# American Idol 11 Audition shows start tonight (1/18) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956 "2012-01-19T00:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/1 "2012-01-19T00:01:58Z")
Does anyone care? I know a lot of people gave up last season, after all the interesting singers kept getting voted off in favor of utter pablum. But like a battered spouse, I keep coming back, every time. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/2 "2012-01-19T01:02:50Z")
I’m here, too! It’s like a trainwreck. I can’t help myself. Here we go! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/3 "2012-01-19T01:52:19Z")
I’m here. At least tonight… ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/4 "2012-01-19T02:07:58Z")
The Seacrest clone was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/5 "2012-01-19T02:16:03Z")
Too bad he couldn’t sing. I loved the 17 yr old black kid in the beginning. He can go far. I like the country girl who works with special needs people. She’s as good as Carrie Underwood, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/6 "2012-01-19T02:16:30Z")
I wanted Tent Girl to be better. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/7 "2012-01-19T02:36:14Z")
The ballplayer’s daughter was good too. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/8 "2012-01-19T02:58:44Z")
I loved how the ballplayer looked like he was going to jump the table and squish Steven into goo when he made an inappropriate comment about his daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/9 "2012-01-19T03:04:26Z")
Philip Phillips for the win! I adore him! ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/10 "2012-01-19T03:29:35Z")
I caught some of the second hour, including three people bound for Hollywood – two men and a woman – who sounded exactly the same to me. Phillip Phillips is interesting – I thought he was gonna be country. JLo didn’t seem too thrilled with the cute NBA dancer. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/11 "2012-01-19T03:31:43Z")
That version of Thriller had me grinning ear to ear. I was also pleasantly surprised by the girl who sang “Come Together.” And the NBA dancer was stunning, but I think she’s had a lot of work done, and her voice wasn’t very dynamic. ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/12 "2012-01-19T12:12:41Z")
I felt sorry for the comeback girl with the brother. He had planned to step back and let her have her moment in the limelight, and then the judges came at her with “Oh, so you’re back. Hey, where’s your brother? He was awesome! He’s got so much talent! Go get him. Oh, yeah, I guess we’ll listen to your audition, too.” I thought she really outperformed him. Granted, he hadn’t come prepared for an audition, but I didn’t think his was all that good. I think the judges had already backed themselves into a corner and sort of had to bring him along. ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/13 "2012-01-19T14:48:09Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > JLo didn’t seem too thrilled with the cute NBA dancer. JLo was right — her voice was nothing special. But my sweet baby Jesus, was she gorgeous! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/14 "2012-01-19T16:18:16Z")
> [@brocks](#): > > JLo was right — her voice was nothing special. But my sweet baby Jesus, was she gorgeous! Proving what many have complained about since season one - that “pretty” often trumps “talented”. Yes, I am aware that you have to be the entire package - sing the part, act the part and look the part, but still…you can be damned sure there were many who had a slightly better voice, but were not selected because they were five pounds overweight or had a mole on their nose. Speaking of which,[here is a beach photo of Steven Tyler](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1138&bih=502&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=EpIEXb6Ba4fCyM:&imgrefurl=http://confessionsofanikeholic.blogspot.com/2011/11/look-at-that-small-sagging-boobs-from.html&docid=W1S2voGhhbjo8M&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCwUordg3Xw/TsaosQC1I4I/AAAAAAAAH6w/4OxaaJtTG8U/s1600/article-2062660-0ED0FBD600000578-40_306x438.jpg&w=306&h=438&ei=Y0EYT7i1M4Sq2QXBg-njCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=341&vpy=101&dur=9577&hovh=269&hovw=188&tx=130&ty=196&sig=112439032811236406346&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0). He ought to be careful about choosing “pretty” over talent! I am also getting tired of the “you’re only 16 (15) years old?!!?!!” Have they never heard a high school choir? The fact that kids that age can sing is not exactly big news. Unfortunately, now if you are the ripe old age of 20 or above you might as well sign up for AARP and cash in your 401k. I was a bit happier that this year they have focused a bit more on the “good” singers instead of only bullying and making fun of the worst of the worst - I always found/find that the most sinister aspect of American Idol auditions. Is it really necessary to belittle some poor kid with stars in their eyes? At least the first episode proves you can show 85% of decent singers and not have to resort to the evil glee of throwing some talentless kids in there to make fun of them. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/15 "2012-01-19T16:28:56Z")
I like to try and predict whether the person is a real singer or a real trainwreck as soon as they walk in. Most of the time I’m right, because by the time they get all the way to the judges they’re at the extremes. Some practically have “I have no self-awareness” tattooed on their foreheads. Randy was a dick to the South African guy last night: “Find me some people off the street that like you and we’ll let you through.” Of course, the whole thing was probably scripted. I miss Diogenes. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/16 "2012-01-19T16:54:50Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Randy was a dick to the South African guy last night: “Find me some people off the street that like you and we’ll let you through.” Of course, the whole thing was probably scripted. They did the exact same thing a few years ago - I believe back then Simon suggested it. So not only was it stupid, it wasn’t even an original idea. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/17 "2012-01-19T17:37:07Z")
I don’t think 15 and 16 year olds should audition. No matter how good they are. I’m sorry, it’s the mom in me. They stand a big big chance of being ruined by celebrity starting at such a young age. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/18 "2012-01-19T18:21:58Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > I loved how the ballplayer looked like he was going to jump the table and squish Steven into goo when he made an inappropriate comment about his daughter. LOL…I was hoping for a beatdown, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/19 "2012-01-19T18:42:05Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > I loved how the ballplayer looked like he was going to jump the table and squish Steven into goo when he made an inappropriate comment about his daughter. I loved the shit-eating grin Steven got when he found out how old the girl was - I said to my husband, “Steven is calculating how much jail time he’s willing to do.” 😃 > [@salinqmind](#): > > I don’t think 15 and 16 year olds should audition. No matter how good they are. I’m sorry, it’s the mom in me. They stand a big big chance of being ruined by celebrity starting at such a young age. I don’t think they should, either. I’d be okay with them putting the starting age up to 18. Finish high school, _then_ go after all the marbles on American Idol. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956/20 "2012-01-19T19:31:47Z")
I’m watching. Sigh. So far for me it’s the lady who did ‘‘Come Together’’ and Phillip Phillips. I am so biased by the fact that he is adorable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-11-audition-shows-start-tonight-1-18/609956.md?page=2)