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‘Idol’ brings happiness back to San Diego

The Chargers may have lost, but 31 ‘American Idol’ hopefuls advanced, including a few potential favorites.
/ Source: msnbc.com contributor

It wasn’t shaping up to be a good 48 hours for San Diego heading into Tuesday night’s broadcast of that city’s “American Idol” auditions.

First, the hometown Chargers got eliminated in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, falling one win short of the Super Bowl. Then, the city got dissed by “American Idol,” only getting one hour of airtime as opposed to the two granted to earlier cities. Promos for the show focused on one female contestant who the judges compared to William Hung, the legendary idol of no-talent auditioners.

And to top it all off, the first Simon Cowell barb of the day was one he’s already used this season, “I don’t think you’re as good as you think you are.”

All that turned out to be a big tease, however. This was a feel-good episode, filled with contestants overcoming adversity and taking advantage of second chances.

Sixteen-year-old David Archuleta did not seem like a strong candidate to advance when talking with host Ryan Seacrest in the staging area. Archuleta talked about overcoming vocal paralysis, which made it nearly impossible for him to speak just a couple of years ago, but now had vanished just in time to give him another shot at a singing career. His speaking voice was less than extraordinary, and it was hard not to simply hope that the judges wouldn’t be very mean in dismissing him.

But Archuleta had a surprise in store. His version of John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” was much stronger than anticipated, surprising all three judges and inspiring Randy Jackson to help him out by singing the background vocals. Paula Abdul said he had a “nice tone, mature for your young age … and you’re a sweetheart.” All three agreed he should go to Hollywood.

Second chances for someIreland’s Carly Smithson had a golden ticket snatched away at the last minute two seasons ago. She made it through to the Hollywood round only to be disqualified because her visa didn’t arrive in time. She took advantage of her second opportunity to sing before the judges, and though Simon made her sweat with the “you sounded better two years ago” sound bite that made it onto all the commercials, she still comfortably advanced.

That’s good news for those looking for more colorful contestants. Smithson and her husband own a tattoo parlor, and while Smithson’s visible tattoos are limited to her right arm, her husband has them everywhere. The cameras are sure to love that visual if she makes the finals.

Perrie Cataldo was another heartwarming story: He’s been a single father since his son’s mother died in 2005. After having to curtail his singing dreams to raise his child, he took the opportunity to sing before the judges, with Ryan holding up the child so he could watch through the peephole.

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Cataldo did well enough to move on, and Ryan opened the door to let his son greet him. “He didn’t make it, it was a no,” Simon said, in a tone that shows that while he can be a dream-crushing meanie to most people, he has a long way to go before he can fool a grade-schooler.

Of course, not everyone got their big break. Perennial contestant Blake Boshnack, embarking on his 11th audition and most famous for making the airwaves dressed as the Statue of Liberty in season five, got to show the world that his mom supports him and comes with him to every audition no matter where it is. But a mother’s love isn’t enough to melt the hearts of Simon, Randy and Paula, and Boshnack ended the day on an 0-for-11 streak.  

Predictable disastersLike Boshnack, most of the people who got rejected were unsurprising.

Valerie Reyes told Ryan that she sang like Mariah Carey, but Ryan later asked Reyes what she does when she watches the show and sees contestants fall on their face. She said she laughs. That was a good indicator of her fate, and indeed she sang poorly enough to earn the right to be mocked by a new generation of “Idol” wannabes.

Sarah Long was so bad that she earned the William Hung reference from the judges, but they didn’t let her linger very long before sending her home. The same went for Joseph and Juanita Mejia — a singer and mime duo that did as well as the idea sounds.

Monique Gibson and Christopher Baker came to the auditions together, got denied and vented to the cameras together. That was notable because it allowed Ryan to show why he’s the best host in the reality-show business: He’s able to stay deadpan regardless of the language. “Good chatting with you guys. Thank you,” Ryan said as they stormed out.

Alberto Hurtado continued what’s becoming a season seven tradition, dressing up in a colorful outfit and making up his own song to sing before the judges. It was quiet and depressing, and Hurtado’s fantasy of a trip to Hollywood didn’t last long.

31 advance
The news was a lot better for a number of others, since 31 hopefuls who auditioned in San Diego advanced — perhaps because it’s not like it’ll cost a lot of money get them up the coast to Hollywood.

Among those getting airtime was Tetiana Ostapowych, whose rendition of “Someone to Watch Over Me” inspired Simon’s “not as good as you think you are” response. But she asked Simon for a chance to prove him wrong, and he and the other judges agreed to give it.

Michael Johns had one of the most distinctive voices, as one might expect for someone who arrived in Los Angeles by way of Australia. “You’re like a white soul singer,” Simon said, passing him through.

But the most memorable was Samantha Musa, who arrived at the audition with her sister Michelle. Both claimed that they thought Simon was really hot, and Michelle managed to slip a note to the British judge by folding it up into a paper airplane and winging it through the open door. That ploy always works in grade school, and it paid off here as well, as her reward was to sit on Simon’s lap while her sister sang and help judge the performance. 

Fortunately for Samantha, Michelle agreed with Randy, who thought it was “quite excellent, I was impressed,” and Musa became the latest success story on what’s been a feel-good audition process on “Idol” thus far on season seven.