Wednesday, February 9, 2011

San Francisco Auditions: Alrighty Then...

Here we are. The end of the auditions. WOO-HOO!!!

And Hollywood can’t get here fast enough, especially with the auspicious beginning the show got off to tonight. As the cameras followed a crying, disappointed contestant, she told the camera, “Just because somebody farts, let ‘em finish singin’.”

Alrighty then…

And things didn’t get any better with our first contestant, Inessa Lee, 22, who is originally from the Ukraine. Her previous claim to fame was making videos of herself in the shower. After some belly dancing, she belted out an Air Supply ballad. When the judges said no she went storming off with her seemingly clueless husband trailing behind her.

Alrighty then…

We finally got some talent, but it went by so quickly, we didn’t get a good listen. Brittany Mazur, 21, did “Mercy.” Lara Johnston, 20, did something I didn’t recognize and Matthew Nuss, 25, did something I should have recognized but didn’t. Of the three, I was most impressed with Matthew…

I was really impressed with Stefano Langone, 21, who nearly died in a serious accident nearly two years ago. His version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was fresh and fun…

Clint Jun Gomba, 26, a karaoke host, made a good choice with “Billionaire,” but he was a little too showy for my taste…

After a montage of “colorful characters,” we got three bad auditions from Kenneth Berba, 22, Weston Lee Smith, 26, and Drew Beaumier, 26, who dressed up like a Transformer. I give him points for originality, but his version of “Born to Be Wild” dressed as a car?

Alrighty then…

We got to hear three good girl singers in a row, but we didn’t get their names. They sang “Last Name,” something about not knowing why and “Smile.” I have no idea why we heard them sing and didn’t see their names. They must not stick around for very long…

Julie Zorrila, 20, did a slow rendition of “Summertime” that the judges loved, but I thought it was a little too much. I did enjoy seeing her flirt with Steven. “Even the bow in the back is slammin’,” he said as she walked away. JLo asked if she could be the winner.

Alrighty then…

Dave Combs, 25, looked like someone who was going to do well. And he had a good voice. But his version of “O’ Darlin’” was all over the place. I didn’t even recognize the song…

Then we heard some more bad auditions as Steven started to get a little irritated. He told Rick Deshammp, “Dude, did you hit your head on the way in here?” Dave Johnston murdered “Stand By Me” and Sabrina Corbett attempted “Shut Up and Drive,” to which Steven responded, “You oughta be arrested for that voice”…

Emily Anne Reed, 26, lost her house to a fire the week before her audition. She did “You’re Getting to Be a Habit With Me,” which showcased her interesting voice. Steven said not yet, but Randy and JLo put her through. However, when she played her guitar, she was much better and she won Steven over too. I think she’ll fade out quickly…

After a crying montage, we got our final contestant, James Durbin, 21, whose dad died of a drug overdose when James was 9. Also adding to James’ story was that he was diagnosed with Tourette’s and Asperger’s. He did “Shook Me All Night” and a pretty scorching rendition of “Dream On”…

And with that, the auditions end and we move to Hollywood, but I honestly have no idea what we’re actually going to see tomorrow night. I just know I am seriously looking forward to it…

What do you guys think? Were you impressed with anyone in San Francisco? And are you as psyched for Hollywood to start as I am?

Photos Credit: Michael Becker/FOX