American Idol

First up on this first day is Brooke White, 24, of Van Nuys, California. She's the nanny that has never watched an R rated movie. Today she says her biggest obstacle is confidence, and was actually stunned by the competition in the rehearsals the night before. Since the contestants are allowed to play instruments this year in Hollywood, she decides to sing and play the piano to Beautiful. It doesn't sound that great, and she has a huge clinker. Simon tells her he really likes her, though, as she has potential with that whole Carly Simon/Carole King thing. Paula thinks the risk was worth it, and everyone agrees that she moves on to the final day in Hollywood.

Lorena Pinot, 28, of Miami, Florida sings Feel Like a Woman, and doesn't do well. While Brooke wasn't the best, she at least showed something different, but this was just karaoke. Simon calls it uncomfortable like a mom getting drunk and starting to dance.

And here's our abstinence girl, the dance captain, Amy Flynn, 16, of Knoxville, Tennessee. She hits a bad note which shocks her, with Simon saying he agrees. She wants him to know it was all for him, and he understands, saying it's a no.

Leo Marlowe, 23, of Charlotte, Iowa, who referred to himself as the perfect homecoming queen really struggles, and Simon tells him he went from memorable to forgettable. It's precisely what they're not looking for.

Alicia Dixon, 18, of Manahawkin, New Jersey brings her guitar with her onstage, and is screaming really more than singing. Simon calls it "more like angry girl in her bedroom screaming on a guitar," and that pretty much nails it.

Michael Sanfilippo, 19, of South Barrington, Illinois, my neck of the woods, brings his guitar with him, singing When I Need You, and Simon tells him he doesn't think the guitar did him any favors, as he sounded dreadful strumming away on it.

Alyssa Coco, 16, of Penfield, New York, plays the keyboard, and Simon cuts her off, suggesting he wants to "take a big axe to that thing."

Shaun Barrowes, 27, Spanish Fork, Utah, plays some Billy Joel, and Simon tells him it was more like him bashing away on the keyboard.

Jake Mellema, 20, of Sand Lake, Michigan, plays the drums, and says he's quite comfortable doing this, as he's the drummer and lead singer in two bands. Randy calls it just okay, kind of karaoke. Paula calls it not her favorite, and Simon lays it out, saying it was a horrible song choice, horrible presentation, and nothing redeeming other than them stopping it early. It's a no from everyone, not surprisingly.

David Hernandez, 24, of Glendale, Arizona was nervous at his audition in San Diego, and is just as nervous here in Hollywood. He sounds the best of the night so far, using no instrument. Paula gives him one of her over-the-head-claps as he sings Love the One You're With. Randy tells him it's one of the first times he loved it from "note one." Simon agrees and likes especially how comfortable he is up there. Everyone agrees that he should move on.

The Harley-riding nurse is back. Amanda Overmeyer, 22, of Mulberry, Indiana, returns, but just a week before Hollywood she was in a bad car accident, and it's left her with cracked ribs and twelve staples in her head. She realizes now she might not always get a second chance. She sings us some Doors. Randy loves that she's such a throwback to the 60s revival thing, and he loves it as it's so unique, thinking that sound should make a comeback. Paula adores her, and Simon is glad she's there. The only thing is he knows what everything is going to sound like, and he'd like her to change it up a little. She's obviously through with three yeses.

Buck Smith, 28, of Kingsland, California, forgets the lyrics to Stuck In the Middle With You.

Cardin Lee McKinney 20, of Nashville, Tennessee, who wasn't contemporary enough for the judges at her original audition, tries to cover it up with humming and riffs, but the judges catch on.

Natashia Blach, 29, Fort Collins, Colorado completely blanks out and ends her lyrics with "Kill me now."

Ghaleb Emachah, 27, Miami, Florida, the gypsy musician from Venezuela is back, and he seems to be here for the women as much as the music. He lets us know he speaks four languages, and talks about wanting people to find him sexy and attractive. He sings some Bryan Adams, but it falls short. Paula tells him she isn't as impressed as she was the first time, and she's hearing too much shouting. Simon wants it known it's not the guitar that's the problem, and compares him to a waiter picking up a guitar and playing, murdering Bryan Adams. He found it incredibly corny and terrible. Randy isn't thrilled either, so Ghaleb isn't moving on with this first phase. He's only upset that he didn't get a kiss from Paula like the last time.

Next up is Josiah Leming, 18, of Morristown, Tennessee, the young guy living in his car. He'll be singing with a keyboard, saying he's so much more in his element with it. And hey, here in Hollywood he gets to sleep in a bed. He promises us he's not going to stop short of his goals. Randy agrees he's cool and likes his attitude. Paula thinks he has something magical about him that makes the girls fall in love with him and the guys think he's cool. Simon tells him of all the auditions this will be the one he remembers. He's through to the final round.

Danny Noriega, 17, of Azusa, California, that auditioned two years in a row won't have to repeat this performance tomorrow. He's moving straight to the last day in Hollywood, singing When I Need You.

Ramiele Malubay, 19, from Miramar, Florida, had said at her audition she wants to be the first Asian Idol, and she moves one step closer.

It looks like it's a good thing Carly Simpson, 23, of San Diego, California got her visa. She's through to the final day.

Michael Johns, 28, of of Los Angeles, California, but originally from Australia, does really well.

David Cook, 24, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the combination of Chris Daughtry and Blake Lewis, sings some Bryan Adams. Randy thinks he has nice range and nice tone and sounds like he's been doing it for awhile. Paula calls it soothing, but Simon wasn't crazy about it, thinking he'll be vulnerable without the guitar. Paula points out they didn't feel that way the first time they saw him when he didn't have the guitar. Simon votes no, the others yes.

Robbie Carrico, 25, from Melbourne, Florida, the boy band member turned Bo Bice lookalike, sings some Bryan Adams as well, as do Jessica Brown, 24, of Longview, Texas, the ex-drug abuser, Perrie Cataldo, 27, of Phoenix Arizona, the single dad, Syesha Mercado, 20, of Miami, Florida, with the dad in rehab, and Colton Barry, 17, Staunton, Viriginal. The judges only like Colton and Robbie. The others they didn't get, with Syesha complaining of throat problems.

Kyle Ensley, 21, of Valliant, Oklahoma, the guy who wanted to run for public office, tries to check into his hotel room, and finds women already in it. He's not sure what to do. Then he tries hitting on the women. He sings Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes. Paula calls it a little corny, but she notes there's a spirit there that's always needed. Simon calls it abysmal, and Simon takes off and walks while Paula tries to let Kyle down nicely talking about his spirit.

All the people that were rejected are now back to try again. Forty-eight got through that first time, and now all the others are back to give it another try. This time they come out and sing a cappella, and it's a really quick yes or no thing. Simon tells them it's do or die.

Amy Flyn works with her voice coach trying to get it right out in the hall, while Suzanne Toon, 21, of Clearwater, Florida, trying to work off that three-year rustiness, and Perrie give it one more try, with both wanting to do it for their kids. Neither one of them makes it. The only thing he can say is "wow." She thought she'd perform better than she did, but she's okay. Out of the whole group in the line across the stage, they only kept two.

Not resting, Amy is still working it, and her vocal coach is Angel who had a golden ticket from season 4, but she didn't make it to the finals. Amy is now doing a song she's never heard before, but is singing it because Angel picked it. It's not bad, but she seems to fall back to shouting to push the vocal. She's asked to come to the front of the line, and everyone up there in the front is going home. She doesn't want to lose sight of why she's really there and her true potential. Angel thinks she's learned a lot about how much she has to work to get what she wants. And in the end, it seems Amy didn't get any further than her vocal coach.

Kayla Hatfield ,24, of Campbell, Texas, who'd had her face disfigured in a car accident is cut. Kristy Lee Cook, 23, of Selma, Oregon, the one that kick-boxes and lives in a log cabin, figures to go back to what got her to the dance. She decides to sing Amazing Grace again. In her line is also Jeffrey Lampkin, 24, of Newborn South Carolina. His sister has already been cut the second time, but he's still hoping to make it. Angela Martin, 26, from Chicago, Illinois, has the daughter with Reyes Syndrome. Her father just died, and she doesn't think she can go on without her dad, but her sisters talked her into it. Angela goes home, but Jeffrey and Kristy move on.

Everyone is up late practicing the night before the last day in Hollywood. With no groups this time in Hollywood, this seems to be when everyone is choosing to lose out on sleep. At least there's no fighting or pouting. Simon tells them at the beginning of the day that if they like them enough to think they might make it, they'll keep them, but if they hate them, they're done. Nice. Everyone is nervous, and they keep showing a lot of Josiah.

Here's someone we haven't seen yet in Hollywood, David Archuleta, 16, of Murray, Utah, with the paralyzed vocal chord. Words like awesome and incredible were used when he performed for the judges the first time here in Hollywood, and today he plans to sing Heaven, and wants to make sure the judges understand it. For a 16 year old kid, he even seems to get the emotions right. So far he's the best I've seen here in Hollywood. Randy is smiling and nodding, a good thing. He tells him he's so impressed with him at 16, he's so "da bomb. Paula calls him a gem and says she can't wait for the whole world to see him. Simon tells him he has several things going for him ... he's young, good-looking, likable, and has a good voice. Three yeses, and he's through. After, David says he has the tingly feeling again he only gets when he sings.

Kyle is back, and he sings You Raise Me Up, and this he does much better with than the karaoke thing he tried before. This is more his style. Randy tells him it was actually good, but Paula calls it safe. Simon apologizes for leaving him up there the other day, but thinks this is actually a good audition. Three yeses, and he's through.

Jeffrey Lampkin tries his best, but it's finally, a little further than he should be going. He's done. Joey Catalano, 19, of Mays Landing, New Jersey is up next. He's the one that lost 200 pounds. He spent the night with a migraine and does very poorly today. He's done. It's cut throat in there today.

Sayesha is back despite not doing well in Hollywood so far, making it on past efforts. She still believes she's the next Idol, though. She sings a little Arethra with Chain of Fools. It's better than before, and she admits to still being hoarse. Randy calls her one to watch, saying she could sneak up on the others, as she has some skills. Paula tells her she had the performance of her life, and she can rest as she did a wonderful job. Simon agrees and she's through.

Michael Johns decides to sing Bohemian Rhapsody, and it's a tough choice, but he does fairly well with it. Michael Johns decides to sing Bohemian Rhapsody, and it's a tough choice, but he does fairly well with it.

It's Carly Smithson's turn, and she admits she went to a doctor to find out why Simon didn't think she was as good as she was the first season she auditioned. It turns out she's allergic to her dog, so she wore a mask at home with her dog for the past week. She sings Alone. Simon tells her it's a good song choice, and says he can actually see the confidence now. Paula can't wait to see more, and she's through with three yeses.

Asia'h Epperson, 18, of Joplin, Missouri, is the one who lost her father right before the audition. Simon tells her tonight is her best audition by a mile, and says he loved it. She's through with three yeses. Her dad would be very proud of her.

Also back is Brooke Helvie, 18, of West Palm Beach, Florida, Miss South Florida Fair. She hits her upper range singing Unchained Melody, and destroys it. Randy votes yes, Simon no, and it's up to Paula. She starts begging, and Simon says they don't have time for that, but she launches into it again anyway. Paula tells her she is choking the part, and eventually votes no as Simon puts her on a time limit for an answer. He tells her he's sorry, but she's done. She cries outside, saying she wants a chance, just like everyone else.

The last contestant is Josiah, who barely got any sleep last night, and explains they all got a giant packet of songs, and everyone freaked out going through all the songs. He found a song at 3:30 AM, but din't do well with his band rehearsal, sitting down against the wall and breaking down in tears. He was ready to give up, and ran into the American Idol vocal coach, Debra Bird, and she explained to him what went wrong, offering to allow him to come back and try again. Instead, he goes to bed, without having that good rehearsal. With less than two hours sleep, he is back up for the final audition.

Josiah comes out and asks the band to leave and wants to do it a cappella, singing Stand By Me. He's shaky at first, but he launches into something that sounds pretty good. Randy calls it his worst so far, and asks if he wants the band to come back. He doesn't like it, and Paula says sometimes they make the wrong choices. Yet, she thinks he's very talented. Josiah says it took a lot of guts, but Simon thinks he's now being annoying, as everyone has guts to get up there. He warns if you're going to dismiss the band, be certain you can do it without, and now he thinks he lost some charm, as he's become too over-confident. Randy says based on previous performances he'll vote yes, and Paula appreciates his vulnerability and honesty, voting yes. Simon agrees. He's through on past performances, and Josiah walks out crying and humbled.