AMERICAN IDOL San Diego Auditions 2008

I’ve been a little bummed since I learned Heath Ledger passed away this afternoon and couldn’t get into the show tonight. Halfway through, I decided to participate in the PLAY-BY-PLAY forum and I was able to get a little more into the show. If you have never seen the PBP forum, you may want to check it out tomorrow night. One person transcribes to the best of their ability and the rest of the “players” share their thoughts, likes and dislikes, and (lucky me) add information I missed because it wasn’t captioned or because I can’t hear the music correctly.

San Diego auditions opened with two old men (Is that Felix and Oscar of the Odd Couple?) monotonously saying “Welcome to San Diego”. Twelve thousand people showed up for the first San Diego auditions.
First up was
Tatiana Ostapowych singing “Someone to Watch Over Me”. She won a Golden Ticket despite Simon’s comment he thinks she’s not great and she’s obnoxious. She wasn’t memorable enough for the PBP players to comment on her.

But Perrie Cataldo and his son Evian got their attention. Evian was adorable and Perrie’s rendition of Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You” gave goosebumps to one player. Another player thinks he’s going to make the Top 24. (Why do I get the feeling we’re going to forget his name and call him “The Single Dad”?)

The next contestant was introduced as “Michael Johns” but Simon dubbed him a “White Soul Singer” after hearing him sing Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”. Michael scored points for the Australian accent and his unique voice.

Unfortunately, the California Gold Rush couldn’t last forever to paraphrase Ryan. And we’re tormented with some clips of bad singers or as the PBP called them, “the sillies”. They knew the quality of singers had to take a nose-dive eventually. And the Mariah Carey wanna-be who bombed, but gave us a new favorite quote: “Now, I’ll be one of the rejects.”

After a view of the Rancho Bernardo Inn complete with a beautiful golf course, Idol goes downhill even more. First, a guy with a sombrero teamed up with a mime and then we are introduced to Monique and Christopher. Monique, who dresses as bad as she sings, attempted to sing “I Believe In Miracles” by Whitney Houston, which prompted one player to declare that NO ONE should be allowed to sing Whitney. And another agreed and added Celine and Mariah on the “Never Again” list.

Immediately breaking the new PBP rules, Christopher performed his version of Whitney’s “Greatest Love of All”. SIMONS SAYS “STOP!” Christopher changes songs. SIMON SAYS “STOP!” Christopher sings lower. SIMON SAYS “SECURITY!” and Security shooed him out.

Finally, the last contestant of the day; Samantha and her sister think Simon is “hawt”. According to Ryan, NO ONE obsesses over Simon. Because its such a novelty for someone to “love” Simon, he allows Samantha’s sister to sit on his lap while Samantha gives her audition. All three judges give her a “yes” and Samantha’s sister says only if she can go too and spend time with Simon.

“With the nauseating stench of love in the air”, says Ryan, ends day one in San Diego.

Day two opens with a shot of…IS THAT BIG RED FROM SEASON 6 IN SEATTLE?

How many times does someone have to audition for Idol before they get a clue? Blake Boshnack admits he’s auditioned in 10 cities since season 3. Mom seems to be living through her son and clearly delusional. Even Simon remembers Blake; “The idiot who dressed up like the Statue of Liberty in Season 5.” After he sings “Stand by Me”, Simon said it was nice to meet him as a person as all three judges turn him down.

As Rod Stewart sings “never give up on your dreams” in the background, the judges turn down everyone and compare one girl to William Hung.

At this point in the thread, most of the conversation revolves around “The Aussie is a Hottie!”

The next contestant is more freak than hottie, wearing a hippie appliqué shirt, really long nails, and fanning himself…Meet Alberto…flakey, effeminate and generally indescribable. He performs an original song, “Live” so quietly no one can hear him, and Simon describes as “the most depressing song I’ve ever heard in my life”. One player compared him to Tiny Tim. (Could Miss Vicki be far behind?)

Maybe, if Miss Vicki looks anything like Aaron while he repeats “leave me alone now” in a monotone.

Thankfully, David Archuleta auditions. David is 16 years-old and just recovered from vocal cord paralysis. While David sang John Mayers’ “Waiting for the World to Change, Randy harmonized with him. He forgot some of the words, but the judges forgive him and all three send him to Hollywood. He’ll be a teenybopper fan definitely!

It’s 5:00 pm and auditions are almost over. After being disqualified in Season 5 because of visa problems, Carly Hennessy Smithson, originally from Ireland, gets another chance at Hollywood. She’s gotten married and she co-owns a tattoo parlor with her husband who is COVERED in tattoos; even his face. After singing “I’m Every Woman”, Simon tells her he doesn’t think she’s as good as she was two years ago, but all three judges agree she should go to Hollywood. One PBP player described her voice, “Wow! This girl has some great PIPES!” (Sounds better than Randy saying she can BLOW.)

Overall, thirty contestants from San Diego auditions will be auditioning in Hollywood. Tomorrow night the fun (and the puppies) will be in South Carolina.