The show starts with Ryan and Simon in a limo.  Ryan says, “Here we are in Florida” and Simon gets all grumpy telling him to say it in a normal way.  So Simon says it in a very plain Simon way and Ryan repeats him.  Ryan then talks about Randy’s good ol’ days and we  see some very 80’s-tastic pictures of Randy during his Journey days.  Jacksonville Florida welcomes Randy.  Simon makes note of the police escort to the auditions and how that doesn’t usually happen.

Onto the … talent ?

Justin- He attempts Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On”.  I swear someone is squeezing cats from behind him, but the judges call it sound effects.

Randy says, “Dog you got all the sound effects.”  Simon says something about him being like “inspector gadget or something.”  Randy says he kinda likes him.  Paula and Kara agree.  It’s yes times 4.

Personally I would have said no way and take the cats with you.  But, (insert deep sigh here) I’m not  judge, I just watch it on TV.

Sharon and Sasha the dog-  Sharon attempts “Superstar” by Karen Carpenter.  Before they show the audition they show her talking about getting her dog groomed, but not too much she doesn’t want to look like she tried too hard.  The dog ends up sitting in Simon’s lap until partway through the audition when Simon looks disgusted and boots her.  Sharon is singing and I am not really wanting to listen but it isn’t *that* bad I guess.

Randy and Simon eagerly (and in kind of  a silly mood at this point) say YES (they really shouldn’t have !).  Randy pressures Paula and Kara to say yes and yes.  Paula leaps on Kara and they *kiss* (read they have their hands over their mouths and they are being ridiculously funny) and eventually they say yes.  It’s yes times 4.

Me ?  I probably would have said no, but perhaps maybe.

Dana- She sings a Shaka Kahn song.  Okay so she screeches it like I have never heard before.

Simon tells her she can’t sing big songs.  Dana tells him she will take any direction they give her.  Simon says, “Take a right and another right.”  (as in out the door – funny Simon)  No times 4.

I agree !

Kaneshwa-  She sings an Anita Baker son.  She’s a 16 year old girl and her mother is her biggest fan.

Simon says, “I’ve never heard that song like that before in my life … your voice is just terrible.  Are you surprised ?”

Kaneshwa says, “From you ?  No.”

The judges have a chuckle and there is talk of who has told her she has a good voice and then her mother is brought into the room.  Simon tells her mother the audition was terrible.  He asks her mom what she really and truly thinks of her daughter’s singing.  Her mother says, “She sing all around Jacksonville.”  Simon makes a rude comment.  No times 4.

I agree again, but I think Simon could have been nicer !

Julissa “Beauty Queen”- She does some Whitney Houston.  The faces she makes when she sings and those lips, yikes !

Simon says, “It was better than I thought it would be.”  But goes on to say that doesn’t mean he likes it.  He then comments on her laugh and tells her it bothers him.  The judges all mimic her laugh.  Simon, Randy and Cara all say their piece and say no and Simon says okay it’s a no and Paula says she didn’t even get to say anything.  She says now with 4 judges someone always gets over looked.  She gets up and walks off (I think this is all or mostly playful) and won’t come back.  Julissa gets her to come back.  And because she brought Paula back the judges all say yes.  Yes times 4.

I don’t know if I agree.

Darren- He sings “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” by Boyz II Men.  He’s a very (obnoxiously so) friendly guy.  We see him chat up everyone and make a friend.  His friend is cut and Darren loses his composure.  When it comes time for his audition he is choked up and has some trouble starting.  Paula asks him if he’s okay and he says he is.  Eventually he starts and I wish he hadn’t.

Simon says, “I’m going to stop this because this just isn’t happening.”  (Thank you Simon !)  It’s no times 4.

I agree !

We get to see some of the cut contestants in little blips at this point.  Nothing special or spectacular.

Naomi- She sings Loving You.  She’s the last audition of day 1 in Florida.  She compares herself to Mariah Carey.  When Simon asks her why she says because she can sing the high notes.  She goes on about how her friend just loves Randy and is such a huge fan and would die to meet him.  Her friend is then invited in to the audition.  As her friend is coming in Paula asks her if she has ants in her pants.  She had been hopping around the entire time.  Her friend is in and ends up sitting with the judges, onRandy’s lap.  Ryan says he’s going to call Randy’s wife and he ends up on Kara’s lap while Paula is on Simon’s lap.  Simon finally says, “Sing the bloody song.”  Naomi sings.  It’s s bad Kara covers Ryan’s ears.  Everyoen in the room joins in for the la la la part.  Naomi gets upset when the judges don’t have praise for her.  Then there is a group hug.  No times 4.

I agree again.

There were 9 golden tickets given on day 1 in Jacksonville Florida.  Ryan asks Simon how the day was and Simon says, “Mostly they were terrible.”

Start day 2.

Jasmine-  She sings “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergi.  She’s the youngest of 5 kids.  Her mother and 3 sisters are with her and are very supportive of her.

Simon says, “Cute, commercial, very good singer.”  Paula says, “I think she’s good.”  Yes times 4.

Again I agree.

George- I don’t remember what he sang, it wasn’t memerable I guess.  He studies physics and when Ryan asked him if he would chose physics or music it took him a minute to think but he finally said, “I could live without physics.”  His audition begins with Simon asking him where he sees himself in 11 years.  Geroge rambles that there are so many ways it go could.  The singing starts.

Simon asks him if he’s ever done the singing thing in public or for people.  George says in public no, just for his friends.  Simon says, “What do your friends do ?”  Geroge answers with, “They rock climb …”  Paula laughs.  It’s no times 4.

I couldn’t agree more !!

Anne Marie- She says Kara is her hero and she saw her sing at some place once.  She starts to sing the song she heard Kara sing.  Kara is impressed that she knows/remembers the song.  She does a pretty good job of it too.

Simon says, “The problem I have with you slightly” Randy cuts in and is explaining that she doesn’t have the star persona she really ought to have.  Simon tells her, “I want you to come back another person.”  We then see her getting ready outside, finding make up and changing her look a little bit.

T.K.- He sings John Lennon’s “Imagine” … I am big on John Lennon and I believe some things should be respected and left as they are and darnit, Lennon is one of those things.  So when he makes it all fancy, I’m completely turned off.  He has such a good voice though !

Simon says, “Thank you T.K.”  Paula tells him he has a very good voice and says, “You can sing, we know that … you’ve gotten better since last year.”  Randy says it was “too over the top.”  Pauls says, “Let’s vote.”  Simon’s vote is no but everyone else says yes.  No times 1, yes times 3, yes wins.

I agree with the yes votes if we go on his voice, but the no vote if we go by what he did to that song.

We now hear parents talk about their kids and how proud they are of them etc etc – this leads into the next audition.

Michael- He sings “Jumper” but Third Eye Blind.  He plays guitar and when he was told he could not audition with his guitar he lost his grip a little bit.  He is most comfortable with his guitar and says he didn’t come with a back up plan.  He cries a little bit but manages to pull himself together enough to go into the audition room.  He puts his guitar don in front of the judges’ table.  He starts to sing, it’s shaky and you can tell he need his guitar, but I kinda liked the rawness to him.

Simon says, “I think you’re quiet interesting, but your voice is not.”  The judges discuss how he would be better with his guitar.  Simon tells him not to plead when Michael starts to explain himself.  Simon tells him to get a real job and start a band as a hobby in his spare time.  It’s  no times 4.

Anne Marie is back.  As the judges pick apart her new look she tells them she found a make up artist on the street.  They talk abotu what she has changed.  She says sheh as two songs she can sing, Simon tells her to do the second one.  She sings, “Bubbly.”  I really like it !  But I liked her the first time too.

Randy says, “You have a really good voice …”  They all say yes and that she came back with the star persona they were looking for.  Yes times 4.

I completely agree.

That’s it for the Jacksonville auditions.  16 golden tickets were handed out.  There is a medly of different people singing I’m Walking On Sunshine to end the show.  Tomorrow is Salt Lake City.

Of those we saw that went through I would have to say:  The first few I did not think should have made it through. Michael should have made it through.  Anne Marie will definitely sail through Hollywood and make it to the top 24 I think.