American Idol

All the contestants will come out and either sing a cappella or with an instrument, and it's suddent death stay or leave. The first group up includes Antonio "Skii Bo Ski" Wheeler, 22, a Designer/Salesman, Orlando, and Katie Stevens, 17, Middlebury, CT. She is the one whose grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Katie sings For Once In My Life tonight and has an interesting deeper tone. Simon tells her she's quite good, and Randy remembers her from the first time as being great.

Skii Bo Ski, no introduction needed, is up next, He asks the panel "How you doin'?" and Ellen returns the question to him. He sings Ain't Too Proud to Beg, and Ellen tells him he frightened her, as he was like a leopard stalking them, and it's a fine line between sexy and scary. Antonio is in the group that steps forward; Katy stays back. He's out; she's in. He comes back and asks why he's leaving, and Simon tells him he's just not that good of a singer. He sings his name as he walks out the door.

Vanessa Wolfe, 19, a fast food associate, who felt stuck in Vonore, TN, is in the next group and is nervous. Andrew Garcia, 24, a musician, Moreno Valley, CA, is waiting as well. He is the adult child of gang members and wants a better life for his son. Tonight he'll be singing Paula's Straight Up, his own rendition. It's definitely a good take, a good updated take. It reminds me of what Kris Allen did to songs last year. Kara tells him that was genius and that Paula would be screaming and yelling and clapping and dancing, and Ellen says she'd be doing this, as she claps above her head. Kara compares him to Adam, though.

Vanessa sings Blind Melon's No Rain, and is thankfully not in a bee costume, although it could have only helped. This is terrible. Ellen calls her unique and says she should embrace it, as she's hiding inside, which will kill her. Tasha Layton, 26, personal assistant/minister, Granada Hills, CA is in the group as well. When it coms for the judgment, Andrew steps forward, as does Tasha, but Vanessa stays behind. She goes home as the others move on. Vanessa is disappointed and knows she blew it.

Cornelius Edwards, 24, a security guard, Boynton Beach, FL, who split his pants, sings Cowgirl Take Me Away ... badly ... and Simon asks why he chose the song. Maegan Wright, 20, a cosmetologist, Richardson, TX had brought her brother to her audition, and here she appears alone, singing and playing the keyboard. Kara tells her it was all over the place. Maegan calls it heartbreaking to have to go home.

Amadeo Diricco, 28, a bartender, Johnston, RI, came from the big Italian family, but can't find his voice here as Randy tells him it's not good. He asks for another shot, and Simon denies him. He really thought it was his chance. Janell Wheeler, 24, a sales representative, of Tampa, sings American Boy and sings well, as Ellen tells her it was amazing. Simon agrees. She's through.

Haeley Vaughn, 16, Fort Collins, CO, is the preemie who now wants to be the first black pop country singer, and is watching others crash and burn with their instruments, yet auditions with her guitar, singing Change. It's not the best I've heard, and I know they like her from before, so this could be iffy. Randy calls it interesting. Also up is Mary Powers, 28, a singer, Burbank, CA, who had a daughter that Simon tried to claim as his own. She sings Sober, and Ellen tells her she has an amazing voice and was really into the song. Both Haeley and Mary make it through. Mary says her whole life, and her family's life, is going to change, and it's amazing.

Along with the twenty-six people moving on on day one are Todrick Hall, 24, an actor/playwright, Arlington, TX; Charity Vance, 16, Little Rock; and Ashley Rodriguez, 21, a college student, Boston.

On day two, Simon reminds everyone to remember their words, yet we never see anyone forgeetting them. In the first group is Jay Stone, 25, a music business grad student, Miami, who had been compared to Blake Lewis. He puts way too much beat boxing in this time, leaving Simon unimpressed and Ellen joking that something is wrong with his mic. Lilly Scott, 20, a musician/sandwich maker, LIttleton, Co, sings Lullaby of Birdland, and he has a unique old-fashioned sound with an updated look. Kara tells her everything about her is refreshing. She's in the group that makes it through, but Jay doesn't.

Michael Lynche, 26, a personal trainer, Astoria, NY, had found out just before his audition that his wife was having a little girl, and right before his time on stage in Hollywood, he takes a call form her that her water just broke and she's starting to feel contractions. He wants to be there, and she wants him to succeed and stay here. He tells the judges his wife is having a baby right now, and won't be happy if he doesn't come home with a vicory. Also, he'll pummel anyone that disagrees. He sings Waiting On the World to Change and gets the crowd to sing the chorus for him. Simon thinks it's good with a different arrangement. Simon tells him it's a good day. He's in, and it looks like's he's following Jason Castro's brother, Michael off the stage.

Justin Williams, 27, a vocal coach, Sandy, UT, the cancer survivor, is waiting to go on, as well as Tim Urban, 20, a college student/musician, Duncanvillle, TX. Tim didn't have a good original audition and needs to impress now. Tim sings Come Back to Me, and sings much better than he had before. Kara tells him the chorus was a little shaky, but good other than that. Justin sings something that could be a really unique version of Fly Me to the Moon, but we don't hear enough of the lyric. Randy tells him it was definitely interseting. Justin goes home, and Tim and the others move on.

Paige Dechausse, 21, a college student, Morris, IL, who had asthma as a kid, takes an early exit, as does Erica Rhodes, 23, a grad student, Irving, TX, aka the Barney & Friends dominatrix. Sisters Bernadette Desimone, 27, waitress, and Amanda Desimone, 23, a sales associate, Cherry Hill, NJ, both get sent home.

Maddy Curtis, 16, Bluemont, VA, has the brothers with Down's Syndrome. Here she sings The Nearness of You ... beautifully, I'll add, yet Simon tells her it was the wrong song for her. Casey James, 27, a musician, Forth Worth, is the one who took his shirt off for Kara, and he plays blues guitar tonight, sounding better than I remember from his original audition, and he has his hair up again and a shirt on. Randy loved it and calls him a real singer/songwriter. Casey steps forward and moves on, but Maddy goes home to her brothers. Her mom consoles her, telling her she's only 16. Let's hope we see her again.

It's the last group of the day to go onstage. In this group is Didi Benami, 22, a waitress, Hollywood, CA, who sang in memory of her best friend. She's singing one of Kara's songs and says she's been working really hard on it. She sings Terrified and definitely does the song justice. I think she has a little more passion that Katharine McPHee, too. Simon hates to admit it, but says he really liked it. He likes the idea that a wiatress comes on and does well.

Crystal Bowersox, 23, a musican/mom, Elliston, OH, is in the group as well. She gets a tattoo of her son because she misses him. She sings Natural Woman, and does it more uniquely than trying to copy Kelly Clarkskon who was the last original to do it. The audience becomes her choir. Simon tells her she's infectious and real. Crystal and Didi step forward and make it through.