Brutalized in Hollywood

American Idol starts its Hollywood round with 172 contestants, and I can hardly wait. This is my second-favorite round of the show, after the final 12; in some ways, it's even better. For the first time we get to see what the contestants are really like, interacting with their peers and dealing with their nerves.

Up first, the girls--they say nearly twice as many girls as guys have made it to Hollywood. Some idle chatter, then they bring them on in groups of 6 to sing; them some are cut. Wow. Jory Steinberg up first, she can still sing really well. A bit chatty at the start, though. Geri Guyer, who we've never seen; then Kelly Caruso Lisa Morrison, Christen Itam, and Jeromishia Lemar. They show singing clips of them for like 2 seconds--and in a shocker, they all go home. Simon is just brutal; none of you can sing, there's a shriek from the audience. My gosh!

Back, with mini-feature on Perla Menses, who's vamping for the cameras and who I don't like at all. I don't like her singing either; she's like so on it's dumb. Mini-snippet of Rachel Jenkins, the army reservist, who's okay. Then four other women we've never even seen. Perla somehow makes it through, Rachel's gone. Simon tells her we're putting you through on just personality, you gotta start singing. Rachel's having a breakdown, Perla is in tears too after Simon's comments.

Bailie Brown, who they recap--and who I also am not a fan of. It seems like they're just repeating what they've already sung; she can sing, though--FOX obviously is flogging her for all she's worth. The judges like her, the audience too. She makes it through; along with two others we've never seen. Sheesh.

Ashlyn '2nd chance' Carr goes home, as Porcelana 'Rocky' Patino; and Sarah 'Didn't tell folks' Burgess--oh no! I liked her--but at least she says she made her parents proud, so she's already won. More cuts, left and right. Nicole Turner up last, I can't believe they've zipped through all this. So much drama short, when the last few weeks they've been milking everything. Turner can sing, does well; she changed her song cause she didn't wanna make her mom unhappy. Then, stunningly she doesn't make it!

Yo, this is nuts. I guess they're purposely editing to make people yelp in injustice, they're not showing how good many of the people who made it must be. Then Turner's mom goes up on stage and talks to the judges, and they let Nicole sing. Simon says it was not the song why you didn't go on. Simon walks off, Paula gets into it with him.

So Day one ends, and 56 of the 114 girls are already cut--I guess that explains why they had to be so brutal, with 58 still left for 12 slots. But then there's one line where everyone made it. Melinda Doolittle, the pro backup singer who everyone likes; and Tatiana McConnico, the singing student from NYC who I didn't like that much.

Hey, yo--they don't show what the 58 guys did with their day off! Odd, they always use that to establish personality. Sundance Head is pushed, and Brian Miller too. It's really a giant unfair advantage for these people to be profiled so much; however, to the extent FOX--like the NFL--wants some parity, where everyone is perceived as having a chance to win--they must be holding back some big guns who don't need a buildup to win fans, right?!

Jarrod Fowler, the Navy guy, gets some airtime; I think his voice is okay. Back with Matt Sato, who had said his parents didn't support him and who I liked. He says now his parents are supportive, he's really a good kid. I really like his tone; they're definitely flogging the top guys more, they're going to need to. And--awesome, Matt makes it (along with Chris Sligh), Jarrod doesn't. Matt's crying on the phone with his mom again, he's so happy.

My gosh, that's it for the guys, essentially they show one group of six? 34 made it through; it's ridiculous how fast they're speeding through this. Blake Lewis, beat box boy; Nicolas Pedro, who quit last year, Philip Stacy, whose wife gave birth, and of course Castro-like Sean Michel all make it and celebrate.

I guess they don't wanna OD us cause they're already on to the group singing part, at 8 pm on day two, with the guys and the girls mixed in the audience. Oh--they can team up with whomever they choose, in however many numbers they want?! Some people can't find anybody, one girl's crying, awww. She finds a group; Matt is having trouble, some other groups come together quicker--including Matt Buckstein, who last year was with one of my favorite guys, the singing cowboy kid.

They show Sligh's group messing with choreography; by 11 most groups are working, but Bailey's with the ugh Jersey girls and surprisingly the best friends are arguing. Bailey starts looking around as if she's gonna bolt. Gosh, choice of groups is so important.

Back to hotel, at 1 am people are rehearsing; they play up some conflicts, one involving Colombia chick; they're doing Be My Baby. Bailey and the chicks are all sexed up, having trouble with lyrics but for some reason continue working on choreography. Amanda goes off to hang out with guys... jeez; Bailey and other Jersey girl go to sleep. 3:30, Shakira chick's trying to change things up; I'm beginning to feel bad for her, she's all alone.

Again, I can't believe how much they cut this part, looking back last year this same round took place over two nights. Wonder why FOX decided to change up the schedule this year.

Drama with the chicks in the morning, Simon tells everyone don't forget the words, and they start cutting people over that! Oh no, Matt has a group (all girls) but forgets words... and he's cut. He calls his mom, no tears though.

Shakira's group is still having problems in the morning. One of her co-members is insane, says she doesn't care about anyone but herself--does she realize people are watching this?! Perla's totally off-key; the rest of them aren't much better. It's a very disjointed performance. And they cut--Perla. None of the others look very good.

Sligh does well, along with Rudy Cardenas, Thomas Lowe and Blake--wow, they stick in his beatbox skills, and it's like they've been together for years. Very good, gets a standing O. Guys just know how to get things done.

Sundance, who apparently had a rough first day, is with two chicks; he has a good attidutde about it. P'Paige Bedford, seen for the first time; Robyn Troup, first time as well. My gosh, Sundance is just horrible. What the heck happened to him?! Ouch, he can not sing. What--they put him through?! That's insane, as he himself says; I'm not an example for anyone he says, didn't know the lyrics. He at least is humble, knows he's been lucky (apparently Paula put him through--maybe one judge decides for each group?)

Back with the chickies; Antonella is okay, nothing special at all except she's attractive. Baylie forgets words, which has her mom in the audience shocked; there's actually silence for several seconds. Amanda is also nothing special and forgets words; if it's up to me all three get cut. And--Baylie's the only one cut, she's in tears and mad. The friends at least are surprised; Baylie, now solo, starts talking trash--then Amanda says she made it because God likes good people. Baylie goes after the friends, and that's it for the threesome. Gosh, I really dislike the Jersey chicks, they're smug and not talented.

A bunch more people get cut; just 56 people are left, and now they're put in three rooms to cut to 40. It's all like a blur; what an intense show. Each one sings, and the judges deliberate with photos on a table in front of them, horesetrading. Suddenly they're done; I think they cut Shyamali Malakar, which makes sense since they haven't shown them at all.

Ah, Malakars have indeed been broken up into different rooms. First room--Sligh's in it, I think they make it. And... yes! Makes sense, they're not gonna show two yes rooms at the end. Room 2, cab driver is here, Sundance too, Sanjaya--so... on they go! Room 3, of course, is cut. And that's it; wow. Antonella makes it, best friend Amanda didn't Sanjaya is sad, leaves the celebration to console his sister; he seems much cooler than previously thought, in his leather jacket. I'm glad they're giving him some airtime, he's probably my favorite at this point. More tears from others, some smiles.

Ah, down to 40 (last year they cut to 32). Tomorrow should be great; although it's odd, all the judges are doing are looking at everything's that's already happened so you'd think there wouldn't be as much tension as today....

So last year at this point I had eight favorites; five of them made it all the way to the final round of 12, with three of them making the top six and Taylor, of course, winning.

Here are the 12 who I like so far this year, of the ones who haven't been cut (as far as I know):

-Sanjaya Malakar, Indian American brother
-Henry Bejarano, adopted by Bolivians [rumors are that he's out]
-Nicolas Pedro, who quit last year
-Sarah Krueger, Keri Russellish hair
-Melinda Doolittle, professional backup singer
-Tami Gosnell, cab driver
-Jordin Sparks, daughter of ex-Giants player
-Sundance Head, beard guy
-Brandon Rogers, 'Elvin from the Cosby Show'
-Jimmy McNeal, 'little fun Ruben'
-Lakisha Jones, Mandisa-like
-Paul Kim, tunnel-voice guy

I think one of those 12 will be the next Idol. So far Sarah Burgess and Ebony Jointer, carhop girl, are the only people I liked who've already been cut.