American Idol: The Search for a Superstar - Season 8 Episode 10

"American Idol" – Hollywood Round No. 3 – Feb. 10, 2009

It's Day 4 and we're down to 72 and it's time for single performances with the band and back-up singers, and instruments of their own if the hopefuls so choose.

We start with the end of the day as we see the hopefuls in a holding room, a montage of them performing, and the judges going over the Polaroids.

We now flashback to the beginning of the day as the contestant awake, practice, and get their order numbers.

Seacrest tells us the folks will sing but there will be no judges responses, each hopeful will have to wait until the end of the day.

We meet contestant number one, spiky-haired Adam Lambert who has a background in musical theatre. Previously, Kara had told him that he was still too Broadway but Paula thought he was great. Adam says he wants to be on "Idol" so he can take songs we've heard a million times and put a unique twist on them. Simon likes this idea. He sings "Believe" by Cher. He does it as a slow piano ballad and sounds a lot like a woman. Not Cher, but a woman. A very strong, powerful, and vocally gifted woman.

Next up, Matt Giraud who does "Georgia on My Mind" behind a piano. It's ambling and soulful if a little hammy. Paula and Randy and his fellow contestants give him a standing O.

Next up, Jamar Rogers who does "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's, his quirky, soulful take on it is killing Kara. Good friend Danny watches supportively from the wings.

Then it's Danny Gokey's turn. He sings "I Hope You Dance" by LeAnn Womack. Paula is squirming with joy. Simon smiles. He's got that nice rasp going.

Next up, Anoop Desai who does "My Prerogative" which sounds good. Then Jorge Nunez who does "Closer" by Ne-Yo, pretty nice. Then the blind hopeful Scott McIntyre, who also sings behind his piano. He sings "Home" by Daughtry. Honestly? It's kind of pitchy. Paula gives him a standing O. Then Kendall Beard who does Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," who sounds kind of shaky. Then Stevie Wright who does Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly," which sounds okay. Then Lil Rounds who sounds like she's killing Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You." Next up, Kristin McNamara who was in that nightmare drama group with Nancy and Nathaniel. She does "Because of You," by Kelly Clarkson and she sounds great. Then Mishavonna Henson who does a sweet but pitchy version of what I think is a Michael Buble song.

We see one group of 18 moved to a separate room. And then another 18.

We get a journey through the really annoying Tatiana Del Toro's audition process. Then her final audition, Whitney Houston's "I'm Your Baby Tonight" which sounds good in parts but is mostly incredibly overdone. She floats away on a cloud of overconfidence.

Then we get a quick run through of Alexis Grace doing "Before He Cheats," so-so. Kenny Hoffpauer, doing something jazzy, also so-so. Jasmine Murray who does "Tattoo" by Jordin Sparks. She was so great last time but this time she's a lot more shaky. She's in the second group room with Nathaniel Marshall so I'm guessing this group is one that doesn't make it. We see Nathaniel's dramatic audition process up to today, where he does "Disturbia" by Rihanna with the aid of an acoustic guitar. It's marginal.

Then we go through the Joanna Pacitti audition process. She was the one with previous albums/"Annie" experience. She won't be making it most likely since her final audition ends in a heap of forgotten words to "If I Ain't Got You." As does Casey Carlson's version of "Tattoo." Then up next, Stephen Fowler who we see not worrying about lyrics during rehearsal the night before and then forgetting the words during the actual audition. He's given a chance to start again and messes up again, bangs his keyboard, and gets up and walks away. He gets sent to the same room with Tatiana, Joanna, Casey, Alexis, Nathaniel, etc. And then Tatiana is called out of that room.

We move on to the next half of the contestants and see Tatiana walking through the hallway.

Next up, Nick Mitchell aka Norman Gentle. For his final audition he sings "Georgia On my Mind" as Norman. It's miserable and not funny. Randy, inexplicably, loves it though.

We see the judges finish making their decisions.

In room 3 we see Lenesha Young and in room 4 Nick Mitchell. The ones in the Nick room are wondering if they are out.

We get a montage of "I Hope You Dance"s including Annemarie Boskovich's which is not perfect. Then Ju'not Joyner who does a "neo-soul" take on "Hey There Delilah" that sounds nice.

Tatiana now goes to room 4. Her arrival makes the folks in this room worry that for sure they're going home.

We see the contestants wait and crack under the pressure.

We see the auditions of room 3 waiters Kaylan Lloyd who does "If I Ain't Got You." She does pretty well but Simon ended her song. Even though he did it with a smile, she is still upset. And then Leneshe Young who does "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles. She sounds spunky, but doesn't show off much range.

Over in Room 2 we meet Kai Kalama and see his mediocre, crackling audition on Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover." And in that room also, roughneck Michael Sarver who does a pretty good take on O-Town's "All or Nothing" which has Kara singing along.

Simon has to catch a flight, so the news will be broken by Randy, Paula, and Kara.

They enter room two: the one with Nathaniel, Stephen, Joanna, Kai, Michael, Alexis, Casey, Jasmine, Michael and others. (So all the people we were shown forgetting lyrics by the way). Paula is practically on the verge of tears with how good they all were in the beginning. Randy talks about how "sporadic" the voices were. (I think he means erratic). Then Paula apologizes. And then Kara tells them they all made it through. Eek, so there's half our 36.

The group in room 3 overhears this joyous outburst. We finally see India Morrison's solo audition which is a weird, insular version of "Disturbia." Obviously since they're "unveiling" the top 36 tomorrow night, this group doesn't make it. The judges enter and Randy tells them they didn't make it. This group includes Michael (younger brother of Jason) Castro (who I don't think I saw at all), India, Kaylan, and Leneshe who leaves in tears but with humility.

The judges enter room 1 and they all made it through: this group includes Anoop, Scott, Danny and Jamar, Adam, Jorge, Kristin, Lil Rounds, and Jackie.

The final room, room 4, realizes that it's probably over for them when they hear the screams of the second room. Tatiana starts freaking out as the judges try to deliver the news. Kara says she's only making it harder. Then one person flat out says "so this is a no, right?" And Paula says it's actually a yes. So this group includes: Tatiana- lord help us all- Anne Marie, Jackie, Cody, Matt, Ju'Not, and Nick Mitchell, (really?). (And I'm wondering how this is mathematically possible if there are four equal rooms of 18 if three rooms got yeses. And realize that the no room simply must have been bigger? But then, I'm ashamed to admit, I went back and did a freeze frame and counted and there weren't? Whatever.)

A montage of those who made it hugging and crying and calling home and those who didn't crying and hugging.

So of the 36 we know 24 for sure: Anoop, Danny, Jamar, Adam, Jorge, Kristin, Lil Rounds, Scott, Jackie, Nathaniel, Nick/Norman, Anne Marie, Jackie, Cody, Matt, Ju'Not,
Stephen, Joanna, Kai, Michael, Alexis, Casey, Jasmine,Tatiana