# American Idol is back! 1/12-1/13 Audition shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653 "2010-01-12T13:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/101 "2010-01-14T02:28:40Z")
I think that might have been the spark that started a prairie fire. ---
**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 14, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/102 "2010-01-14T02:30:55Z")
Well, I know what song is going to be running through my head tonight while I’m trying to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/103 "2010-01-14T02:33:27Z")
Forget Martha Coakley and Scott Brown and their endless crappy commercials I had to suffer through to watch this show…if I actually lived in Massachusetts I’d be voting General Larry Platt for Senate! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/104 "2010-01-14T02:44:31Z")
> [@Sublata](#): > > Wow, that was just mean-spirited, the way they tore up Near-Death Guy. I mean, he can’t sing, but what did he do to deserve to be treated like that??? My thoughts exactly. Kara really does think these people are beneath her. When she’s not mocking and sneering, she’s condescending and patronizing. You’d almost think she had something --anything at all – to do with the success of this show. She adds absolutely nothing. I honestly think Paula was better. You could replace Kara with literally anyone off the street, and the show would not suffer a bit, and might be better. It even bothered me when she told Country Girl (the only person tonight I thought was even a slightly interesting performer) “You don’t sing anything like I thought.” Why did she think the girl wouldn’t be able to sing? Because she wasn’t wearing designer clothes and had a hick accent? It wasn’t like she was wearing a costume or looked like one of the obvious nutters. I despise Kara. She acts like a stuck up high school cheerleader making fun of the nerds behind her hand. Who is she anyway? How the hell did she get on this show? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/105 "2010-01-14T03:20:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > My thoughts exactly. Kara really does think these people are beneath her. When she’s not mocking and sneering, she’s condescending and patronizing. You’d almost think she had something --anything at all – to do with the success of this show. She adds absolutely nothing. I honestly think Paula was better. You could replace Kara with literally anyone off the street, and the show would not suffer a bit, and might be better. > > It even bothered me when she told Country Girl (the only person tonight I thought was even a slightly interesting performer) “You don’t sing anything like I thought.” Why did she think the girl wouldn’t be able to sing? Because she wasn’t wearing designer clothes and had a hick accent? It wasn’t like she was wearing a costume or looked like one of the obvious nutters. > > I despise Kara. She acts like a stuck up high school cheerleader making fun of the nerds behind her hand. Who is she anyway? How the hell did she get on this show? Well, I checked out her Wikipedia page, and to paraphrase the woman herself, her CV doesn’t look anything like I thought. She’s got some pretty good, if not annoyingly popular tunes under her belt. But I agree, the Paula factor is missing. Judging this show is difficult. Nobody wants to be a rubber stamp judge. Simon is an A&R guy and this is what he does for a living. Randy does have a long career as a session player. Paula certain was an American Idol before the program existed. Kara probably figured she’d differentiate herself from Paula by being a hardass, but she just comes across as petty and small. Someone with her success shouldn’t have such thin skin. She reminds me of adults that get into arguments with kids… you should be able to blow off those comments, and even make fun of yourself at times to deflate those kinds of incidents. But every time she has the opportunity to take the high road she gets in the mud with the wannabes and the famewhores. Case in point, the pathetic “competition” with the bikini girl last season. None of the other judges would have stooped to the failed contestant’s level, but she did. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/106 "2010-01-14T07:39:36Z")
Tripped me out that they parodied the guy crashing in the elevator. Okay… eta: pants fall down guy is No Reynaldo! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/107 "2010-01-14T13:16:11Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Well, you may not have got on Idol but at least you didn’t lose your dignity. Resolved: If, before someone auditions, the producers show a clip of them saying how well they take constructive criticism, there is a 100% chance that the audition will end with them screaming obscenities at the judges and being escorted from the building. > [@BigBertha](#): > > eta: pants fall down guy is No Reynaldo! But I can guarantee you that we’ll see a huge _Pants On The Ground_ performance at this year’s finale. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/108 "2010-01-14T13:27:30Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Resolved: If, before someone auditions, the producers show a clip of them saying how well they take constructive criticism, there is a 100% chance that the audition will end with them screaming obscenities at the judges and being escorted from the building. > > But I can guarantee you that we’ll see a huge _Pants On The Ground_ performance at this year’s finale. Yep. That guy’s the next William Hung. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/109 "2010-01-14T15:52:03Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t see anyone from Atlanta that’ll make it to the top twelve. A few interesting characters, but no excellent singers. Is that why it was only 90 minutes–they didn’t have enough interesting footage for a full two hours? ---
**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 14, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/110 "2010-01-14T16:30:22Z")
I think ambiguously gay church singer has a shot, as long as the majority of his followers don’t realize he’s A Gay. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/111 "2010-01-14T18:27:45Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t see anyone from Atlanta that’ll make it to the top twelve. A few interesting characters, but no excellent singers. Is that why it was only 90 minutes–they didn’t have enough interesting footage for a full two hours? I think the first show had two cities, one hour each (Boston and Baltimore?) Kawrong me if I’m wrecked. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/112 "2010-01-14T18:35:58Z")
“If anyone can survive being a welder, it’s you.” I had to rewind that one. I thought I heard someone off camera cracking up at that one. ---
**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 14, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/113 "2010-01-14T18:44:14Z")
> [@LilyoftheValley](#): > > Did not like church boy. I just don’t understand the overwhelming love. Re Jermaine the church singer and White Crew-cut Cop later in the show: I hated Hated HATED both of these guys right away. I was trembling with the urge to perform some act of violence…and then they both get sent to Hollywood? If you muted your TV during the commercial, you might have heard me screaming. At the other end of the spectrum, they showed a quick clip of a girl with braces, her name was Noel, and from what I could tell, she was spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/114 "2010-01-14T19:36:57Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Did Jermaine the church singer set off anyone else’s gaydar, or is it just me? Nope, not just you. But then, a lot of church boys set off my gaydar. I liked the South Dakota chick. And pants on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/115 "2010-01-14T21:15:41Z")
> **[General Larry Platt: A closer look](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/general-larry-platt-a-closer-look/1)** > > We all got a good chuckle Wednesday out of General Larry Platt and his Pants on the Ground song. Entertaining as he was, I couldn't help but wonder why the American Idol producers saved the last spot of the show for a 62-year-old guy with a funny... ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/116 "2010-01-15T16:15:13Z")
Ya gotta love the Pants. On the Ground. Angry African-American guy, the 19 year old, made me nervous. ---
**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 16, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/117 "2010-01-16T00:49:41Z")
[Neil Young covers Pants on the Ground](http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com%252Fblogs%252F2010%252F01%252Fneil-young-sings-pants-on-the-ground%252F&h=11e0a8733591c17b33730b2f0c978f5a&ref=nf) ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/118 "2010-01-16T01:15:38Z")
That was brilliant. I need to watch that show more often. ---
**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 16, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/119 "2010-01-16T04:31:54Z")
Someone screwed up - either my tv listing or the AI people, because while we were out watching the Star Trek music symphony, they were putting the AI show on an hour or more early - I got nothing. I have to go to Youtube and find some highlights. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653/120 "2010-01-16T05:16:36Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > [Neil Young covers Pants on the Ground](http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com%252Fblogs%252F2010%252F01%252Fneil-young-sings-pants-on-the-ground%252F&h=11e0a8733591c17b33730b2f0c978f5a&ref=nf) Thanks for the link, that was great. I hope this really does end up being recorded by somebody and becoming a hit. If it does, it will be the best song to ever come out of this show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-is-back-1-12-1-13-audition-shows/524653.md?page=5)