American Idol Guest Judge: Neil Patrick Harris
MINI-RECAP
*City: Dallas, TX
*Celebrity Judge: Neil Patrick Harris / Joe Jonas
*Number of Contestants: 11,000
*Name to Remember: ERICA RHOADES, the former “Barney” actress who shed’s her little girl image with a whip and big voice.
*The One You Hope To Forget: VANNESSA JOHNSTON whom Simon calls the sights and sounds of his nightmares.
*Most Heart Warming Story: DAVE PITTMAN, the man who stutters and ticks with Tourette’s, but sings flawlessly
*Quote of the Night: Former Barney Actress ERICA RHODES: “I want people to know that Barney kids grow up…” Neil Patrick Harris: “To be dirty little girls.”
This is IDOL’s 3rd visit to Dallas and it’s where the very first Idol was discovered, one Kelly Clarkson.
In that same season, JULIE KEVELIGHAN, 28, Fort Worth, TX, also auditioned with a horrendous version of “Lady Marmalade.” Simon suggested she sue her voice coach. Seven years later, she’s back. So what will Julie do?
FULL SHOW RECAP AFTER THE BREAK
Julie is singing “Black Velvet” by Alana Miles. I love that song. I don’t think I am going to love Julie singing it though. She starts singing and I’m right! Neil Patrick Harris doesn’t waste time saying, “That was not good.” Simon tells her everything is wrong from the hair to the make-up. Naturally, she starts singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Four NOs and she starts singing “Let’s Give Them Something To Talk About” by Bonnie Raite. That’s when security steps in to escort Julie out. Buh-bye. Of course, she blames breath control for her failure. I blame lack of common sense.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
LLOYD THOMAS, 29, Dallas, TX – Lloyd is a dock worker and grew up in the Dallas projects with guns and drugs. Now he has a family of his own and wants a better life for him and his family. Will music get him there? He sings “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder. Will we be? YES! Lloyd has a great tone in his voice. He needs more personality in his singing, as Neil Patrick says, but he’s really good. Simon calls him the best of the day to which Lloyd says, “Come on, Simon, you betta get out.” Four YES votes and Lloyd is leaving the docs for Hollywood.
KIMBERLY CARVER, 26, Denton, TX – Kimberly comes in without much of a set-up so I am not sure where this is going, but she wants to sing an original song which is rarely a good thing. Well, I don’t like the song she sings, but there is no denying that she has a good voice. Something tells me Simon won’t like it. Sure enough, Simon says he doesn’t see anything current or interesting about Kimberly, but Randy loves her. Neil Patrick Harris also disagrees with Simon. As does Kara, so with three YES votes (and a NO from Simon), Kimberly sails on to Hollywood.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
We meet DEXTER WARREN, 20, Terrell, TX, who tells us that the show is over b/c he is the next American Idol. Well, we know it’s not Dexter b/c no previous Idol winner has ever predicted that they were going to be the winner in the audition stage. Nonetheless, this should be fun. He sings, “If I Should Ever Fall In Love Again.” I may fall in love, but it won’t be with Dexter or this song. His audition is bad!!! Randy says, “Dude, that looked like it hurt.”
ERICA RHODES, 23, Irving, TX – Erica is famous. She was a kid on “Barney & Friends.” How do you top that? With a whip! She walks in wearing a dominatrix costume. I must say, though, she looks pretty darn good. Randy makes her sing the Barney theme song and Neil Patrick Harris gets creeped out. However, for her audition, Erica sings “Free Your Mind” by EnVogue. I think she sounds pretty good and I like her look. Erica says she wants people to know that Barney kids grow up to which Neil Patrick Harris adds, “…into dirty little girls.” Four YES votes and Erica is headed to Hollywood (leave the purple dinosaur at home, but bring the whip).
COMMERCIAL BREAK
DAVE PITTMAN, 27, Gassville, AR – Ryan tells us Dave has been dealt a hand in which the odds are stacked against him and then we visit his hometown, so we know already that Dave is good. Dave has Tourette’s syndrome…he blinks a lot, clears his throat often, but Dave says when he sings, all of that goes away. For his audition, he sings “Bring It On Home To Me” by Sam Cook. Wow, what a voice. It’s smooth, but what will the judges say? Neil Patrick Harris calls him “crazy brave.” With 4 YES votes, Dave is off to Hollywood.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Day 2 in Dallas. Neil Patrick Harris is gone, but Joe Jonas is filling in as Guest Judge.
TODDRICK HALL, 24, Arlington, TX – Toddrick has already had a brush with IDOL fame. He was in “The Color Purple” with Fantasia. Can he become an Idol too? He sings an original song which essentially tells the judges why he should go to Hollywood and he’s really good (and so is the song). Simon says he’s not jumping out of his chair with Toddrick’s voice, he the young Texan gets 4 YES votes and heads to Hollywood.
DAWNTOYA THOMASON, 27, Dallas, TX and STEPHANIE DAULONG, 20, Austin, TX sing only briefly before getting 4 YES votes each to move on. Not sure why we only saw snippets, but they sounded pretty good.
MAEGAN WRIGHT, 20, Richardson, TX – We meet Maegan and hear her story, but the star is her kid brother who IDOLizes his sister and things America will to. She sings, “To Make You Feel My Love.” I have to say that I didn’t like the song, but wow, she sang really, really well. Kara was surprised by her voice, but didn’t like her look. Simon loved everything about her. With 4 YES votes, Maegan moves on.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
VANNESSA JOHNSTON, 22, Waxahachie, TX — Vanessa looks like a she walked into a crayon factory and it exploded. What the heck is she wearing? She’s also really perky. Sigh. She walks in the audition room and announces she is singing “At Last” by Etta James. It’s an amazing song and only a few people can do it justice. Sadly, Vanessa is not one of them. Simons says she is the epitome of his nightmares. With 4 NO votes and several cracks in her voice, Vanessa is not going to Hollywood.
CHRISTIAN SPEAR, 16, Houston, TX — She is the last contestant of the Dallas auditions and her story is remarkable. She is a leukemia survivor. She has been in remission for the last 8 years and this is her dream come true. She sings, “All I Can Do Is Cry” by Etta James and the only tears anyone will shed for Christian are tears of joy. She has an amazing voice, especially for a 16-year-old. Simon calls her “incredibly brave.” With 4 YES votes, Christian is going to Hollywood.
That’s a wrap for Dallas. Up next…DENVER!
Until Next Time… MENDHEIM OUT.