American Idol: "Salt Lake City Auditions" Review

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Once again, American Idol has bounced back from a mediocre episode and given us a good one. While some of this is due to the talent level of the singers, most of it comes down to the editing. Great reality TV, like Survivor and The Amazing Race, is all about editing miles of footage into a compelling story. When you're watching these audition shows, which are all essentially the same, a little effort goes a long way. Stuff like that silly medley-of-badness where they mixed a bunch of terrible singers together and it sounded kinda like a herd of goats, or the "story" of all the Utah kids taking rejection so very well, made for a rather enjoyable hour.

Surprisingly, we didn't see a lot of crappy singers tonight, and it was a nice break. The most memorable of the rejects we did see was Tara Mathews, the girl with ESP. She claims she can predict the deaths of real people -- as well as people on TV.

She's also one of these people that goes out of their way to stand out and then acts like people shouldn't be staring at her. Oh yeah, and she couldn't sing. Rich Kagel was notable for his creepy lip-licking and Andrew Gibson could hit a really high note and a really low note but nothing in between. He should do a duet with Naomi Sykes from Jacksonville.

We met Chris Kirkham, the guy who came in with his "good luck rabbit," his buddy in a pink bunny suit. I actually thought he sounded pretty good but his gimmick backfired and the judges couldn't take him seriously. I'm not saying he blew his chance at being famous, but he may have blown his shot at a free trip to Hollywood. Eh, you're right, he wasn't that great. The giant bunny was the only thing that got him on TV in the first place. It also really drives me nuts when some idiot doesn't make the Hollywood round and yet they tearfully insist that they're going to be the next American Idol. I agree that there are many avenues to fame, but there's only one way to become the next American idol, and it does require getting on the show.

Among the many euphemisms for "Mormon" we heard in Salt Lake City (nice, polite, clean-cut, happy) was Osmond. David Osmond is the son of one of the famous Osmonds, and he did okay, which concerns me because I don't want spotlight junkies Donny and Marie anywhere near my Idol. If their nephew makes the Top 50, they'll be on Access Hollywood every freaking night to show Osmond home movies, you just watch. I was also uncomfortable when they kept playing the lyric "…just one of those days…" (I didn't recognize the song) as they told us how he used to be in a wheelchair and is still battling Multiple Sclerosis. Yeah, I hate those days when like, your car won't start and you spill coffee on yourself at work…and you have MS. This season is off to an awkward start.

I'm rooting mightily for Rose Flack, the charming free spirit with the tragic background and a refreshing lack of self-pity. The judges fawned all over Taylor Vaifanua, who I thought was good but not great. Maybe I'll change my mind when I hear her sing something more current in Hollywood. Austin Sisneros seems like a sincere guy who's maybe never been criticized in his whole life and could benefit from a setback or two. My favorite singer of the night was Megan Corkrey, who is pretty, has a great voice, an incredible full-arm tattoo and a dazzling personality. Definitely one to watch.

I enjoyed Frankie Jordan but I also heard through the grapevine that she has had a song on the Billboard chart. Shouldn't that be an automatic disqualification? I mean, when you've had a hit record, even a minor one, doesn't that make you more of a has-been than an undiscovered talent, which we're supposedly searching for? Just a thought.

Top Three:
1. Megan Corkrey
2. Frankie Jordan
3. Rose Flack

Worst Three:
1. Tara Mathews
2. Andrew Gibson
3. Rich Kagel

IGN's Ratings for Week #3B: Auditions
Rating Description
out of 10 click here for ratings guideGet Ratings Information
7.4 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)