American Idol wrapped up night two of its season premiere Wednesday night showcasing its "weirdest turnout in history," according to Ryan Seacrest at their Seattle, Washington stop.
Less than twenty contestants out of a pool of thousands were sent through to the Hollywood round meaning that two hours of television time was spent featuring freaks, geeks and the impossibly tone deaf.
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If you missed it, couldn't get through it, or just want to recall last night's rather spectacular show, here's a recap:
8:03 PM: Brandon Grubs, a 26 year old prior season auditionee turned up in an exaggerated Uncle Sam-esque costume belting out "God Bless America," to blank faces from Judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Their verdict of course was a resounding no, leaving Grubs to quip on his way out, "it didn't go well. Nerves again."
8:06 PM: Enter Jennifer Chapton, dubbed "the hotness." After comparing herself to Mariah Carey, she wails off pitch, prompting another affirmative "No!" from the Judges. Simon takes the brunt of her anger as she attacks him with the strangely phrased insult: "do yourself a lobotomy," followed by "he probably listens to that bad countrymen sheep stuff."
8:14 PM: A quarter hour into the show and still no one has been put through to Hollywood. Amy Salgado, a 23 year old stay at home mom, who cries when she talks about how much her son loves her singing tackles "Reflections" by Christina Aguilera for the judges. Turns out she can't sing – which she blames on being sick. She drinks a bit of water to try and get her voice back and the judges think she sounds even worse. Notes Simon: "You could lie in a bath with your mouth open and not sound any better."
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Not wanting to leave she continues her plea to the Judges leaving Randy to get in on the barbs. "Seattle, crazy, Seattle, no."
Amy's parting comments: "I'm a winner anyway because I have a beautiful child."
8:19 PM: Perhaps this year's William Hung hits the stage, Darwin "Misha" Reedy, a 27-year-old Houston-er. In a blonde bob with glasses and ruby red lipstick, she is easily the most physically memorable contestant of the night, until the judges request her mother come in to support her. "Oh my God," Paula mouths to the cameras as Darwin's dark haired spitting image walks in.
Darwin churns out a startling monotone rendition of "Dontcha" by the Pussycat Dolls before Simon cuts her off. "No," he states.
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"Could I try something else? Could I just do a bit of ‘Sweet Home Alabama?" she asks.
"For me, sitting here, that was appalling," he replies.
That'll be a no, then.
8:30 PM: Finally someone who appears to recognize notes on a music staff hits the room. It's Thomas Daniels, a 21 year old from Portland, Oregon. He tells the cameras he's going to get to the top. "I don't care if I have to take the stairs or the elevator," he states.
Singing "Arms of A Woman," by Amos Lee, Paula perks up.
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"I got goose bumps," she says. "You're absolutely original."
He becomes the first Seattle contestant put through to Hollywood.
8: 42 PM: After a few more singing-challenged contestants, Blake Lewis, a 25 year old "beat-box champion," from Bothell, Washington hits the room. He offers a rendition of Seal's "Crazy."
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"You're good," notes Simon. "You're just very over the top."
He's put through and the producers queue the proud parent moment of the night as Blake's teary-eyed pop praises his son to the cameras.
8:51 PM: It appears some auditionees like keeping it in the family when Shyamali Malakar, 19, and her younger brother Sanjaya turn up. Both are put through, but Simon has a favorite.
"A lot better than your sister," he says to Sanjaya. "She has the stage presence, but you have the voice."
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HOUR 2
9:01 PM: Returning for hour two, Ryan dubs day 1's auditions, "the weirdest turn out in history. Queue 27-year-old Nicholas Zitzmann who will be singing Simon's favorite song, the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody."
His response when asked why he's the next American Idol?
"I am a leader. I can project myself real well. I can keep on key," Zitzmann states.
He tells the judges he was encouraged by his co-workers to enter the competition due to his instrumental music prowess. It is revealed his work mates have never heard him sing.
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After what seems like several, painful minutes of Zitzmann's rendition of the song Simon finally cuts him off.
"What the bloody hell was that?" he asks. "One of the worst I've ever heard. It was almost non-human."
Rudy Cardenas, 28 from Venezuela via Southern California comes in performing Journey's "Open Arms." This, the last contestant on day 1 is a bass player in a Los Angeles band, and the judges reckon he's got lead singer chops. He's given a ticket to Hollywood.
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9:16 PM: Day 2 of the auditions begin and the masses are waiting in glorious sunshine. It is revealed Simon told the local media the first day featured "the worst bunch of contestants ever."
Hello Kenneth Briggs, 23, who tells the judges he's been "compared to Justin Timberlake, Lance, *NSync, Backstreet Boys."
"I tell my friends you gotta be kidding and they're like ‘No dude," he says.
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He performs an all singing all dancing version of *NSync's "Tearin' Up My Heart," getting on his knees during one chorus.
"You look a little odd," states Simon. "You look like one of those creatures that lives in the jungle with those massive eyes. What do they call them? Bush babies."
His bold statement forces Paula to heap on the praise. "I think you're pretty awesome. You're a firecracker."
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He's sent home.
Jonathan Jayne who made friends with Kenneth in line hits the stage in a red Hawaiian styled shirt. With a shaky vibrato he tackles "God Bless America."
"Beautiful," Simon quips sarcastically before coming off slightly kind. "I like you, but this is not the career path for you," he adds.
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9:34 PM: Watch out Taylor Hicks, here comes your doppelganger if he'd been hit in the face with "a shove," Ryan says. It's Eric Chapman who in the on-screen captions they note is "28???" with the question marks.
His performance is forgettable. What's not forgettable is the fact security are forced to jump in and walk him out after the hairdresser whips out a bottle of what appears to be hair gel and makes a move toward Simon's locks.
A few minutes later Anna Kearns, the 6'4" "flat-footed, 6'7" in heels," 20 year old walks in to sing Aretha Franklin's "Respect."
Simon is impressed. "Anna, you're interesting," he says. After she leaves the room with a golden ticket to Hollywood he throws in his wit. "You just put through a giraffe," he tells Paula and Randy.
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9: 42 PM: Jordan Sparks, the 16 year old daughter of NFL star Felipe Sparks wows the judges with "Because You Love Me," the Celine Dion standard.
"I was blown away," Randy gushes. "You're a natural."
9:52 PM: The final audition of Seattle comes in, a robust, ginger haired man named Steven Thoen, though he goes by "Red."
The cameras portray him as a bit of a psycho before revealing his "Idol" free life until now. "I'll admit I'm not a big fan of the show," he tells the cameras to tremendous laughter from the AI crew.
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He takes on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
The verdict is of course a no, but that doesn't stop him from continuing his quest to get to Hollywood. "I was getting all A's in concert choir," he tells the Judges before attacking Simon directly.
"You think you're so ***ing hot? Step up and coach me," he demands.
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Simon's retort? "It would be like coaching the one legged man to win the 100 meters."
And after "Red" leaves the room: "What was that" Simon asks.
'American Idol' Nets Record 37 Million Viewers
Fox’s American Idol premiered its new season last night with record viewership and 18-49 ratings for its season’s first episode.
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The show drew 37.1 million viewers from 8-10 p.m., up 4% from the 35.5 million it recorded last year, and drew a 15.7 18-49 rating, up 2% from last season’s premiere 18-49 rating of 15.3, according to Nielsen Media Research overnight affiliate ratings.
Idol drew more viewers every half hour, beginning with 31 million at 8, growing to 37 million at 8:30, to 39.7 million at 9 and peaking with 41.4 million at 9:30 p.m.
The series delivered its second-highest rated telecast ever among adults 18-49, adults 18-34 (14.8) and viewers, only behind the American Idol 2 finale on May 21, 2003.
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Last night's Idol premiere also ties as Fox's highest rated premiere ever among adults 18-49 (with The X-Files Nov. 2, 1997), and is Fox's highest premiere ever in total viewers.
Is 'American Idol' Too Mean?
As the new season of "American Idol" gears up again, critics of the popular TV show wonder whether the judges and the producers are being too mean to potential contestants.
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The judges and the contestants were at again Wednesday night.
"You look like one of those creatures that live in the woods with those massive eyes," infamous judge Simon Cowell told one "Idol" hopeful.
More than 37 million people tuned into the season's premiere, and while the episode was the most watched, many say it was also the meanest.
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One contestant modeled herself after the singer Jewel. When asked whether she had passed the bar set by the judges, Randy Jackson said: "No, no, no, no, no."
Cowell was even more emphatic.
"It would take an hour. Are you kidding me? No, please," he said.
After that critique, the young woman began crying.
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'Social Cruelty' or Constructive Criticism?
Rachel Simmons, author of "Odd Girl Out" and an expert on bullying, called the experience "social cruelty."
"What you're seeing here is social cruelty being woven into the fabric of the 'American Idol' experience," Simmons said.
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When a contestant juggled batons, the "Idol" judges didn't hold back.
"Useless at everything. Even the juggling was pathetic," Cowell said.
Even Jackson didn't hold back.
"Jason ended up on the wrong show. It's called 'America's Got Some Talent,'" he said.
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Most people would say the contestants came willingly and should be prepared for the harsh criticism. Simmons said that reflected a societal problem.
"He did come willingly, because he wants to be famous, because we live in a society where good role models are being replaced by celebrities," she said.
The Public Loves Cruelty
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But Matt Rousch, a critic at TV Guide, said mean or not, the American audience wanted it.
"I think memory plays a funny trick with 'American Idol,' because you end the season with a sense of triumph and it's hard to remember what it's like at the beginning of the process," Rousch said. "Every season begins on a very cruel note."
But was this one too cruel?
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"They were killing those kids with their auditions," one man told ABC News.
"I think it's over the top mean because they play these people for fools," another woman said.
Still others say contestants are foolish if they walk into "American Idol" thinking it's going to be any different for them.
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"Have they never watched this show before? Simon is always mean," Rousch said. "Randy is always laughing in their faces. And Paula is always nuts."
Rosie O'Donnell Attacks 'American Idol'
Now she's going after 'American Idol.'
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The co-host of ABC's 'The View' criticized the judges on 'American Idol' for making negative comments about contestant's physical appearance.
"I don't think America likes to watch people being ridiculed and being made fun of and being told they're ugly monkeys or they're fat," said O'Donnell on Thursday's edition of 'The View."
On Tuesday and Wednesday night 'American Idol' consisted mostly contestants rejected by judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
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Some of the comments from the judges, particularly Cowell, have been harsh.
On Wednesday night he told one contestant with bulging eyes that he resembled an animal that lived in the jungle with enormous eyes.
O'Donnell also suggested that Abdul was drunk during the show.
O'Donnell has been feuding with billionaire developer Donald Trump, trading insults with him on the air and through the media.
'American Idol' Seattle: Unusual collection of contestants
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The "American Idol'' auditions in Seattle, dubbed the "weirdest turnout in history'' by host Ryan Seacrest, more than lived up to the billing.
The "American Idol'' auditions in Seattle, dubbed the "weirdest turnout in history'' by host Ryan Seacrest, more than lived up to the billing.
"What the bloody hell was that?'' judge Simon Cowell said on Wednesday's show after enduring a unique version of "Unchained Melody,'' adding, "It was almost non-human.''
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In fact, the two-day tryout for Fox's hit singing talent was a real zoo.
One big-eyed, failed hopeful was compared to a "bush baby,'' a jungle animal, by the caustic Cowell, who termed another contestant, a 6-foot-4 woman who passed singing muster, a "giraffe.'' Then there were the actual animals — a Chihuahua and a Pomeranian — brought along for the ride.
Many of those on display were conspicuously lacking skill, self-awareness or fashion sense, and "American Idol'' made the most of their situation with camera work and Cowell's gibes.
He earned his paycheck in Seattle, one of seven cities where auditions were held last summer. The next episode, on Tuesday, will feature the Memphis, Tenn., tryouts.
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"You could lie in a bath with your mouth open and you couldn't sing,'' Cowell told one woman who insisted that a drink of water would smooth her delivery.
A few promising singers made it through the gauntlet of Cowell and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, including Jordin Sparks, 16, the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and a brother and sister who dabbled in a bit of teenage sibling rivalry.
The series kicked off its sixth year Tuesday with its largest season premiere audience ever, an estimated 37.3 million viewers.
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In Seattle, it rained an odd collection of contestants for hit Fox talent show 'American Idol'
The "American Idol" auditions in Seattle, dubbed the "weirdest turnout in history" by host Ryan Seacrest, more than lived up to the billing.
"What the bloody hell was that?" judge Simon Cowell said on Wednesday's show after enduring a unique version of "Unchained Melody," adding, "It was almost non-human."
In fact, the two-day tryout for Fox's hit singing talent was a real zoo.
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One big-eyed, failed hopeful was compared to a "bush baby," a jungle animal, by the caustic Cowell, who termed another contestant, a 6-foot-4 woman who passed singing muster, a "giraffe." Then there were the actual animals -- a Chihuahua and a Pomeranian -- brought along for the ride.
Many of those on display were conspicuously lacking skill, self-awareness or fashion sense, and "American Idol" made the most of their situation with camera work and Cowell's gibes.
He earned his paycheck in Seattle, one of seven cities where auditions were held last summer. The next episode, on Tuesday, will feature the Memphis, Tenn., tryouts.
"You could lie in a bath with your mouth open and you couldn't sing," Cowell told one woman who insisted that a drink of water would smooth her delivery.
A few promising singers made it through the gauntlet of Cowell and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, including Jordin Sparks, 16, the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and a brother and sister who dabbled in a bit of teenage sibling rivalry.
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The series kicked off its sixth year Tuesday with its largest season premiere audience ever, an estimated 37.3 million viewers.
Eau Claire woman makes it to Hollywood on American Idol
A a couple Wisconsinites pass their singing auditions on the Season-Six premiere of "American Idol including one from Eau Claire.
Of the 10-thousand who showed up at the Target Center in Minneapolis, only 17 made it to the next round in Holllywood. That included Madison's 16-year-old Denise Jackson who called herself a crack baby. She passionately belted out a Jennifer Holiday song to punch her ticket to Hollywood.
College student Sarah Krueger of Eau Claire also made it. Her beautiful rendition of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" easily swooned the judges.
But Troy Benham, Sarona, fell a little bit short. Well, a lot short, actually. He wore a scraggly beard while singing a tune that could hardly be understood. The 24-year-old Benham admitted he never watched "American Idol" before - and he had no hope of being the next one.
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Did Anybody Not Watch American Idol?
To answer the headline: Yes, some bodies did not watch Tuesday's American Idol season premiere.
But most channel-surfing bodies did.
By Idol's last half hour, nearly 15 percent of the nation—not just the TV nation, but the entire nation—was subjecting its collective ears to the sounds, and screeches, of Minnesota.
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In Minneapolis, a city with a definite rooting interest, nearly half of all TVs in use from 8-10 p.m. were tuned to Idol.
Overall, the two-hour opener, featuring guest judge Jewel, averaged an estimated 37.3 million viewers, making it the most watched Idol premiere ever, Fox said.
The broadcast peaked from 9:30-10 p.m., Nielsen Media Research numbers show, with a whopping 41.5 million catching the final bits of bad (and good) from the Minneapolis-based audition round.
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By comparison, during the same half hour, the other four broadcast network shows—ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos, CBS' The Unit, NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the CW's Veronica Mars—drew 26.9 million viewers—combined.
Tuesday was the kick off of Idol's sixth season. And the show didn't merely pick up where top-rated season five left off, it perked up.
The premiere was nearly 2 million viewers bigger than last January's, and nearly 1 million viewers bigger than last May's Taylor Hicks-crowning finale.
And the stats to brag on just keep on coming: Most watched anything of the new year; most watched anything of the current season; and it ties the record for biggest Fox premiere among ever-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (a distinction shared with The X-Files' opener from 1997).
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Another one: The premiere came within about 800,000 viewers of tying the May 2003
Ruben Studdard-
Clay Aiken finale and vying for the title of most watched Idol ever.
And yet another one: The premiere came within about 1.5 million viewers of matching the audience for last year's
Academy Awards telecast.
Lest you have trouble telling the shows apart, the Academy Awards is the one with the glamorous movie stars; Tuesday's Idol was the one with the opera singer dressed as Apollo Creed.
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Idol resumes Wednesday with a two-hour episode chronicling its Seattle auditions.
Guess we know what America's doing tonight...
Here are some ratings tidbits, meanwhile, for the TV week ended Sunday, per Nielsen Media Research stats:
The Sunday portion of Fox's 24 season-opening extravaganza (ninth place, 15.8 million) did its best to drag down ABC's Desperate Housewives (seventh place, 16.8 million). All in all, though, Wisteria Lane held up better than Los Angeles.ABC's Grey's Anatomy (fourth place, 23 million) pounded a rerun of CBS' CSI (20th place, 12 million), if you'll forgive the fight metaphor. ABC's Ugly Betty (14th place, 13.5 million) was looking pretty good even before the Golden Globes. CBS' broadcast of the 33rd Annual People's Choice Awards (23rd place, 11.3 million) hit its best numbers since 2004—and it may be about time to declare the awards-show ratings slump officially over. Donald Trump's The Apprentice (58th place, 7.3 million) was down 20 percent from its so-so season premiere. And somewhere
Rosie O'Donnell is smiling. NBC renewed four series Wednesday for the 2007-08 season; The Apprentice wasn't one of them. And somewhere Rosie O'Donnell is laughing. Just because The Apprentice hasn't been renewed, doesn't mean it won't be. It just means that My Name Is Earl (24th place, 10.9 million), The Office (31st place, 10.1 million), Heroes (69th place, 5.7 million—for a repeat) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (75th place, 5.2 million—for a Saturday-night repeat), the four shows greenlighted for new seasons, are presently trumping Trump.NBC's Grease: You're the One That I Want (43rd place, 8.3 million), down nearly 30 percent from its premiere, could use an injection of greased lightning about now. NBC's Crossing Jordan (60th place, 6.7 million) could use a do-over for its sixth-season premiere about now. CBS' reality series Armed & Famous (45th place, 8.1 million) didn't tank in its premiere, arguably making
LaToya Jackson and
Erik Estrada sort-of famous again.Overall, Fox dominated the network races—and without the benefit of American Idol, which will be part of next week's Nielsen rankings. (Monday's Golden Globes and the second half of 24's season opener also won't show up until next week's rankings.)
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Instead, Fox used college football's national championship game (first place, 28.8 million) and an NFL playoff contest (second place, 27.4 million) to score big wins in total viewers (15.3 million) and the 18-to-49 demographic.
CBS (12.8 million) finished with a pair of second-place finishes; ABC (8.7 million), with a pair of third-place finishes; and, fresh-out-of-football NBC (8.4 million), with a pair of fourth-place ones.
The CW (2.9 million) distinguished itself with Smallville (79th place, 4.7 million) and Beauty & the Geek (93rd place, 3.9 million).
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Here's a look at the 10 most watched prime-time shows for the week ended Sunday, according to Nielsen Media Research:
1. BCS National Championship (Ohio State v. Florida), Fox, 28.8 million viewers
2. NFL Playoff Game (Philadelphia vs. New Orleans), Fox, 27.4 million viewers
3. NFL Playoff Postgame (New England vs. San Diego), CBS, 24.6 million viewers
4. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 23 million viewers
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5. House, Fox, 17.8 million viewers
6. 60 Minutes, CBS, 17.5 million viewers
7. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 16.8 million viewers
8. CSI: Miami, CBS, 16 million viewers
9. 24, Fox, 15.8 million viewers
10. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 14.8 million viewers
'American Idol' season premiere most-watched in show's history
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Too bad cable subscribers in Cd'A weren't among 37.3 million estimated viewers
COEUR d'ALENE -- An estimated 37 million people watched "American Idol" Tuesday night, but Dawn Ferry wasn't one of them.
And she's not happy about it.
"Doesn't everybody watch it?" the Dalton Gardens resident asked Wednesday. "I guess not in Coeur d'Alene, where is there no 'American Idol.'
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The Fox TV talent contest's season premiere was the most-watched in its six-year history, drawing an estimated 37.3 million viewers Tuesday, according to preliminary ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
That represents a 5 percent increase over last year's record premiere audience of 35.5 million, qualifying it as the best debut ever for Fox, the network said. Final ratings will be released next week.
"'American Idol' continues to make entertainment history," Simon Fuller, the series' creator and executive producer, said in a statement Wednesday. "These amazing numbers from our season-six premiere defy all reasonable expectations."
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But because negotiations are still stalled between Time Warner Cable and Spokane's KAYU Fox 28 television, "American Idol" wasn't on locally. In mid-December, the station withdrew its permission for the cable operator to retransmit its programs.
The top-rated show, which also aired Wednesday, is breaking television's laws of gravity that bring declining viewership for aging shows.
Ferry said she has watched "American Idol," since its first season. It's one of her favorite shows, along with "Live With Regis and Kelly." She missed "Idol" on Tuesday because she didn't have an antenna to connect to her TV. She plans to get some rabbit ears, now.
"It's a travesty," she said with a laugh. "The best part is the beginning."
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As a mother of six, grandmother of five and operator of a day care in her home, Ferry said she likes to have her shows on.
"TV's pretty important around here," she said.
"American Idol," which gives viewers the chance to pick the finalists and winner, began as usual with scenes from nationwide auditions. The early rounds feature both promising singers and those who serve as targets for acerbic judge Simon Cowell before they're booted out.
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Thursday, January 18, 2007
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