Hi Everybody,

The show starts with the announcement that Paula is out and Ellen is in.  No mention of Simon deciding to quit after this season, but I’m sure that’s because the show is taped.

Of course, in typical American Idol fashion the first contestant is sadly untalented.  I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sit through two hours of this nonsense.  I know a lot of people enjoy the “lousy” and perhaps “put-on” contestants but I really hate this part of Idol.  <sigh>

Okay, so lets focus on the talented.  The first contestant given a yellow ticket is Maddy Curtis from Virginia.  She’s a sixteen-year-old from a large family.  She has multiple down syndrome siblings.  God bless her parents.  Of course, she can sing.  Why else would Idol go to her home and spotlight her family?  She is followed by a number of females receiving the yellow ticket.  Ryan says that by noon only females have received tickets to Hollywood.

The first male to make it to Hollywood is already one of my favorites.  Yes, I may be partial to him because he’s Italian, but honestly, didn’t you think he was fun?  Amadeo Diricco from Rhode Island has a big, interesting voice and I hope he’s around a long time this season.

Luke Shaffer a New York City waiter and Benjamin Bright, a 25-year-old elementary music teacher are highlighted and make it through to Hollywood.  They have good voices, but they don’t jump out at me.

Ashley Rodriguez a 21-year-old college student sings an Alicia Keyes’ song and kicks butt.   She should be around for awhile.

Tyler Grady from my home state of  Pennsylvania auditions with  two broken arms.  It seems he fell out of a tree.  Hmm.  Well anyway this  Jim Morrison-type rocker captivates the two female judges and sails through with four yes’s to Hollywood.  He’s a very interesting contestant.  I’ll be watching for him in Hollywood.

A number of others make it through to Hollywood but we don’t get to hear them sing.  Day one of American Idol auditions comes to a close.

Mike Davis an 18-year-old cutie from Boston, Massachusetts is the first to receive a ticket to Hollywood on Day Two.  What caught my attention was his young age, but confident attitude.

Katie Stevens is a 16-year-old with a good voice.  Idol highlighted her relationship with her Portugese grandmother who has Alzeihmer’s.  She should do well down the line.

Joshua Blaylock is a 28-year-old from New York who is auditioning for his one and only chance.  Remember 28 is the age cutoff for American Idol.  His audition is so-so, but his personality wins the judges over and he gets four yes’s to Hollywood.

Next to audition is hottie Justin Williams from Sandy Utah.  This guy must have had the American Idol producers doing a jig–he has quite a story.  He had cancer a few years back while in the military.  He is totally cancer-free now and works as a vocal coach.  Did I mention that he can sing?   Oh and one more thing…did you see those smokin’ blue eyes and those white teeth?

Coming from a Nigerian background is Bosa Mora, a 22-year-old from Columbus Ohio.  Since AI was highlighting him, I expected him to be better than he was, but he received three yes votes and we’ll see him again in Hollywood.  His voice is good but he needs to work on his stage presence.

Last one up is Leah Laurente from Long Island, New York.  She sings really well and sails through to Hollywood.  After Leah we get to see a lot of happy people with yellow tickets to Hollywood, but alas, we don’t get to hear them sing.  I don’t know if I’m in the minority, but I would rather see all the good singers and no lousy singers at the tryouts.  I feel so bad for all those contestants that make it as far as Hollywood and we never even hear them sing.

Tomorrow night American Idol heads to Atlanta Georgia with celebrity judge Mary J. Blige.  See you then and stay tuned…Bloggergal1