We’ll try to approach the opening of Season 11 with a stream of consciousness look at the show…

Two hours. OMG … first of all I just don’t like 120 minutes of just about anything including Idol. But here goes…

First, a decade look-back … somewhat self-serving but once again Ryan Seacrest is the story. He is so underrated on this show. All you had to do was watch X Factor one time  to realize how good Seacrest is and how much he brings to the show.

The montage of good, bad and – yes – ugly was predictable in the beginning. But they had to start somewhere with the Savannah auditions. Yep, 10,000 showed up. Typically we see the judges arriving at the venue – yawn.

First up, David Leathers, Jr., 17, Fayetteville, N.C. – Unanimous vote. He deserved to go to Hollywood and if he improves along the way he has potential. Has the first contestant ever won? I don’t know…he did a good version of a MJ song. He said he’s 17, he looked 12…

Commercial break and the lead-in is to upcoming disastrous auditions … no surprise there. So far, so good, but nothing new. Guess they aren’t going to mess with success and head into the second decade much the same the way they left the first one.

Now it’s 10:30 a.m. in Savannah and so it goes.

Gabi Carrubba, 16, New Haven, Conn. – She hugs Nigel, sings Sunday Morning, good but just slightly above average for my tastes…

———-

Quickie trio who make it to Hollywood, and all three are better than the first two.

Up next: Jessica Whitely, 19, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – C Ya – I hope! Odd voice for a 19-year-old. Randy said it was awful. Good hoops analogy by Steven. Three negatives… She claims she is going to audition in Texas.

Let’s go to Break No. 2…

Cute, impersonating Ryan clips including Saun Kraisman, 26, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.  Good they are praising Ryan… LOL … Saun is really good … Singing no, personality over the top – good job judges…

Shannon Magrane (Joe’s daughter, he pitched in the World Series for the Cardinals), 15, Tampa – Steven was bleeped for some reason. The whole family looks on as she pitches the best audition yet. She is the goods. She has to go on to Hollywood. And it is unanimous…

Break No. 3 – gotta make a buck…

We have reached noon and it’s time for some of the worst as they play Devil in Disguise by Elvis…hello and good-bye to quite a few.

Amy Brumfield, 24, Gatlinburg, Tenn. – she lives in a tent in the middle of the Tennessee woods. We see the home in the woods … quite a backstory. The kind of contestant you root for be it better or worse with the voice. It would be hard to dismiss her assuming the judges know the backstory beforehand (they do). So, she gets 3 yeses and she is on the way to Hollywood and out of the tent. She deserved the Gold Ticket … sorta…

Let’s go to Break No. 4.  So far it’s fairly routine. Magrane is the best I’ve seen but still awaiting the meltdowns cause in the early season shows those are the best. Oh, and give the Seacrest impersonation moment a big thumbs up. We are 48 minutes and on commercial Break 4 … we’ve made a ton of money…

Up next: Joshua Chavis, 23, Camden, S.C. – Over the top, oh my yes. Daughtry, Paisley comparison he says … NOT … he sings about as well as I do… goodbye…Steven: Voice ain’t there.  Randy: Terrible… singing, no…He walks out smoking and giving the cameraman the one-finger salute…

Stephanie Renae, 15, Orange Park, Fla. – I’ll pass, but they pass her on to Hollywood. Puhleeze! Two yeses, Randy said no, good for Randy…

Break 5 at the end of the first hour…

Schyler Dixon, 16, Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Auditioned with her bro last year, this time it’s solo. Brother Colton is brought in. Too much with this schtick.  Now Colton Dixon tries to do Permanent by Cook, it doesn’t work for me. Both get passes to Hollywood. A little much…

Break 6 just nine minutes later. The Dixon duo just didn’t do a thing for me. Like I said at the beginning, two hours is definitely 60 minutes too much.

Now we see tears … it is what it is…

Lauren Mink, 25, Winchester, Ky. – director for a center for adults with disabilities (I’m rooting for her before she even sings)… Give her a Gold Ticket, right now … and they do … 3 yeses…

Break 7 before we go to Day 2 OMG we are making some serious cash now…I am guessing we are gonna wind up seeing about 30 minutes worth of ads over this two-hour span. It’s about as bad at the Super Bowl only the commericals aren’t as creative nor do they cost as much.

Ha Ha…. they admit it’s a little hot and humid in Savannah … no surprise there.

Mawuena Kodjo, 25, Wes Africa/Nashville, Tenn – Nice kid, but he sings worse than I do in the shower. Gutsy but grim so goodbye.

He goes out on the streets to sing some more, good segment with the kids and the old guy. They still dismiss him.

Ashley Altise, Kinston, N.C.,  she dances the joy-hop (huh?). Not the greatest singer, but she is different and she is going to Hollywood.

 Break 8 and we get teezed to an upcoming segment involving a young lady and her, shall we say, admiration for Mr. Tyler…We are about to enter the final half-hour…

 W.T. Thompson, 25, Appomatox, Va. – One of 22 who were shown and dismissed. He quit his job to go to the auditions. Someone should have told him otherwise. Steven says No; JayLo says Yes; Randy says Yes although he says he will get eaten alive (Randy is so right). W.T. has a baby on the way and he should be back home working that job sted of coming west…

OMG OMG OMG BREAK 9!!!!!!! And it’s just 7 minutes later. If one were to visit the fridge during every break … well, can you say Fats Domino! Really, don’t you think it’s out of control!!?? Time to record it, play it back later and skip the ads.. that’s the only way to go.

 Now we see the lust for Tyler montage. Even grandma.

Erica Novak, Buffalo, N.Y. – She proclaims Tyler will be her future ex-husband. She grabbed his cheeks, said a expletive deleted and then sang after hugging Tyler. Segment a little risque. She hugged and grabbed Randy the same way. She isn’t coming to Hollywood. Good, enuf already.

Brittany Kerr, 24, Charlotte, N.C. – She received two yeses … Jaylo ssaid no…

Oh, why not – Break No. 10 as we head to the final audition of the day…

Phillip Phillips, 20, Leesburg, Ga. – He works at his dad’s pawn shop. Original, decent spin on the song. Does better with the guitar and second song. He goes to Hollywood.

42 made it to Hollywood and my top three: Magrane, Phillips, Leathers…

We’ll back for more, and only one hour, Thursday night from Pittsburgh…

 

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