Idol Chatter & Voice Views

I’m really a little baffled by Idol’s strategy tonight.

Airing a special audition episode after the NFC championship game? After a football game that’s not likely to end until well after 10 p.m. by the time all the post-game stuff is completed?

I mean, is this the best way to widen your audience. I’m sure lots of guys who have sat around watching eight hours of football today are going to think, “Hey, this is great. Now let’s watch some 15 year olds try to get a golden ticket on American Idol.”

The only thing that would be sillier is if tonight’s episode was airing one of the auditions from the East Coast.  At least it won’t be too late for the folks out West to watch the auditions from San Diego.

Those auditions, by the way, took place aboard the USS Midway. “Stunning location,” Nigel Lythgoe tweeted earlier this evening, “but very noisy.”

By the way, if you want a more in-depth look at the golden ticket recipients featured in the first two audition episodes, go here.  Whenever possible, I’ve also embedded some pre-Idol music.

And, at long last, at 10:58, Idol’s San Diego episode begins. Do you really think half your normal audience is watching, Nigel? Stupid idea.

Jennifer Diley, 19, Columbus, Ohio, sushi bar waitress: Wow, it’s almost the return of bikini girl. She says she’d work with animals if she can’t sing. She’s hoping to impress the male judges. In that tiny outfit. After all, better to get two votes than one. Steven tells her her voice lacks the fire of her outfit. She sings two songs, and no outfit is going to help that voice. She doesn’t make it to Hollywood. Darn. Well, we still have Brittany Kerr, right guys? Randy jokes that she should have worn a red bikini.

Ashley Robles, 26, San Diego, Calif., insurance account agent: Ashley is as pretty as contestant number one, but doesn’t show up looking nearly as desperate. She also had a much better voice on “I Will Always Love You.” Ashley has a 5-year-old daughter she’s struggling to support. Wow, very big voice. Perhaps one of the better we’ve heard so far in these auditions. Steve predicts she’ll “be big.” And she’s bound to Hollywood.

Jayrah Gibson, 26, Long Beach, Calif., artist: Next up is a guy who says there’s no B plan, because if you put energy into a B plan, there’s not enough left for the A plan. He calls himself an R&B / pop artist who has written a song called “Shake Your Money Maker” for Jennifer Lopez. He’s going to sing “Just Friends” when he stops making noises. No lack of confidence or stage presence with this guy, but I have to wonder about that voice. Randy says he’s “mad-mad good.” Steven loves it too, “the whole ball of wax.”

Aubree Dieckmeyer, 20, San Clemente, Calif., receptionist: Next up is a girl who might want to be America’s Next Top Model, but flashes another pretty smile at Steven and wins him over with a pretty rendition of “Feeling Good,” filled with a touch of soul. Randy says she has a “really good natural talent.” Steven says he hasn’t heard anyone talk “with that flavor in her voice.” And she’s off to Hollywood too.

Alexis “Ali” Shields, 19, Lodi, Calif., student: OK, so she appeared on Ellen because she wrote a song about how much she wanted to meet Ellen. Then Ellen sent her off to the American Music Awards to get kissed for the first time (by Usher, among others) and to interview celebrities. So that inspired her to rap for the judges on American Idol. Gee, thanks Ellen. The rap didn’t go so well, so now the judges have asked her to sing. Randy says she can sing “a little” and that she’s just “crazy enough to make it.” I think the judges were a little crazy to send her to Hollywood. Prediction: Gone on first day.

Kyle Crews, 19, San Deigo, Calif., student: This college guy from University of California Berkeley says he serenades every pretty girl he sees, so it’s not surprising he’s going to be inspired by Jennifer Lopez and her voluptuous lips. And he’s going to sing “Angel of Mine” to Jennifer. Steven proclaims him “the best male voice we’ve heard,” though Randy suggests he go shopping for a new wardrobe.

Joanne Childers, 26, Huntington Beach, Calif., interpreter for deaf: OK, apparently she isn’t a serious contestant, just someone to kick off a segment showing us how noisy it is on the Idol set.

Jane Carrey, 24, Los Angeles, Calif., waitress: OK, first we find out that she’s a full-time mom and a sometimes waitress. That she’s a huge ham who loves to be on stage. Then we learn she’s the daughter of Jim Carrey. No wonder she’s at home.  Under that shadow, she says she’s trying to find her place.  She sings “Something to Talk About.” She has a nice tone to her voice, but the judges say she needs to work on her performance techniques. She’s off to Hollywood. No surprise there.

Jason Hamlin, 24, Livermore, Calif., mechanic: He goes by the name Wolf and he’s a mechanic on a golf course. He’s playing a guitar built by his father, who died in February 2010. He started singing three years ago after he got that guitar. Oh, and he howls just to prove his nickname. He’s going to sing “Midnight Special.”  Another guy with a nice voice, not sensational, but pretty good. The judges want to hear a second song and let him play his dad’s guitar and sing “Folsom Prison Blues.”  And he gets three yes votes and is headed to Hollywood. Werewolves in Hollywood, he proclaims.