Here is a list of the thirty-one most "interesting" photos from each city:
New York City

• DON'T ask a Ninja
• An Old-School Rocker whose hair and pants are both fake.
• This dude looks like a villain from the classic Star Trek series.
• The Friendly Pimp
• Who told this Johnny Chan Wannabe that this was the line for the World Series of Poker?
• Is that contestant named "Amber Lee" or "Max Headroom"?
• The Singing Narcoleptic

Jacksonville

• Has American Idol become a contact sport?
• Who knew Bennifer auditioned this year?
• . . . and so did Carrot Top!

Kansas City

• If anyone even has a guess at what's going on here, please post a comment and let me know.
• This dude is so money, he doesn't even know it.
• This guy's quite the "stud".
• Some guys know how to dress appropriately.

San Juan

• What happens when you genetically combine Pauly Shore with Michael Jackson?
• San Juan's youngest contestant.

Salt Lake City

• This contestant's got it going on . . . as long as you like rainbows.
• Some contestants just look so fake on these reality shows.
• Three contestants and their stalker-fan.

Phoenix

• It's the strongest rainbow-haired contestant of the year!
• It's not the size of the mic that matters, it's how you sing into it!
• Yo, wus' up?

Louisville

• Louisville has the highest quality sideburns, hands down!
• It looks like a 1980s couch sprouted a Kiss head and is trying to sing now. Side note: When wearing full-face costume make-up, always be sure to leave those glasses on for pictures!
• These Idol contestants just get younger and younger looking.

San Francisco

• Were there a lot of heifers auditioning in San Francisco?
• Does that sign say "Stop the Children"?
• Come on, someone throw this guy a bone.
• Look! It's the next Kellie Pickler . . . or not.
• Is this dude cold, or did he hurt his neck in a sofa accident?
• Hey, is that Subservient Chicken? (The real SC, for comparison.)
• This contestant wants to show the judges he's responsible enough to dress up in a suit and tie, but you can't control what's on his head!

Which ones do you hope to see in action during the audition episodes?

As usual, Fox has released the usual assortment of audition photos. And, as usual, most of them are boring pictures of random people — but in the mix are some promising contestants who are sure to have caught the attention of the lunatic-crazed producers.

Here are the most interesting photos from each city:

San Diego

• The scary raised-from-the-dead James Brown.
• American Idol's youngest contestant.
• Is that Steven "Red" Thoen (Season 6's Seattle contestant) making his return?

Dallas

• The wicked witch (probably jealous of Season 6's Trista Giese, the cowardly lion).
• The traveling garden gnome was spotted.

Omaha

• Cheeseheads, a common sight in the midwest.
• A cowhead, a not-so-common sight in the midwest.
• A funky old dude.

Atlanta

• A scary cowgirl.
• A very little orphan Annie.
• A girl who doesn't know the meaning of "break a leg".
• Yet another Uncle Sam (a Brandon Groves wannabe?)
• A guy I like to call "Flavor Grav".

Charleston

• Ever heard of Pink? This guy might be known as "Lime Green".

Miami

• Purple-clad pimp-daddy seems to have skinned Barney the dinosaur for his outfit.
• A fiery redhead, sort of.

Philadelphia

• This generation's Tiny Tim?
• This is the most patriotic American Idol contestant ever — even more patriotic than the various Uncle Sam contestants!
• If nothing else, at least Stephanie Malti is honest about her abilities.
• This contestant is a real conehead!

Let's hope most of these characters make it onto the screen this January — I can't wait to see what they sound and act like, too!