Season 8

You are currently browsing articles from Idle Idols about Season 8.

Ryan Benningfield

Contestant #25328

Ryan is the contestant I pointed out pre-season in my list of worst American Idol pictures and described his look as if "a 1980s couch sprouted a Kiss head and is trying to sing now."

Keeping true to his outfit, Ryan sang Tori Amos' Mr. Zebra:

Hello, Mr. Zebra
Can I have your sweater
'cause it's cold, cold, cold.

I don't know about Mr. Zebra's sweater, but I guarantee you that Ryan did not get a golden ticket.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 4Digg This

Mark Mudd, Jr.

Contestant #20879

Mark is a descendant of Samuel Mudd, the doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth's leg after he jumped from the balcony after shooting Lincoln. To this day, the descendants of Samuel Mudd are trying to defend his name because he was seen as a traitor for helping the man who assassinated the President Lincoln. Luckily, this audition would not be in Ford's Theatre, but in Louisville's Churchill Downs.

Mark sang George Jones' country song White Lightning, complete with sound effects for the lightning.

Paula told Mark that American Idol wasn't the right competition for him. Simon suggested that the right competition for him might be Wheel of Fortune.

As Mark left the stage, he told the judges, "Take care, and be careful." When asked what he said, he clarified, "Be careful in whatever you do." Paula explained like a kindergarten teacher that you don't tell people that.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 4Digg This

Tiffany Shedd

Contestant #16597

Tiffany is a high school graduate and told the judges that her goal was to get on American Idol. If she didn't make it she was going to go to college.

Tiffany sang Mariah Carey's Hero in a weak, warbly, and off-key voice. Simon told her, "The good news is, you are going to college."

Post-audition, Tiffany sang the song she really wanted to sing: Kelly Clarkson's Because Of You. Though her mother swayed in the background, this song did not have any better results, with sound effects of dogs barking and horses neighing in the background.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 4Digg This

Akilah Askew-Gholston

Contestant #5190

Akilah printed out instructions on how to train a gospel singer from the internet. These printouts had many biological diagrams and instruction on manipulating various parts of the body such as the trachea, larynx, and diaphragm. As Akilah read these sentences to the camera, she read off various items such as:

Akilah sang her original song Make Sweet Love. Simon said that the song was not very good, so she sang Aretha Franklin's (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. Akilah completely missed a note and Simon stopped her. Akilah asked for one more chance because she came "from the wrong rectum." The judges got riled up at this point, and Randy asked about how you could have more than one rectum.

Akilah continued to beg for another chance, so Paula hugged her and walked off. Kara finally got up, hugged Akilah, told her it was time to go, and escorted her toward the door. Kara then got upset that Simon let her go on and on while he usually cuts contestants off too quickly.

Even in Akilah's post-audition interview, she rambled on and on, even so far as to continue rambling after she walked off-screen.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 3Digg This

Dean-Anthony Bradford

Contestant #3289

Dean was convinced that his "jacket of life" alone would pass him through to Hollywood. Take a look at the picture provided here and you be the judge of that.

Before his audition, Dean described himself as a "failed entrepreneur", but later he divulged the details to the judges: "I had a special event production company, but apparently the events weren't too special so, uh, it came crashing down a couple months ago."

Dean sang Simply Red's Stars in an over-the-top fashion, including a few interesting facial expressions that Randy mimicked.

Simon complained about his wardrobe, his "weird hair color", and his singing. Randy and Kara didn't have a problem with the hair, and then Dean offered up the TMI comment of "the carpet matches the drapes, I swear" causing Simon to cringe, Randy to shout, and Paula to cover her face. Dean started unbuttoning his coat to show the judges . . . who knows what? They cut him off quickly and issued four "no" votes.

Dean's parting comment: "Life goes on."

If only Corky were there to agree.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 3Digg This

Nick Reed

Contestant #3647

Nick got on the stage and started doing the age-old beat-box-while-semi-singing routine. The only audible lyrics seemed to be "Your mother".

Tried and true at college keggers, this act never gets far with the judges.

While Nick was beat boxing, we see an image of Randy with his jaw dropped.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolSeason 8Season 8, Episode 3Digg This

Tatiana Del Toro

Contestant #3325

Tatiana is a Puerto Rican who is "a full time singer, and musician, a songwriter, writer, assistant director, model, film actor." She talked with her psychic friend, who told her that she would make it through to the top 12.

Tatiana also has an infectious laugh — not the kind that makes others laugh, but rather the kind of infectious like the Ebola virus.

She gave her press kit to the judges. Simon looked at one photo and commented that they were "quite naughty," and Tatiana promptly thanked him.

Tatiana belted out Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) for the judges. Simon told her that he thought she could "do a lot of things very well, but not singing." After that comment, Tatiana started singing Whitney Houston's I'm Your Baby Tonight. When Simon started to give her his advice, Tatiana put her hands up to her chest and gave him a look with attitude.

Simon started to accuse Tatiana of simply copying various R&B singers, but she interrupted him with a boisterous section of I Never Loved a Man again.

At this point the judges started arguing amongst themselves. Paula gave her a "yes" because she had a voice and was fun. Simon complained that she was too overdramatic. Randy admitted that Tatiana's voice wasn't strong enough, but then flipped and gave her a "yes" vote because she was wild. Kara didn't like her vocals either but liked her vibe, so Tatiana was passed through to Hollywood.

Hopefully Tatiana lasts long enough for us to see her trying to work with others in a group. Now that should be fun.

Read more articles about: AllAmerican IdolPassed through to HollywoodSeason 8Season 8, Episode 3Digg This

Page 4 of 7« First...23456...Last »