By Mary Cavaliere

American Idol is back for its 8th season.  I can’t imagine any season living up to the close call between David Cook and David Archuleta last season, but there’s always new talent to be discovered so I guess we shall see how it goes.

I loved watching the montage at the beginning of the show and seeing people like Clay Aiken and Kelly Pickler as raw talent again.  Of course they also had to include the William Hungs of the American Idol world.  The montage ended appropriately with a clip of American Idol’s very first winner, Kelly Clarkson, and American Idol’s most recent winner, David Cooke.

To add a new twist to the show a fourth judge has been added.  Personally I have never heard of Kara DioGuardi but considering all of the people she’s written for, she is obviously someone who’s at the top of her game.  During the auditions she sang a bit, and she has an absolutely stunning voice.  So I say “Welcome” Kara because the show needs a little more female balance. I love Randy and Simon but I’ve always thought Paula is too nice for this type of competition.  I think we finally have a female judge who’s not afraid to say what she thinks!

The first stop was Phoenix, Arizona.  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve watched American Idol since the beginning or what, but I was not impressed with many of the contestants they were putting through.   Could they sing?  Yes, they could.  Were they mediocre?  Yes, most of them were.  We’re not looking for mediocrity though.  We’re looking for the best of the best!

My favorites for Tuesday night’s auditions were Arianna Afsar, age 16 who did a darn good job of singing a Corinne Bailey Rae song.   I liked Stevie Write, the girl named after Stevie Nicks who sang an Etta James song.  Then there was Cody Sheldon, a very attractive young man who loves to make horror films.  My last favorite was Scott Macintyre, the semi-blind genius who started college at the age of 14.

I’m not even going to get into Simon and Randy passing through the girl in the bikini. They did her no favors because it won’t take long, great body or not, for her to be eliminated from the competition. 

The next stop was Kansas City, Missouri, home of last year’s winner, David Cooke.  Jason Castro, one of last year’s finalists showed up to support his brother Michael.  I don’t think Michael was any better of a singer than Jason is, but he’s definitely just as confident and adorable.

I have to say I hated the medley of videos where contestants were crying.  I don’t really get satisfaction or enjoyment out of watching these kids in pain and I don’t consider it “good TV”.  Good TV to me means having talent that makes the AUDIENCE cry!  That’s when you know you got something good going on whether it’s acting or singing.

My favorites for the Wednesday night auditions were Von Smith who wore a white hat and sang Over The Rainbow.  I also liked Jessica Furney, an all-natural girl who takes care of her 90 year old grandmother and sings Janice Joplin with some pretty strong chops.  I loved Jamar Rogers who sang a soulful version of California Dreamin by the Mammas and Pappas as well as Asa Barnes, the middle school band teacher who sang Michael Jackson (much to Simon’s dismay).  My heart went out to Danny Gokee, the music teacher whose wife Sophia passed away only four months prior, but it wasn’t sympathy that made him one of my favorites……it was his voice and his charisma that caught my attention as well as the judges.  I don’t think any of us could overlook the talents of Lil Rounds, the young woman with a husband, three children, and a tornado that took their home away from them.

It does seem that Idol has tamed the bad auditions a bit.  I usually hate this part of the competition because it’s so difficult to watch, but so far it’s been bearable.  I guess a little balance goes a long way American Idol!

You can read more of Mary’s television blogs at www.myspace.com/italiangirl57

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