‘American Idol’ recap: season 11, audition city #4 Denver/Aspen
AMERICAN IDOL: Thousands line up at Invesco Field in Denver, CO for the chance to become the next AMERICAN IDOL on Friday, July 29. CR: Soren McCarthy / FOX The repeat last night of the Sunday San Diego episode of "Idol" did better than a "Glee" repeat originally set for that spot: nearly 10 million viewers and a 3.3 rating 18-49. All the buzz about Jim Carrey's daughter (or Bikini Girl #2) may have helped.
Aspen is a beautiful, scenic town. The talent? Not so beautiful. At least for us viewers.
Sure, we heard nine folks who made it through but I’m not sure if any of them will make it to the final 24. (Thirty one got Hollywood tickets, the fewest so far of the four cities we’ve seen.) Nobody really impressed me though I wouldn’t mind hearing more of Jenni Schick and Devan Jones.
The producers decided to upend the formula from the first three episodes. They actually showed some really bad singers for a change. The judges for a moment almost disagreed! And the final singer was a joke, not a future top 42 contender.
Like Charleston/Savannah (89 miles apart), “Idol” is doing a two-city run. The stadium cattle call was in Denver. The judges came later and saw the finalists in Aspen, a city 100 miles away that is way too small to do a cattle call the size “Idol” does. It seems “Idol” is really focusing on great backdrops. In this case, it’s the fall colors.
Hyperactive 24-year-old music teacher Jenni Schick from Sterling, Va. hits us with her best Pat Benatar song. “Holy Schick!” Tyler said. Fortunately, she’s actually pretty good but cheesy as all get out. She appears to have spent too much time in smokey karaoke bars. She gets to kiss Steven Tyler (and according to her, that’s not cheating on her boyfriend because he’s, um, famous, like Lady Gaga and Adam Levine.)
Next: Curtis Gray, of Spring Hill, FL., gets some video love but he seems pretty normal. He does an interesting, soulful countrified version of Boyz II Men. “You’re good looking and you sing great,” J. Lo said. (Are the judges’ comments getting more reductive and boring as time goes along?)
Then a few more Hollywood-bound characters: Richie Law of Centennial, Colorado channels Scotty McCreery. Devan Jones of Aurora has a beautiful soprano. “Natural voice,” J. Lo said. Mathenee Treco, also from Centennial, is more showy than Devan and more annoying as he oversings “Hey Jude.” But he gets through anyway.
Then it’s Twin Sister Act time! Tealana Hedgespeth of Loveland, CO wants to get out of the shadow of her twin sister. But she is awful. Put her back in the shadows! Steven insults her by asking her to listen back to her singing. She doesn’t get it.
Haley Smith, a crunchy granola type born 25 years too late, works some “Tell Me Something Good.” She’s like a rawer Crystal Bowersox. “It’s not perfect for the song but I kind of like that,” Randy said. “You’re right out of my era,” Steven said. “Bet you’re even more comfortable with a guitar,” J. Lo said. Randy appreciates her knowing who she is.
Alanna Snare, a bartender/waitress who serves “Rocky Mountain oysters” or actually bull testes, is flat as the Midwest plains and tone-deaf. “I really like you as a person… singing is just not your thing. It was terrible,” Randy said.
Shelby Tweten, from Minnesota, has bipolar disorder and takes meds to treat her depression. “I’ll be shaking. I will stutter. I can’t control my body,” she said. Singing helps her. “American Idol has given us something to believe in,” she said, of her and her mom. “Bipolar doesn’t define who you are.” Fortunately, she has a passable country voice trying “Temporary Home.” She isn’t Carrie Underwood by any stretch.
At 8:30 p.m. we get heard since day one: a montage of bad singers, including a screamer.
Jairon Jackson from Denver does an original song “So Hard,” an R&B-infused tune. Too much melisma and not that much personality or star power. But the judges like him. “Beautiful. I love it, yes,” Steven said (because he must say “beautiful” at least once per episode.)
“Idol” has yet to find the next Lady Gaga. Angie Zeiderman, 25, from Daytona Beach, Fla. wants to be that. “I’d like to open for her and be best friends with her forever,” she said. Shs has quirk written all over her but not necessarily in a good way. She is a Broadway performer but more in a va va va blech than va va va boom. J. Lo likes her. Randy is turned off. Her voice is more tolerable when she does “Blue Bayou” but her persona is still annoying. Somehow, she gets through.
Magic Cyclops from Davenport, IA seems to be channeling his worst Russell Brand imitation. This is a horrific, time-sucking act. He gave judges a choice of Neil Diamond or Jimmy Buffett. Randy chooses “Cracklin’ Rose,” then “Margaritaville.” It’s absurd. He is a plant who isn’t even in the age limit. (This is no Larry “Pants on the Ground” Platt!) Randy walks out. Good move.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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130 comments Add your comment
unreal
January 25th, 2012
9:38 pm
True, but they are playing us like the fools we are this year.
squirrelly mc cheesy grill pon pon pon
January 25th, 2012
9:44 pm
So Pitchy, you want to condemn anyone who doesn’t believe like you, box them up and send them away. Somewhere where there is no wiFi, like hell maybe. No wonder I believe we are in such danger by you Rodney Ho Idoliacs. Now I am calling Barney from mayberry and I am gonna make a citizens arrest, citizens arrest…citizens arrest. And since when did Jack Baur become such a wuss. That kid just needs a beating!
Pitchy
January 25th, 2012
9:53 pm
@squirrelly – not trying to condemn anyone who doesn’t think like me. You come on berating us for blogging so I thought you might need to go somewhere where Wi Fi isn’t accessible just so may remain even keel with your medications (lol). Just joking around.
He’s a wuss, because he isn’t Jack Bauer. I like the fact that they’re trying to erase his persona as “Bauer.”
squirrelly mc cheesy grill pon pon pon
January 25th, 2012
10:13 pm
Hey Pitchy, Is it me are do all these idol singers sound a like after a while. Even the ones the judges go ga ga over, they are always the same types of voices. It is hard to keep them straight at this stage of the show.
JTesla
January 26th, 2012
12:03 am
Jenni Schick is annoying. Very very annoying.
‘American Idol’ recap: season 11, audition city #4 Denver/Aspen | ATLANTAboy.com | Gay Atlanta Celebrity, Film, Movie & TV News
January 26th, 2012
12:07 am
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Highlander
January 26th, 2012
7:40 am
Morning!
Kind of a boring show last night, except for the scenery of Aspen. Still haven’t had a “Wow” moment from any singer so far and I worry how Shelby Tweten is going to hold up under the pressure of Hollywood week.
Also, a bit aggravated at AI for giving Magic Flip-flops so much air time! I think maybe he thought it was AGT since that’s where you can always find a overly heavy dose of idiocy.
It wasn’t entertaining (!) and it wasted valuable TV time.
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
8:34 am
I agree Highlander, nothing WOWed me last night either. With the Magic disaster, even STyler was annoyed.
Rodney Ho
January 26th, 2012
8:36 am
@Pitchy You have to wonder how many wackadoodles the judges actually see nowadays. Until last night, we’ve seen very few of them. That makes me wonder if the 22 folks we didn’t see make it to Hollywood were THAT boring? The producers felt they had to fill the hour with SOMEthing besides pretty scenery of Aspen and Ryan making a snowball (and no, that is not something dirty at all. He actually had a snowball in his hand.)
Harriett
January 26th, 2012
8:45 am
Good morning!
I thought last night’s show was boring, all the way around. I am tired of them going crazy over the melisma-filled vocals, too. The boy-band type of voice seems to wow them as well. The only contestants so far I have really liked were Heejun Han and Colton Dixon.
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
8:54 am
@RHo – too funny. I saw Seacrest with the snowball. I miss seeing some of the wackadoodles, but seems like AI dwindle showing any to about 3. The first two weeks of AI was always my time to have some gut wrenching laughter. Oh well, not this season…
Who was the young man who had the deep country signing voice???
Rodney Ho
January 26th, 2012
8:59 am
Richie something or other was the country guy. There is a certain crew of folks who love watching bad auditions. “Idol” has been opting for more “quirky” folks who happen to be passable singers, which is a tough combo to find. If they could only find another “Pants on the Ground” man!
timthebrave
January 26th, 2012
9:06 am
Waste of time last night watching Idol. At least it only wasted 40 min instead of an hour with my TIVO….I didn’t like any of the singers and have heard better at my local karaoke bar….Yawn
timthebrave
January 26th, 2012
9:07 am
Rodney, I like the really bad auditions or really good auditions…Didn’t see either last night
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
9:10 am
Thanks RHo. Guess I’m in the crew who likes to watch comical, bad auditions. I was so pleasantly surprised, as was everyone else, when the first contestant (akin to that Hung fella) had a very nice voice although he was nerdy.
We all have learned to never underestimate a Nerd! Return of The Nerds!
Rodney Ho
January 26th, 2012
9:11 am
@timthebrave There was some pretty darn bad stuff last night. Nothing top 24-worthy on the good side in my mind though there were a couple that had potential. Times like these I do miss a truly engaged Simon Cowell, circa season 2 or 3.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:14 am
No offense, Rodney, but what the heck is “reductive?”
DanJ
January 26th, 2012
9:16 am
Last nights show was a disappointment, I doubt any of the Aspen contestants UNLESS it’s the bipolar girl makes the top 24. Her only because the storyline. If I remember correctly last year James Durbin talked about some mental health issue.
I’ve yet to see a great singer but it appears they may have several good to very good singer. I don’t know if anyone is keeping track but at the pace they’re going they’ll have 500 singers in Hollywood. At least it feels that way.
blkshepherd
January 26th, 2012
9:16 am
What I find to be rather annoying is MOST of the folks that they are sending to Hollywood you wont see in the top 30. Most wont make it. They get waved through Only never to be seen again.
So all that jumping up and down and screaming because you got a yellow ticket quickly fizzles once they get into the Competition. Right now the audition wave through dont Mean you will Last through the competition. Get excited when your in the Top Five!
Rodney Ho
January 26th, 2012
9:16 am
@Rickster. I was saying that the judges’ comments have become so less interesting than they used to be, like paler copies of more original statements. I went online for an example and Madonna used the word to say that Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is a “reductive” version of “Express Yourself.”
blkshepherd
January 26th, 2012
9:17 am
Also..for the record..the Auditions are better endured with the Mute button on or turned wayyyy down low.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:20 am
Didn’t get a chance to watch last night. Something came up.
Sounds like I didn’t miss too much.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:30 am
oooooooooooooooookay.
Tex
January 26th, 2012
9:31 am
I cannot believe that anyone with a brain still likes Steven Tyler (or any of these dolt period) or American Idol.
What a pathetic show.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:32 am
Not sure I’d use Madonna as an source to improve my vocabulary…. but if that works for Rodney… more power to him.
JTesla
January 26th, 2012
9:33 am
If you missed it, you only missed what seemed like 5 minutes of very forced pain from Magic Cyclops. He better not be on the finale.
It’s nice that each audition show isn’t exactly like the other, but the DENVER varient wasn’t that good. Why couldn’t they say Denver once last night? They even had the crowd shout “Colorado!” Forced… from beginning to painful end.
kelly&carriefan
January 26th, 2012
9:36 am
Hi y’all,
Color me as bored as well. It was just plain dull. Which, to be fair, is to be expected for me. While I do enjoy the audition rounds, I’m ready for the Top 24 to get started. And yes, I realize that we have to wait until Feb 23rd for that. Hopefully, tonight’s will be a bit livelier.
I thought Shelby Tweten was pretty good but tackling Carrie? Oy. These kids never learn. She did do okay with it, which is a compliment. Other than that, Richie Law was too Scotty for me. I like Scotty, but we don’t need another one on the show again so soon, imo.
kelly&carriefan
January 26th, 2012
9:42 am
DanJ, James Durbin has Tourette’s and Asperger’s.
Sam-A
January 26th, 2012
9:45 am
Ritchie or whoever needs to be rejected – already had the bass voice last year – don’t wan’t it again!
The wacko gal actually sounded pretty good on “Blue Bayou”, and brought up a slight disagreement between me and my sister. To me “Blue Bayou” is a Roy Orbison song, and truly beautiful. To my sis, it’s a Linda Rondstadt song (I forgot she’d ever recorded it, but her’s is a great version as well). While I love Linda R, Roy is one of the greatest singers ever.
I hope there are some true gems that we’ve not been shown yet, because I’ve not seen a single one I’d call an “American Idol”! And like someone above (Pitchy, maybe?) I do enjoy the occasional nutsy one – will always remember Tomeka from season 1 or 2 – called Randy “that big fat black b-tard sitting down at the end” – thought I would die! She was a true nut case, but pretty darn funny.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:48 am
Was listening to Pandora, and Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” came on… and I found myself thinking about that “kid” with the kites two seasons ago on AGT.
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
9:49 am
All I know is I looked up and it was 9:00 and I was pleased that the show was over.
@Sam-A – the wacko gal should have sang that song first.
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
9:50 am
Also, you guys do realize since we haven’t seen all the singers, they really good, talented ones we only saw jump out the doors with their ticket in hand. There will be some nice surprises in Hollywood (please, please, please let this be true)!!!
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
9:52 am
Wow, Sam-A…. I think Roy is an amazing singer too!
I’ll be back in a bit… need to go schedule a doctor’s appointment to make sure I’m okay.
Highlander
January 26th, 2012
9:53 am
Rickster, ‘reductive’ is the adjective form from the noun ‘reduction’.
So Madonna was trying to take a swipe at Lady Gaga saying her song Born This Way was a lesser version of Express Yourself. — You know, kinda like Madonna’s version of American Pie!
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
10:00 am
I thought it apparent that’s what Madonna was saying.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:01 am
Talked to the doctor. He’d said agreeing with other folks isn’t something too get too worried about – as long as it doesn’t become a habit. Then he said he’d recommend a 12-step program.
So I’m okay for now.
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
10:15 am
What’s wrong with you, Rickster?
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:16 am
Reading the synopsis of the girl that serves “Rocky Mountain Oysters” reminds me (amazingly) of a joke:
A couple goes to a restaurant in Mexico, and the husband decides to go for the special recommended by the server. The waiter returns with a plate with two large oval-shaped meat-like things on the plate covered with cheese and sauce.
The guy eats them and tells the waiter, “This is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. What is it?”
The server replies “Those are the testicles from one of the bulls from today’s matches. We’re the only place in town that gets them.”
The guy is shocked… but has to admit that they were delicious.
A couple of years later, the couple is back in Mexico and go to the same restaurant. The guy asks for the same dish again. The waiter returns with a plate, but this time the items on the plate are much smaller.
“What’s up with this?” he complains. “The last time we were here they were large. Why are they so small this time?
“My regrets, sir” the waiter replies. “But sometimes, the bull wins.”
DanJ
January 26th, 2012
10:19 am
K&CFan thanks! I knew Idol made an issue out of a medical condition James Durbin had, I just didn’t remember the issue. Boy you know your Idol!!! I HOPE and PRAY Richie Law doesn’t make the final 24. All I need to hear is another Scotty want to be devoid of emotion.
Rodney Ho
January 26th, 2012
10:19 am
“The Voice” winner Javier Colon is at the Variety Playhouse (seating: 1,000) on Feb. 14. Goldstar is offering two-thirds off priced tickets. That is an obvious sign of rather soft demand:
http://www.goldstar.com/events/atlanta-ga/javier-colon
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:23 am
There was a show called “The Voice?”
I thought that was an AirTran ad campaign.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:27 am
I liked the ad with Danica Patrick the best.
Danica: “I was halfway through Turn 3 when I heard…. ‘The Voice.’”
(Race car sounds)
The Voice:“There’s a seat waiting for you on AirTran.”
Danica: “What?”
The Voice:“What?”
Danica: “What?”
The Voice:“There’s a seat waiting for you on AirTran Airlines”
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:30 am
Holy #$%^!! Those guys are right.
I need to get a life!!!
kelly&carriefan
January 26th, 2012
10:38 am
Ha. DanJ, I tend to have a good memory.
The Voice…liked the show, yes, but Javier was just “ai’ght for me, dawg.” I don’t think I’d actually go see him live. Now if it were Dia Frampton…maybe.
Woodpappy
January 26th, 2012
10:41 am
I was wondering if it was just me when the judges were soooo excited over a few of the singers. I was like, did they just hear what I heard??? Hope it is better tonight.
Harriett
January 26th, 2012
10:48 am
I do not think The Voice contestants inspire the same loyalty/following as to the ones on Idol.
Rickster
January 26th, 2012
10:49 am
Is Dia Frampton any relation to Peter?
Pitchy
January 26th, 2012
10:49 am
I’ve never seen that commercial???
ole richie (the artist formerly know as real music)
January 26th, 2012
10:55 am
not been too impressed with anyone. guess I’m just picky
JTesla
January 26th, 2012
10:57 am
The judges are a bit too excited about everyone, and all on the same page. I wonder now more then ever if they are just window dressing.