American Idol 6, Episode 9: Hollywood Rounds at NoFace for Film

American Idol 6, Episode 9: Hollywood Rounds

Published by Kaonashi February 14th, 2007 in American Idol.

After spending the last two weeks of watching mostly losers, weirdos, and people who just want to get on TV, we finally get down to business. Ryan Seacrest tells us that 172 people total made it to Hollywood, and that there are twice as many girls than guys. This group will eventually be whittled down to 12 girls and 12 guys.

It’s ladies first as they take the stage in Day one of the Hollywood auditions, which were held at the Orpheum Theater. I presume that the guys went off sightseeing, though surprisingly the cameras didn’t follow them this time around. Darn, and I was so hoping to see the contestants putting their hands in the handprints in front of the Mann Chinese Theater, going to Beverly Hills, and splashing at the beach. NOT.

For this first round of auditions, the ladies are segregated into groups of six and perform a 30-second snippet one at a time. Afterward, all six are brought out on stage and the judges tell them who’s in and out. Naturally, this is done in a sadistic, A Chorus Line fashion: those whom the judges tell to step forward are not necessarily the ones who will make it to the next round. The ladies experience cold, harsh reality very early on, as everyone in the first group is given the boot. Looks like dressing exactly like Paula didn’t help Jory Steinberg any. Admittedly though, they really weren’t very good. Simon called them unoriginal, and in my opinion he was right.

We see several more familiar faces get the chopping block. Ashlyn Carr (got a second chance), Sarah Burgess (lied to her parents), Porcelana (lost weight to get in the show), and Rachel Jenkins (soldier woman) are all gone. Oddly enough, Perla Meneses is still around, doing her best Shakira impression. Simon tells her point blank that her strength lies in her personality rather than her vocal skills. He is so spot on.

Overall, out of the 114 girls, 58 made it to the next round. So ends Day one. How will the guys fare on Day two? Same as the ladies, the guys are in groups of six and perform one by one. Contrary to the girls, many familiar faces get through: Matt Sato (overly sensitive gay teen), Sundance Head (goateed son of oldies singer Roy Head), Shawn Michelle (Fidel Castro lookalike), Chris Sligh (Jack Osborne lookalike), and Phil Stacy (missed birth of child to audition). Unfortunately, Navy man Jarrod Fowler of the U.S.S. Ronald Regan did not make the cut. That’s ok- you still won Regan Idol. Overall, 34 guys are spared.

The second half of the Hollywood rounds are the infamous, dreaded Group Auditions. Contestants form groups of three or four, pick one out of nine songs, and perform as a group. I love this round because you get to see the ugly side of many of the contestants. Friendships are broken, enemies are made, and lots of heated arguments ensue the night of rehearsals.

Baylie Brown (blonde, teen country singer) instantly regrets teaming up with best friends Amanda and Antonella, who spend a lot of time bickering about their song choice rather than rehearsing. As someone who was put in a dorm with two girls who were friends, I totally could relate to her. In the wee hours of the night, Amanda gives up and starts flirting with some of the male contestants. Antonella and Baylie go to bed. Meanwhile, returnee Gina Glockson (rocker chick with a Simon crush) is teamed up with Perla, and two other girls I don’t know. Gina and co. are concerned that Perla is not hitting the right notes. Perla is not surprisingly frustrated and tension arises between her and them.

After spending nearly all night practicing, the contestants face the judges. Simon sternly warns all of them not to forget the lyrics, or they get the shaft. True to his words, those who caught a brain fart onstage are shown the door. Matt Sato and Baylie Brown are shown their walking papers. Oddly enough, Amanda also forgets some of the words but is spared. Baylie is of course upset since she actually worked hard during rehearsals while Amanda left to flirt with guys. Amanda actually had the gall to comment that “God allowed only good people” to go through. Man, I wanted to see this little bitch go down in flames after she said that.

Naturally, there were people who were cut because they just weren’t good enough. Perla easily was the weakest link in her group and was shown the door, as was Shawn Michelle. The Idol stylists must be disappointed that they won’t be able to give him a makeover. Paula gives Sundance a pass, though Simon tells her, “You were too generous to that guy.” Indeed, even Sundance comments to the cameras that he hasn’t brought his game on.
The Group Auditions whittle down the number of contestants to 56. Of this number, 40 will be chosen to fight another day. The contestants are separated into three groups and told to wait in different rooms. Room 1 contained cool people like Chris Sligh and Gina Glockson, so I wasn’t surprised that they had made it. Room 2 contained Sanjaya Malakar and Antonella, while Room 3 contained Sanjaya’s sister Shyamali and Amanda. Man, it’s like Sophie’s Choice. Room 2 makes it, but Antonella and Sanjaya don’t celebrate. Hehe, so I guess God does allow only good people through the next round, eh Amanda?

The butchering continues tommorow night as the judges make their final decisions on the Top 24.

Technorati Tags: American Idol, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, RandyJackson, Hollywood auditions, Group auditions, Top 24

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