with pants on the ground!” “I have a horrible feeling that song could be a hit,” Simon said. Yes indeed! We won’t ever get that song out of our head!

It’s almost as catchy as this classic from 2008:

P.S.— I just read over at MJ’s blog that “cancer man” Justin Williams made it to Hollywood and sang in the group round with Matt Giraud and Kris Allen as part of “White Chocolate.” The judges acted as if they’ve never seen him before. I wonder why the producers did that?