S14.E05: Auditions #5

[Tara Ariano]

Auditions continue.

[Packerbrewerbadger]

Keith bringing the idol contestant onstage during his concert was one of the coolest things I've seen on TV.

[BogoGog24]

I thought this was the least interesting episode yet of the whole season. I barely remember anyone so that's kind of a bad sign… The only ones I remember that I liked were: Girl whose husband is in the air force and she cried, the rocker guy with blonde hair that they showed before break with the Hollywood or Home poll, and the girl that likes to hunt. She reminded me a LOT of Lauren Alaina, actually. Very similar voices. 

 

There were quite a few that got through that I was like huh? That guy that sang with a country accent I thought had a rather average sounding voice. And really, what's with all these people showing up to one of the biggest auditions in their lives in a hoodie and jeans or whatever the most craptastic outfit was that they could find in their closet? That girl that I believe was shown first that screamed her way through House of the Rising Sun…. yeah she should not have gone through. She sounds like she has potential but she needs to dial it back. And I'm not understanding these people that say they have so little experience performing in front of people but then want to try out for a show like Idol…. um, what do you think you'll be doing? 

 

The Jerry Lee Lewis guy is a conundrum. On the one hand, he can obviously give Harry a run for his money on piano and he's very entertaining. But he'd more suited for something like AGT, not Idol. The judges were definitely spot on about him just imitating someone. I fear he is stuck in his Vegas role and probably won't/can't come out of it for this show. But hey he's got a pretty nice gig doing that, so….

 

The 16 year old that sang Etta James… I can't believe the judges were falling over themselves with that. She was good, but at the same time we've seen so many young singers walk in over the years and do the exact same thing. And she was basically yelling the whole time. She needs to learn to dial it back. 

 

I'm not sure what I think about the last guy. He has a real interesting and unique tone, that's for sure. But I need to hear more. Apparently he made it to the Battle Rounds on season 4 of The Voice as part of Team Shakira. Interesting.

Also, Harry trying to be funny every second of the show and the judges constantly speaking over contestants' singing is really getting unnerving. Shut. Up. Please.

[Fisher King]

This whole episode was just unbearable.  I've always had the problem of the well, maybe I'm not hearing it the way the judges are hearing it there live thing, but I don't know....

 

I did like the older dude with the black cap and guitar. Mark Andrews?

[mojoween]

Shannon, the first girl, I liked how cute she looked in her basic clothes. I liked the first like of "HotRS" but then holy hell she started shrieking and I was like oh, this is a joke and then they all praised her to high heaven and I couldn't believe it. Then to play Janis Joplin underneath like they thought that is who she was emulating? No. Just...no.

[tomorrowgirl]

The girl singing House of the Rising Sun was awful.  It sounded like a cat who had its tail repeatedly stepped on.  I couldn't believe that she got a golden ticket.

[KR Vermont]

I'm not understanding the leap from being too scared to sing in your school's talent show because people might laugh at you, to auditioning your inexperienced self in front of celebrities on a show with global reach...wearing a nondescript oversize t-shirt and jeans...screeching lyrics...no chance of anyone laughing at you now, eh.

[Rick Kitchen]

Girl with a husband in the Air Force needs to cut back on the caffeine.

[bilgistic]

How do you just get to call someone in the Armed Forces any old time? Don't tell me I've been misled my whole life by movies and television programming that suggest that soldiers can't be reached by phone except for emergencies and special occasions, like holidays. Is it really like working at Arby's in Peoria, and when Jim's wife passes the first round of auditions to be on America's Next Top Model, Jim can step away from the curly fry deep fryer to take her call? I need the truth; my world needs an anchor.

Edited January 22, 2015 by bilgistic

[Rick Kitchen]

How do you just get to call someone in the Armed Forces any old time? Don't tell me I've been misled my whole life by movies and television programming that suggests that soldiers can't be reached by phone except for emergencies and special occasions, like holidays. Is it really like working at Arby's in Peoria, and when Jim's wife passes the first round of auditions to be on America's Next Top Model, Jim can step away from the curly fry deep fryer to take her call? I need the truth; my world needs an anchor.

 

Her husband was at home with the kids.  He's stationed at Minot Air Force Base, he isn't deployed.

[UsernameFatigue]

Wow, that was just painful. I said to hubby that if that had been the first audition show I doubt I would have tuned in next week, given the number of people they put through that I thought were terrible. Is there a minimum number they have to put through in each city? The only memorable thing about the whole hour was the footage of Keith keeping his promise to the contestant and bringing him onstage at his concert. Love Keith. Oh, and the contestant who told Keith when she got her ticket that she had yelled (I assume when they were going into the building) that she liked his butt, and JLo automatically thought the contestant was talking to her. LOL.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

Anyone who can do even a passable King Louie (Louis Prima) gets an automatic golden ticket from me.  That guy really did have his own vibe.  With the right producer, he'd have a good chance to make a nice career.  I don't see AI working for him, though.

 

The one with real Top 10 potential was the tall-ish brunette with a standard guitar who effortlessly "walked" as she sang.  I sense she could adapt perfectly to whatever TPTB throw at her.

 

Harry was too silly a lot of the time, yet the serious criticisms he gave to those with actual potential were dead freaking on.  No, I won;t get used to that now that Hollyweird is near. 

 

I so do not appreciate the anointed invitees like the Jerry Lee Lewis performer.  He's a decent enough singer.  By no means is his voice special.  I just wish the professionals were not featured on AI.  There is more than enough raw talent to meet AI's needs.

[Follies]

I must need new ears because every time I wince through an audition, the judges then rave like it's the second coming.  House of the Rising Sun girl?  WTF was THAT???  And on a shallow note, Keith is just about the hottest thing ever now that Kate's no longer doing his hair.  Lucky girl, Nicole!

 

Most Importantly:  That you, thank you, thank you to whoever's keeping the camera off JLo and on the performers, where it belongs.  Let's hope this continues throughout the season.

[buttered toast]

Harry and Keith barely saved this episode.  Truly dismal; the talent pool in Minneapolis must be dangerously shallow.  Obviously there was a quota of golden tickets that had to be given out.

[Ladyrain]

I agree about the number of barely passable singers who nevertheless got Golden Tickets. And in my defense of what I'm about to add, let me say that I do like this panel of judges and how they interact with each other. However, my theory is that they give the go-ahead to so many mediocre singers so that it will make it easier to cull the herd in Hollywood. TPTB already have their favorites and they don't want to jeopardize their chances of advancing past Hollywood any more than they absolutely have to. So having a sizable number of so-so's allows the judges to further that agenda. But the Hollywood rounds have produced some surprises (and disappointments) so we shall see.

[Misslindsey]

The only thing I did like besides Keith keeping his promise and pulling the guy who auditioned onstage at his concert was, after Hunter Girl auditioned, Harry was joking that they had to let her through because she killed a bear the previous week. Then the next person auditioning comes in with what looked to be a bear spirit hood on. Nice job crew member who made sure they were next to each other in line.

[tobeannounced]

I just love Harry, and he's about the only reason I watch this show.  Like someone upthread said, I was wincing my way through a lot of the people that got golden tickets.

[Foghorn Leghorn]

I literally had tears in my eyes from laughing after they let "bear killer" through!  Keith was on the desk laughing, Jennifer I think tries hard to get the humor and sometimes if works sometimes not but Harry and Keith work it!  Then to make me laugh harder in walks the guy with the animal head on and Harry almost loses it and Keith laughs harder!!!  I was really LMAO!!!  I think Harry has taken over the show but in a good way, Keith is hilarious too.  They must have a quota to let so many horrible ones go through.  Remember when they get there they are put on buses and some are heading right back to the airport right so they have to set up lots of people to be on those buses!!  

 

Seriously who kills an animal for fun?!  I don't get it and she is proud of this...  

[40Love]

Also, Harry trying to be funny every second of the show and the judges constantly speaking over contestants' singing is really getting unnerving. Shut. Up. Please.

 

I LOVE Harry! He is hilarious to me. I like silly and I love a man with a sense of humor. He and Keith really make the show fun for me. I like that Jennifer is the nurturing one. But, I think she sometimes takes herself too seriously. She's a little guarded at times. But, the three of them work. Can't wait to see Harry in 'Nawlins' next week! 

 

However, my theory is that they give the go-ahead to so many mediocre singers so that it will make it easier to cull the herd in Hollywood.of them work great together. 

 

Exactly! They need canon-fodder... and I'm betting the House of the Rising Sun girl is going to be on the first bus headed back to the airport. I fast forwarded through her audition when she started screaming... was surprised to see her get a golden ticket.

[radiochik]

Ugh.  So much screaming and too many WTF moments where golden tickets were concerned.  Such a letdown after the awesome Adam Lambert episode last week.  I honestly didn't like Jerry Lee Lewis guy when he tried to be himself.  He looked like Jerry Lee Lewis trying to sing a modern song.  Maybe he's been doing the Vegas show too long and can't get out of character?  Plus dude looked OLD even though they listed him as 20. (or early twenties...I can't remember.)

 

I kinda liked the last guy but he was on the Voice?  Let someone else have a chance at tv exposure.  Do these shows share an audience much?  I never got into the Voice past the audition rounds so I'm not a regular viewer.  Idol I've been watching since the beginning.

Edited January 22, 2015 by radiochik

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Have to admit I used mute during songs and FF during the woe is me segments before the contestant auditions.  And connect any contestant to the military and wave that flag=instant ticket!

Edited January 22, 2015 by Foghorn Leghorn

[RetailTherapy]

At one point, it was pretty clear when talent sang and when it didn't.  Like in the early days of Randy, Paula and Simon.  And after the Adam Lambert season, the whole shebang started to die a painful death.  Now, it's devolved into a veritable parade of coffee house singers (aka WGWG) with weirdly affected voices, girls who believe that screaming a song is totes the same as singing a song and the random folk who don cowboy boots and fancy themselves as "country".   I didn't see anyone at all last night who should have been sent through, including Jerry Lee Lewis Jr.  He was downright awful when he attempted a normal song.  I know that the mission of Harry, Keith and JLo is to keep this sinking tugboat afloat, but sending through random people simply because they managed to not induce ear bleeding isn't the way to go.

[BogoGog24]

I LOVE Harry! He is hilarious to me. I like silly and I love a man with a sense of humor. He and Keith really make the show fun for me.

I think Harry can be funny as well but it becomes annoying when he does it constantly (or at least that is how editing makes it look) or distracts from the contestants when they're actually singing. Funny can be balanced with serious. He has the ability to be funny and entertaining but also be serious when necessary and give critiques.

I will also just add that a lot of times auditions aren't an accurate depiction of a contestant's ability. There have been those with great auditions that later crashed and burned and those with so-so auditions that surprised us.

[backformore]

Catching up on episodes now,  I can't help but think that many, if not most of these singers would not have been given a golden ticket had they been on earlier seasons.  

I do wonder about why these people don't have a nicer outfit to wear on TV.  Not that they can't wear "street clothes", just avoid the big baggy hoodies and t-shirts, scruffy jeans,  etc.  Yeah, some stars, (like Keith Urban) perform in jeans and a t-shirt, but they are famous already .  (and some designer t-shirts cost hundreds) .

 

I DO like that the show has stopped with the mean stuff they used to do, with producers telling singers they were great, the judges will love them, only to be made fun of by the judges, and humiliated on TV.   I hated the mean, bullying vibe, and I used to skip the auditions and start watching at the Hollywood phase. 

[KR Vermont]

I do wonder about why these people don't have a nicer outfit to wear on TV.  Not that they can't wear "street clothes", just avoid the big baggy hoodies and t-shirts, scruffy jeans,  etc.  Yeah, some stars, (like Keith Urban) perform in jeans and a t-shirt, but they are famous already .  (and some designer t-shirts cost hundreds) .

I wrote same days ago that I deleted before submitting--probably veered off into get off my lawn territory, ha.

I get having a "I want to remain true to myself" mindset in keeping your typical overall look at auditions (though if you make it far you're likely going to be made over to some extent anyway), but you have such a brief opportunity to make a star first impression from your appearance and demeanor (because, as much as you may not like it, that does matter and the judges have said it many a time too, it's not just about a great voice)...so why would you go through the expense and interminable wait of the process to get to that point and show up looking less-than.

 

We won't all agree on what looks good or appropriate, but there are quite a few "WTF was that person thinking" moments on this show. Reminds me of business managers talking about so many people showing up for job interviews wearing clothes more appropriate for clubbing or lounging around at home. :/

[Shades of Red]

I wrote same days ago that I deleted before submitting--probably veered off into get off my lawn territory, ha.

I get having a "I want to remain true to myself" mindset in keeping your typical overall look at auditions (though if you make it far you're likely going to be made over to some extent anyway), but you have such a brief opportunity to make a star first impression from your appearance and demeanor (because, as much as you may not like it, that does matter and the judges have said it many a time too, it's not just about a great voice)...so why would you go through the expense and interminable wait of the process to get to that point and show up looking less-than.

 

We won't all agree on what looks good or appropriate, but there are quite a few "WTF was that person thinking" moments on this show. Reminds me of business managers talking about so many people showing up for job interviews wearing clothes more appropriate for clubbing or lounging around at home. :/

It may be part of "being true to myself" or possibly some people don't have dressier clothes.  I know in some cases, especially with the under 21 set for guys many don't own anything except jeans/sweatpants.  Why shell out money when you know if you get through the show is going to dress you and possibly make you over?  Not to say that's always the case, but while I agree that clothes can make or break a person, I also think in some cases if you're charismatic and have "that something" it doesn't matter what you're wearing.  If being dressed up isn't in your "usual" wheelhouse, then being dressed up may make you more self-conscious and uncomfortable in an already stressful situation.

[KR Vermont]

I'm not saying you have to "dress up" as in being uncomfortable, just be presentable--with whatever you (or your friends/family) have in your closet, no need to spend money. Nothing wrong with jeans or sweatpants, depending. If I was presenting myself in front of celebrities, especially if I like them, and millions of people around the planet, I'd want to come across as having "the total package" as they often mention. Perform well, be personable, try not to look like a hobo...be memorable for positive reasons. :) ymmv

[backformore]

The judges often comment on how a singer looks, though, so I think it is advisable to take appearance into consideration. I don't think they have to dress UP, necessarily, but a plain black t-shirt is not good enough, nor is a baggy grey hoodie. A bright color, a scarf, a collared shirt, can make a huge difference in how someone comes across. Jeans are fine, but they should fit.

The cheerleader who couldn't really sing got through because of her "personality",and I think the way she was dressed added to that perception.

Conversely, some do too much. The one girl with all the necklaces and bracelets, plus the pearl headband, was an example of someone who needed some restraint.

[BogoGog24]

The guy that came in in the grey hoodie and jeans could have easily swapped the hoodie for a plain button down or polo. That's hardly asking much. He looked like he was going out to do karaoke at the local bar, not a serious contender to be the next Idol. Even P2 dressed a bit better in his Idol days and it was still his style.

[auntlada]

They could at least put on actual shoes, not just flip flops. (I'm not talking about actual sandals or dressy flip-flop type shoes that girls might wear. I'm talking about the guys who showed up in what looked like actual rubber flip flops.)