American Idol 9 – Hollywood Week part 1
Feb 23, 2010 That's Hot
Ellen Degeneres takes her spot at the judges’ table as the next rounds of auditions take place during Hollywood Week. It’s gonna take four episodes to get us to our top 24, and I know I’ve got some DVR work to do. Heeeeeeeeere we go. 
- Ellen’s not going to give Ryan or Simon any crap. Good to know.
- Katie Stevens is first up, followed by “Skiiboski,” Antonio Wheeler. They both sound good to me, though Ellen cautions him not to haunt their audience. Katie gets through, but Skiiboski gets cut from the first group of eight to go up.
- Andrew Garcia takes a swing and Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” acoustically on guitar, and does an impressive job. Vanessa Wolfe does her best to not be a nervous wreck, with not a ton of success. She goes home as Andrew moves on.
- Cornelius Edwards practices torture techniques, while Meagan Wright and Amedeo DiRocco also come up short.
- Janell Wheeler nails “American Boy” on the guitar and moves on easily, while a number of other folks bomb on theirs. Haeley Vaughn and Mary Powers also breeze through.
- Ellen tortures the last four contestants of day one with step instructions, then sends them all ahead.
- Simon says the magic words that kill auditioners’ memories instantly: “Don’t forget the words.”
- Jay Stone tries to beat-b0x and bombs, while Lilly Scott impresses with Ella Fitzgerald. She moves on, while Jay is done.
- Michael Lynche sings for his about-to-be-newborn child, and does great.
- Cancer-survivor Justin Williams and Tim Urban take their shots at moving on. Tim’s a little shaky to start, but does well. Justin just gets an “interesting” from Randy, and is the only one cut from his group of 8.
- Maddy Curtis doesn’t pick the right song, in the judges’ opinion. Casey James rocks the bluesy guitar and gets through, while Maddy heads for home.
- Running the last line of day two, Didi Benami tries one of Kara’s songs, and sounds pretty good to me. Crystal Bowersox is singing for her son, and does a great job too.
181 have been cut to 96. Next up, one of the toughest parts of every Hollywood Week: group sing.
