American Idol, Season 9, Episode 6: Dallas Auditions

WOW! It's such a strange feeling to not be furious at anyone during an audition episode. I normally come away feeling like I've done battle. I eagerly anticipate Hollywood week, when the real competition begins for me. The producers gave us a good, solid set of auditions in Dallas. We saw lots of great singers. No one railed at the judges when they were rejected, although I did see a fair amount of weeping. It seemed that almost everyone took their rejection well, and no one had to be escorted out by security. I really love it when people are good humored. It also seemed like several contestants that were put through were very good-natured. I love contestants with a good sense of humor. You need a healthy funny bone to be able to make it on this show.

Speaking of good humor, let's judge the judges! More specifically, our first guest judge of the night, Neil Patrick Harris. (From here on out, I will refer to him as NPH, because his full name is just too much to type.) He has such a dry wit and I find him extremely funny. I was kind of sad to see that he had left the Barney persona from How I Met Your Mother at home, as well as Dr. Horrible. I would have loved to see him sing. Don't know who and what Dr. Horrible is? Google it, my friends. It's a Whedon production. What we did get, though, was a mix of Doogie Howser (who apparently was late for either rounds or a golf game, the way he was rushing the judging along. No wonder Simon had an issue--Doogie was stealing his thunder!) and NPH's version of himself that he plays in the Harold and Kumar movies. Minus the mushrooms and the visiting brothels, of course.

The first half of the episode was classic, pitting the Sweater Vest versus the Plain White Tee. Again and again, NPH and Simon went to the mat, disagreeing about almost every contestant that auditioned. It was actually hilarious to see Simon matched up against someone who actually possessed some wit about them. Simon fighting with Paula is like a cage match between a pit bull and a kitten. No, wait. I shouldn't insult kittens that way. They are MUCH smarter than Paula. A pit bull and a hambone? Yeah, I think that works. ANYWAY, it was very entertaining to watch, and if pressed, I'd have to give the win to the Sweater Vest.

Though inoffensive, I was unimpressed with Day Two judge Joe Jonas. (Don't hate me, fangirls! He was still MUCH better than Avril Lavigne.) Maybe it was the time compression of the episode, but he just didn't seem to have a lot to say. Maybe he was overwhelmed, though I doubt it. He should be used to hordes of people. Maybe he was confused. The cynic in me says that maybe Fox had a conflict with Disney and one of them limited his time on air.

The auditions in Dallas gave me nothing to shake my fist about, no one to rage against. I have to say, it was a great feeling. When Idol gets it right, they get it right.

Next week--Denver! (Gosh, are STILL in auditions? Sheesh!) And Beckham is back? You have two guest judges for every city, but can't manage to find a new judge for Denver? Whatever.

Toodles!