Just when you thought is was safe for your ears to watch television, American Idol’s auditions for season 8 have kicked off- with a whole new gaggle of off-key warblers packing into large auditoriums in cities across America hoping to wow Simon, Randy and Paula. Most recently, thousands of wannabe popstars crowded the New Jersey Meadowlands- most of them leaving in tears with no “golden ticket.”
More than 15,000 American Idol wannabes auditioned for the hit show’s producers Tuesday at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands. The few hundred that got picked will get a second audition. Those survivors will then go before Simon, Randy and Paula.
“I am so excited I’m just trying to contain it,” said Christopher Bingham, 20, of Wauseon, Ohio, who wowed the judges with a rendition of “Gallery” by Mario Vazquez.
“I’ve wanted to do the show since it started.”
Others weren’t so lucky.
“I feel hurt,” said Jyreek Ellerbe, 21 of the Bronx, who sang “Yesterday” by Shanice. “They rejected me. I don’t think I was a bad singer. I honestly don’t.”
Some rejects exited the building in tears. One collapsed. Another distraught, tearful women harrumphed, “They’re not looking for good singers. They’re looking for an image.”
The Bronx’s TeaQue-N Thomas, 27, took her defeat in stride.
“I sang and they felt I wasn’t needed for this season,” she said after performing “Feel the Fire” by Stephanie Mills. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”
The frenzied crowd began to queue outside the arena at midnight but security told them to come back in the morning. Registration ended at 8 a.m.
“I was about to start sleeping on the sidewalk,” said Ed Love, 21, of Mastic, N.Y., who arrived at 3:30 a.m. but eventually bedded down in a hotel.
Tony Jackson, 23, was the last contestant to register at Gate A at 7:58 a.m. “I was running here,” he said. “You see my sweating?”
Jackson performed Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster” but didn’t make the cut.
The cattle-call of contestants had no more than 30 seconds before getting the thumb’s up or down.
“They cut me, man. They cut me,” said Daniel Monge, Jr. of Yonkers before vowing, “I’ll be back. I’ll be back next season.”
While the show is still a number one juggernaut for FOX, its ratings slipped last season. Many complained that the “bad auditions” portion of the show went on far too long, while the “Hollywood Week” segment was packed into a couple of hours. Viewers also felt that they were being manipulated into voting for the producers’ and judges’ obvious favorite, David Archuleta, who ended up finishing second behind David Cook. Personally, I think the show would be far more enjoyable with a new set of judges and the absence of one Ryan Seacrest. But most likely, when the show makes its return on Jan. 9, I’ll be watching. With my ears plugged.
Note by Celebitchy: Here are some bad auditions from American Idol’s past season which you may have already seen.
Alexis Cohen from Allentown, PA. You just feel bad for this girl until she starts going off. She’s also shown in the header:
Douglas Davidson
Aretha Codner
Couple that met on American Idol message boards
I know it’s mean to say but the auditions are my favorite part of this show’s process. It’s hysterical!
I love when they continue to argue with the judges who rightfully say ‘NO’ to their auditions.
Simon is my favorite.
Oh me too! Only part worth watching. X-Factor has just started here and already the mad and the insanely delusioned are out in force. Seriously, BEST laugh of the week!
Alexis Coehn is one of my favorite bad auditions of all time!
Why the AI producers don’t follow their own lead and use the “So You Think You Can Dance” model to tinker with AI baffles me.
SYTYCD has gotten better with each season as have the dancers and choreography. And the judges know their stuff — and they rotate guest judges in every week. It’s as if they used the AI template and got rid of all the crappy parts. (And since Nigel Lithgow is a producer on both AI and SYTYCD I don’t know why AI is sucking worse with each season and SYTYCD gets better.)
Though I, too, like the auditions, they have been going on waaaay too long — and there’s also been an increase in the not-talented to batshit crazy ratio.
Too much crazy isn’t good, it’s just creepy. I don’t enjoy wondering if a contestant is going to jump the judges table and knife Simon. (Though I imagine that would help ratings.)
Ya know when I was a kid in choir and the like, my mom would tell me how wonderful my voice was.. as an adult I know that parents are supposed to encourage their children… but seriously encourage them to the point of delusion?? that cannot be healthy.
but i guess thats why its soo damn funny watching those delusional messes thinking they are the next kelly or carrie.
I think I’m the only person on earth who simply hates the bad auditions. I can’t watch them. It’s only funny the FIRST time the fat black girl goes off on the judges or the scrawny white geek looks astonished that they don’t appreciate his talent.
I’m getting to where I can’t stand the show anyway. Original concept: amateur talent, follow them as they compete, grow, blossom. Now it’s professionals who didn’t make it the first time, nobody grows, I can’t stand Randy and Paula, and Simon is the only bright spot in the whole show. I didn’t even watch last year, and doubt I do this year either.
I really don’t understand why this show is still on. This and Big Brother.
“They’re not looking for good singers. They’re looking for an image.”
No shit, Sherlock.
Douglas Davidson has something wrong with him. Ok, duh. But seriously, he reminded me of teenagers I work with who have Asperger’s. No social clue, no concept of appropriate behavior. It was sad to watch him.
My boyfriend tried out for AI about two years ago. He had to go through two things of producers before Paula, Randy and Simon. He got through but was cut off at the second audition.
He has a wonderful voice ( trust me I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true) but he quit singing for a year after it. But he got signed to some record label recently so I guess it’s okay.
I heard some of the people they sent right on through and they made William Hung sound like Josh Groban.
The only part I watch is the auditions.
A friend of mine made it through a couple years ago but dropped out when he read a copy of the contract. If you win, they OWN you for like 10 years.
So he says, anyway. T’was a shame, he sings like an angel.
If someone wanted to pay me 2 million dollars and give me a record deal…they could tell me how much to weigh, what to wear, and where to go for ten years. Fo. sho.
It’s like Simon said one time or other (they all run together after you watch more than one season..so I’m paraphrasing), “Oh, please, why do you feel sorry for them? If they win, they’ll be millionares for life.”
My sentiments exactly.
However…I just can’t watch the first few weeks. The bad auditions just make me cringe so hard for these people. How can you be THAT BAD and not know? Oh, it breaks my heart for them.
They made a huge mistake not letting daniel monge jr on to the next round.Ive heard him sing and he has a beautiful voice, plus he can dance and rap.Watch out for him america-hes the next jt