We started off American Idol Season 12 Episode 1 with three new judges and a couple of decent singers in between the waste of time contestants that used to be funny but no longer are. Tonight we head to Chicago, where we’re told Jennifer Hudson (who nobody really liked when she placed 7th) was discovered.
Mackenzie Wasner’s father is a piano player, and she’s been singing alongside him since she considered the alphabet song to be more than just a convenient way to pass a sobriety test. And it shows. More than one judge calls her a star.
Kiara Lanier sang for Obama. I’m not sure whether that means anything or not, but the judges are very impressed by her performance.
Stephanie Schimel continues the trend of good singers, one that won’t last. She definitely looks like a star, though Nicki is unimpressed with her vocals and is the sole judge to say no. Then Mariah and Nicki start their back and forth while Nicki decides which accent to use.
Melissa Bush is the quietest contestant ever. Her performances leave the judges with nothing to say but “Okay.”
Rocker Gabe Brown was invited to Idol from Iowa City on the small town bus tour. Good at what he does, though the question is whether he can do anything else.
Kevin Nabity loves Vanilla Ice and the rapping Ninja Turtles. He also thinks he’s a martial artist. Oy.
Isabelle Parell does a duet with Keith Urban, who she additionally gives a cue card what to say. She’s better than he is, if that means anything.
Griffin Peterson gets to sing after Nicki tries to pick him up. Decent enough to advance, but as with Isabelle, Randy says no. Meanwhile, his mom is outside crossing an item off her bucket list: kiss Ryan Seacrest.
Curtis Finch, Jr. sings a song that I assume is called God Is Able, which receives glowing reviews from the judges.
Mariah Pulice is recovering from anorexia. Her sad story is followed by a sad song, but she’s going to Hollywood.
Brandy Neelly was adopted by her aunt. Being from Kentucky, we know what style of music she’ll be singing, You’re Cheating Heart by Hank Williams. As country singers go, she’ll be at the front of the pack.
Josh Holiday, Courtney Williams, and Andrew Jones round out the good singer montage.
This will be Clifton Duffin’s first time singing in front of his parents. They emotionally find out how good he is. Mariah and Nicki say they can relate to this story of singing off on their own without anybody to hear them.
Ieisha Cotton tells us she’s a professional dancer. Then she dances. I don’t see it. Of course, she told us she could sing, too.
Johnny Keyser is back again. Yet another person for Nicki to hit on. Last year he scraped through a couple rounds in Hollywood, so he’s obviously good.
Kez Ban is a beginner fire performer and balloon animal artist, who makes sure to mention planet of origin as Earth. Surprisingly enough, the performance is decent, though I’m finding myself trying to identify gender, which turns out to be female.
Ashley Curry is the most over the top singer of the evening. I think she might have a good voice if she were to strip all that away.
Lazaro Arbos is originally from Cuba. He has a very pronounced stutter. I assume this disappears when he sings, which saw on America’s Got Talent from the guy who turned out to be lying about his time as a soldier. His story fits well with his song choice of Bridge Over Troubled Water, which advances him to Hollywood.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 12 Episode 3, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.