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The third audition episode was held in North Carolina, home of Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino. It was a fun two-hour episode. (The shows are really heavy on the commercials this year, aren't they? I started watching twenty minutes after the show had started, and was already at "real time" by just a little after the second hour started.)
Not so many memorable things from tonight's show, besides one contestant: Kelly Pickler. Kelly is a pretty 19-year-old waitress with no mom, and a dad in jail. She seems to have a nice TV personality, and sings awfully well. She's one of the first "sure things" that I've seen so far.
Another probable sure thing is a sweet young girl (age 17) named Paris Bennett. She sang a good version of a Billy Holiday song. She's likely to be in it for a while as well.
One more impressive audition was community do-gooder (housewife?) Halicia Thompson. Seems like she was another one who shows promise out of NC.
Other comments:
- Simon's funniest line in a long time was delivered tonight. He said something like: "You're more 'Jerry Springer' than 'American Idol'" to one of the contestants. Insightful, and spot-on.
- I wasn't so into that Airforce guy who made it to the next round. His "appeals" to Paula came across as creepy.
- Simon suggested that one guy, Kenneth, wear a dress. I thought he was a good singer, but I don't know... I'd bet that that guy will be good for some drama in Hollywood.
- I enjoyed Tyra Schwartz's audition. (She was the one who had just split with her boyfriend.) Her singing was okay, but her strong-suit seems to be her personality. I must have a soft spot for those dark-haired ladies from the east coast.
- I don't get why that one guy wore a fireman suit.
That's all for today. Let's see what happens in San Francisco.