American Idol

The first auditioner is Jessica Brown, 24, of Longview, Texas, a stay-at-home mom. She talks about being in college and experimenting with drugs, including a time when she was using meth every day. In public for the first time, she sang Jesus Take the Wheel, as she felt it was such an emotional song and meant for her. Her mom feels that now that she's off drugs, she's finally back to her old self. Jessica feels that if she could stop one person from using, this whole journey would be worth it for her.

Walking into her audition, she sings I'll Stand By You, and she's amazing. For someone that likes the emotion in songs, she knows how to put it in there. Simon tells her she made the song interesting, and that it was a good audition. Randy heard a few pitchy things, but thought it wasn't bad. She gets through, and her whole waiting family is very happy for her.

Paul Stamford, 25, of Crosby, Texas is a park attendant, doing mowing, wedding, picking up garbage, and making the sports fields look pretty. He's been dancing all morning for everyone, but now he goes in to sing for the judges. Paul tells them he's a member of the American Roller Coaster Enthusiasts, and when asked, agrees that American Idol is a scary road like a real roller coaster. He's going to sing Elliott Yamin's Wait For You, and he's horrendous. Simon looks like he just can't believe it. Paula calls it joyful, and Simon asks if he has ever sung in public, which he hasn't. He's sung in front of his family, and they have told him two thumbs up. Simon calls him a nice guy, but ... Randy tells him he's not right for this, but was fun, and Paula agrees. Simon calls him enthusiastic, and informs Paul it's three noes. Simon does a perfect impression of him after he leaves, and I'm sure we'll see this more at some point during the season.

Beth Maddocks, 18, Coppell, TX, is a big fan of Kelly Clarkson, and would love to be like her. She's a singing waitress in a fondue restaurant. She's gong to be singing Beautiful Disaster, and says people compare her to Kelly Clarkson. Kelly's a bit too screechy, and for giggles, they show Kelly's picture on the wall while Beth sings. Simon wonders what kind of tips she got as a singing waitress, and she claims to get $30 to $90 a table, with Simon suggesting it must be monthly. Paula passes, as do the other two, and Beth's out.

Elaine Whitaker, 16, Tulsa, OK, admits to being told she looks like Carrie Underwood, but she thinks she's cuter and likes to thick Carrie looks like her. Tonight she's singing Stronger, and while it had the makings of a bad audition, she's quite good. Another great girl showing some emotion. Simon calls it a good audition, but he doesn't think she's as good as she thinks she is. She offers to sing Celling Dion instead, but Simon explains she was good, but he didn't like the "latter" part of the song, confusing her. Paula talks of a heaviness in her voice that has great power to it. Wrapping it up, Elaine gets three yeses to go to Hollywood.

It's time for bad auditions. It's Gregory and Mia Tobias, 18 and 16, of Ennis, Texas. They think they're harmonizing, but it's terrible, like a bad car wreck. No one says a thing after, and they just walk right out. It's probably the best for everyone.

Next up is Bruce Dickson, 19, of Bastrop, Texaas, whose father is far too involved in his life. Bruce has never even kissed a girl, let alone anything else. His father gave him a key on a chain, and his father wears the heart. When he meets his future wife, his father will give her the heart necklace, so his son will then have the key to his fiance's heart. Ryan tells the dad that if he meets a girl out in Hollywood, he's in big trouble. He tells the judges about this whole thing, and Simon is dumbfounded. He sings Ain't No Sunshine for them, and it's rough, but good. Randy tells him he has a good voice, but ... and Simon feels it's a voice that sounds good in the room, but won't be good when they see him back on TV. Paula doesn't hear an R&B singer and feels he needs to find who he is first. Everyone votes no, and when he asks for advice, he's told to kiss some girls, or even Ryan on the way out.

Pia "Zpia" Easely, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, is a model and musician and also sings background. She sings I've Got to Use My Imagination for the judges and she has quite the unique look and sound, with a close cropped bleached blonde faux hawk. Simon smiles slightly and calls it a great audition, saying she's interesting. He thinks she doesn't have the demeanor of a backup singer, as they're usually like whipped donkeys, and Randy suggests they all have welts on their back. Simon likes Zpia because she's stylish and confident. Paula likes her too and would like to see what her range is. Randy loves her "three," and that right there is her ticket to Hollywood.

Brandon Green, 21, from Lucedale, Mississippi, has an interesting collection, a plastic bag of peeled fingernails. Brandon's here because he wants to be a positive influence on America, unlike Britney Spears or Paris Hilton. He sings Rich Girl, and he's a little raw, but there's some really interesting quality there. Paula kind of likes him and Randy feels even though he's a little karaoke, he actually has a good voice. Brandon waits for Simon's critique, as "he's straight up and the man." Simon was going to say no, and Randy has a little fun with Brandon's comments. Paula gives him a yes, and Randy says he also tells the truth, and he's sending him on to Hollywood.

Kayla Hatfield 24, of Campbell, Texas, lives on a farm with horses and is a mother of 2. When she was 18 she was in a horrible accident where she lost part of her face, including one eye. When she walks in to see the judges, Randy is appreciative of her "colorful" outfit. Kayla feels she's already an American Idol because of because of being a survivor, remaining positive and getting on with it. She sings a little Janis Joplin, and has a completely different singing voice and persona than her demure speaking voice. Simon tells her he'd like to be her for one hour a day as she's so happy. Under the assumption that most rock and role singers should be slightly mad, he's going to say yes. Paula loves Kayla's personality, and thinks she runs out of gas singing, so is going to say no. Randy recognizes the pitch problems, but just likes her. He sends her through. She is so excited, she tries to scream, but nothing comes out.

Eric Malden 21, of Arlington, Texas, a large man, steps up for his audition, and it's a big completely falsetto thing, and Simon tells him he sounds like he's 7. Charles Markham and Tristan Clemens don't do much better with comments of "creepy."

The last audition of the first day is Kady Malloy, 18, of Houston, Texas, who does impressions. She does her Britney Spears impression, doing well with both the impression and the song. Trying Rascal Flatts, she does well again, so Simon asks her to just be her this time, and she sings his favorite Unchained Melody, doing even better than her impressions. Randy agrees with that, and Paula tells her she's exactly what they're looking for and is a talented girl. Simon tells her of all the people they have seen this year, she's the most talented. She gets yeses across the board and she's through to Hollywood. All in all, 11 people get that golden ticket on the first day.

On day two in Dallas, Douglas Davidson, 28, of Austin, Texas is worried about losing his voice. He's been trying to restart his singing hobby since he was 16. He heard Christina Aguillera once say you could strain your voice forever if you don't know what you're doing. His dad tells him he hates him for singing, but something tells me it's not in that Scott Savol "his dad is against this" way.

He does some vocal warmups in front of the judges, then sings Living On a Prayer. Simon asks him, "What in the bloody hell was that," and Randy agrees it was a strange audition. He admits there were a few notes he missed on it, and Simon thinks only one was right. He collects himself, then walks around the room, still doing his vocal exercises. He tries again, two separate times, and Simon implores him to stop, telling him he doesn't want to hear any more stupidity. Simon is trying to get rid of him, but Paula is telling him he needs to loosen his voice up, making him walk around in circles and keep singing. The nice security men come to "take him someplace safe," as Simon tells him. Even after he leaves, he still keeps working on it in the stairwell.

Angela Reilly, 24, Dallas, Texas, just got married, and says her new husband helped her get ready by choosing songs with her. He's a professional model, Chad. Chad walks into her audition with her and suggests she sing Baby Love. She's just terrible, but Chad suggests it was just awesome. Simon knows he loves her, as love is deaf. He tells her to try again with Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and it's just as bad. Chad admits to Simon he owns music, and thinks he would buy his wife's music. The judges like her, but tell her she's nowhere near where she needs to be and too amateurish.

With all the political history of Texas, there's a guy running to be elected as American Idol, Kyle Ensley, 21, of Valliant, OK. He's even wearing a tie, and is a junior at Oklahoma State University, double majoring in International Business and Political Science. He's going to try to be a good role model as the Idol. He sings Sombebody to Love for the judges, but is way too controlled and sounds like he's singing back in his junior year of high school. Simon doesn't think he was as bad as he thought he was going to be, though, and votes yes, producing many wows from Paula. Randy felt like he was at the glee club, and Paula mentions it wasn't actually a good thing as Kyle thanks him for the critique. Simon warns Paula that if she says no, he could be saying that to the future president of the country. He also asks Kyle if he's going to go Clay Aiken on them, and he promises not to. Paula gives in, and votes him in. He's through.

Tammy Tuzinski, 24, of Grapevine, Texas, says she's R&B pop, but she has no enthusiasm whatsoever. Very dull. Her idol is Celine Dion as she gives her warmth and strength when she sings. I wonder how dull she is without that influence. Randy tells her Texas has a habit of making it rough for them, ever since Kelly Clarkson. She sings Power of Love. She takes several different stabs at it, but it doesn't improve. Simon asks her how it went, and she thinks she gave it her best shot. She predicts she's going to get a no and is right. Ryan jokes she's heading home to unwind after the intensity of her audition.

In next is Colton Swon, 18, of Muskogee, Oklahoma. He's a musician playing guitar and bass, and is in a band with his brother. He's behind him, depending on how far he gets with this. He sings Boondocks for the judges. Paula loves the song and thinks he did a good job, but suggests he open his eyes while he projects. Simon calls it okay, but thinks there's a lot of guys sitting in bars doing that. Randy liked him too, but doesn't think he needs to push it that hard. Simon is ambivalent, but eventually decides to send him through. He has them pretend he didn't make it, though, to pull one over on his parents.

Drew Poppelreiter's job is farming. 24, of Saltillo, Mississippi, he and his family operate the farm, and he calls them all a bunch of working rascals. If he gets to go to Hollywood, it will be his first time on a plane. To get somewhere, he knows you have to give up something somewhere. He tells the judges his relationship with farming is a hate/love thing. He sings Check Yes or No, and has an interesting sexy raw quality to him. Simon votes no quickly, as it's not his thing. Randy, though, likes the simple Randy Travis/George Strait thing he has going and votes yes. Paula tells him he is who he is, but says she didn't feel any wow factor with the performance. Simon is incredulous that she's backing out of this, but once Drew calls her ma'am, she relents.

Kyle Reddick, 20, of Edwardsville, Illinois, promises to be the next rock sensation of Idol. He calls himself edgy, but it's hard to imagine. He calls it "guyliner" instead of eyeliner, and is wearing a black t-shirt, over a red-collared shirt. He brings a poster made by his Little Rocksters, as he's a camp counselor. The kids are Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and he admits to sometimes having the patience for them. This guy who wants to be a serious rocker auditions with Kelly Clarkskon's Never Again. He sounds awful, by the way. Simon wonders if when he sang that song in front of the kids at camp, if they were afraid. Furthermore, he calls it a very disturbing, slightly manic performance and blames it on his face. Paula isn't too sure about the makeup thing, like he's going for goth. All three vote no, and he's out.

For the bad singer montage tonight, honoring their native daughter, Kelly Clarkson, everyone does Since You've Been Gone, badly. Simon proclaims he now officially hates the song.

Nina Shaw, 24, of Burleson, Texas, Kelly's hometown, warbles way too much singing Run To You. Simon even knows all the places she'll emphasize the song, as he calls it overdone, and Paula calls it pageant-like. Nina takes another stab at it, and Randy says he actually likes the jazzy side of her. Simon still disagrees, saying there's a difference between Randy's version of retro and old-fashioned. It's up to Paula, and she puts her in.

There is only one guy left to audition, Renaldo Lapuz, 44, of Reno, Nevada. He and Ryan talk about bowing, and Ryan says he's never been bowed to, so Renaldo obliges. Paula asks why Simon's name is on his hat, and he replies that everyone on TV and radio speaks the name of Simon, and this is all Paula needs to blame more on Simon's ego. Renaldo sings We're Brothers Forever, and it's out of tune and crazy, yet he admits this is for Simon, or all of them in particular.

Randy and Paula dance along behind Simon, and eventually all are mouthing the words. Randy even gets up and dances with Renaldo. Ryan is brought in, and he and Randy sing along while Paula at first does sign language, then dances along, including a bootee bump. Simon predicts a hit record, then tells him he likes him as he's entertaining, but he votes no. He then gets up to shake his hand and gives him a hug for the wonderful tribute.

24 people in all from the Dallas auditions made it to Hollywood