by Kylene Hamulak

 

The second night of American Idol Season 12 takes auditions to the Windy City. To Adler Planetarium, to be exact, where our judges are hoping to find at least a few potential new stars. (See what I did there?) Tension is getting a little tight between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, but despite the bickering, the panel finds 47 wannabe Idols to send to Hollywood.

 

Check out Chicago's hits, misses, and highlights they'll be talking about!

 

HITS:

 

Mackenzie Wasner, 17

The daughter of Vince Gill's keyboard/piano player, Mackenzie is a cute country blonde, and every Idol season needs at least one of those, right? At LEAST. Nicki and Mariah both think she's got some star power, Keith and Randy are impressed, so it's really no surprise when she takes a golden ticket straight into the arms of her proud daddy.

 

Kiara Lanier, 21 

Kiara previously sang for President Obama at his birthday, so this panel should be a piece of cake for her. When she says she's singing Celine Dion's "Our Prayer", Randy warns, "Big song." Um, yeah, we know, Dawg. Her voice is beautiful, and after everyone else gushes over it, Randy says, "I loved it too, that's why I said when you started, it's a big song." Oh, ok. Is that why, Randy?

Gabe Brown, 21

An Idol wannabe picked up by the "small town bus tour" and brought back to sing for the judges. He's also a baker, and he comes with cookies for the judges' panel. And thus, ladies and gentlemen, we learn why I could never be an American Idol judge - I would've said yes right then and there. He rocks out to "Gimmee Shelter" and, honestly? It sounds like noise to me. Mariah asks him to do something a little more mellow, and his second song is "We All Die Alone." Which he also screams. The judges seem a lot more impressed than I was, so I'd be taking my cookies into a quiet corner while Gabe goes to Hollywood.

 

Isabelle Parell, 15 

I watch a lot of Idol, and I can't remember the last time a contestant auditioned with a Christmas song. If ever. Isabelle not only chooses "Baby It's Cold Outside," but she also recruits Keith to duet with her. When it comes to judging, Mariah thinks she has a sweet quality about her, and Nicki says "I feel like you have a thing about you that seems to me like a star." There are SO many ways to say that in fewer words, Nicki. Randy isn't impressed, but who cares - three yeses get her to Hollywood anyway.

 

Curtis Finch, Jr., 24

Curtis treats the judges to a private gospel concert with "God Is Able." Either he was really good or they were just ready to end for the night, because they give him quick yeses. Turns out Curtis' good friend is a huge Mariah fan, so he brings her in (along with his best friend) to celebrate with the judges.

 

Mariah Pulice, 19

When you're standing in front of Mariah Carey and your name is Mariah, obviously you know what the topic of conversation is going to be. When Nicki Minaj is in the room, however, that topic's gonna get changed real quick, 'cause one Mariah is bad enough. You know what's worse? Anorexia, which is where Mariah (contestant, not judge) is coming from. Through tears, she says she's made a lot of progress and says that music is the reason she's alive. She performs "Let It Be," and I'm not sure how the judges could say no to her. Not because she's THAT good, but because she's not bad - and she's come through a lot. Her family joins her to celebrate, complete with confetti flying. I wish my family would throw confetti at me.

 

Brandy Neelley, 17

Adopted by her aunt and uncle when she was just a baby, Brandy is a little starstruck by Keith. Singing "Your Cheating Heart," Keith loves it, Nicki thinks she has great presence, and Mariah calls it "A-plus-mazing." I'm gonna use that, by the way. Randy says he loved it from note one, so it's four yeses for Brandy!

 

Josh Holiday, 24

Singing "Back At One," Josh is a little much for me...but not TOO much. Randy thinks he's got something cool going on, and Nicki thinks it's an exciting sound. Four yeses, goin' to Hollywood.

 

Clifton Duffin, 22

Clifton has never had the confidence to sing for anyone (including his parents), so Nicki dubs him "Secret Squirrel." You know how these things usually end, right? How he usually sucks? Yeah, well, his rendition of "Superstar" does NOT suck.

 

Lazaro Arbos, 21

Just like last night, the final audition of the night is the one that's gonna bring me to tears. Lazaro, who moved to Florida from Cuba at 10 years old, has a stutter, and, because of that, few friends. I'll be your friend, Lazaro. Singing "Bridge Over Troubled Water," his voice is beautiful - Keith says, "Just sing all the time!" He's got a great look, a great voice, a great backstory, and a great bowtie. If he doesn't break in Hollywood, he could stick around for a while.

 

 

 

 

MISSES:

 

Melissa Bush, 27, looks like she came straight from Xanadu. She's proud of her pink unisuit's glued on jewels and the fact that it's shiny enough to blind Ryan in the sunlight (that's what you get for using her as a mirror, RYAN!). She gets a miss for the outfit, and her singing isn't good, but honestly? She's not bad enough to have made it on the show without the Xanadu suit. So in that regard? Welcome to tv, Melissa. But you're not going to Hollywood.

 

When Kevin Nabity, 25, brought out his wonder sticks and told us of his love for ninja rap, you just knew we were about to get some gold. Especially when he told us he was pretty confident in his ability...before dropping one of those wonder sticks into the river. His rendition of "One Week" actually starts out decent (well, relatively), and I wonder why Idol thinks subtitles are necessary. That lasted about 11 words, at which time I couldn't translate his gibberish...and neither could Idol. Randy says he feels feels like he's at a bad auction and Kevin just tried to sell him a motorbike that he doesn't want.

 

Ashley Curry, 19, reminds me of Kelly Kapoor. You know how everything Kelly says is, like, the OPPOSITE of reality? Thaaaaat's kind of Ashley. So when she says she's not a confident person? After telling us what an amazing singer she is? Yeah, neither of those things is true. I can absolutely believe that people have told her her voice is like nothing they've heard before - I just think she might be misinterpreting exactly what they mean by that. She's studying musical theater at school, and after her performance of "Mama Knows Best," it appears she needs some extra tutoring. Maybe by someone who is deaf?

 

 

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS:

 

Dumb Idol Hashtag: Producers chose #idolhunks for the montage of some of Nicki's favorite contestants, but it's what came AFTER the clips that counts. Griffin Peterson, 22, performed "Washed By the Water" and looked good doing it, but - surprise! - Randy isn't feeling it. With the panel of three at that point (Keith had to leave for a concert), the girl vote outweighs Randy (cue fat joke), and he wonders if they think Griffin will be the next Bieber. Nicki denies the accusation - "Nooo, 'cause Bieber don't do this to me!"

Best Use of Air Quotes: Stephanie Schimel, 20, is sent through to Hollywood for her rendition of "Dream A Little Dream" with three yeses - Nicki being the only hold out. Nicki explains that, since she and Stephanie are wearing the same color eye shadow, they have a rivalry and she HAD to give her a no. Uhhh...ok? "This is what I deal with when I come in to my (air quotes) JOB," says Mariah. Me too, Mariah. Me too.

 

First Dysfunctional Montage of the Season:  Poor Keith is stuck between Mariah and Minaj as the two throw shade and side eyes at each other throughout the montage. "I swear, I feel like a scratching post," he says.

 

Favorite Comeback: Johnny Keyser, 23, returned to Idol after being cut in Vegas last season. A favorite then, and a favorite now. Keith says he liked everything he heard, and Randy loves a comeback. Mariah thinks he's a star, and Nicki thinks there's a twinkle in his eye. I think he better not get all of us all excited about voting for him if he's gonna get himself left in Hollywood.

 

Most Awkwardly Awesome Audition: I don't care if Kez Ban, 27, was a gimmick. I don't care that I couldn't tell if it was a guy or girl at first. I don't even care that she sang "No Strings" but called it "Pinnocchio". The girl. Juggles. FIRE. Fireballs! I can barely light a match without going up in flames! Oh, and as an added talent? Balloon animals. She does them. She has a unique singing voice too - she's going to Hollywood, which she admits is all she wanted. Well, I mean, she might be going to Hollywood. Depending on how the paperwork thing turns out, which she spends an awkward several moments discussing with Ryan.

 

 

 

Best Joke of the Night: Asking the fire performer about past relationships, Keith quips, "I was just wondering if you had any old flames." Ha. Jokes, ladies and gentlemen. He has them.

 

Question: Are we going to have to endure the British accents ALL season? The only thing more irritating than all the "dahlings" being thrown around is Nicki's use of "Keify."

 

So who stood out for you in Chicago? What do you think of Nicki's British accent? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Catch American Idol every Wednesday and Thursday at 8/7C on Fox!

 

(Images courtesy of Fox)

 

Follow Kylene on Twitter @keepingupwithky!