American Idol: The Search For A Superstar s12e03 Episode Script

1 We got 'em now, junior.
Just bring it on home.
Coming on the backstretch.
Whoa! Here comes that 12 car.
That's Ryan seacrest, and he is moving up the pack! Where'd that 12 car come from? Never mind, junior.
He'll have to settle for second place.
[Hard rock music.]
['70s soft rock.]
[Hard rock.]
Seacrest for the lead! He's got it! He's got it! He's got it! ['70s soft rock.]
[Hard rock.]
- Ryan seacrest will win in Charlotte.
- What a finish! I feel like jumping up in the air and singing a song.
[Laughing.]
Wrong show, Bobby.
[Upbeat techno music.]
All right, there was a huge fight between Mariah Carey - Sources - And Nicki minaj.
- The argument started - I don't know really all of e full details.
Rying to help you a little bit.
[All talking.]
- You'll understand.
- Literally brought the show down yesterday.
Something happened and production was shut down And I knew that, and that's why I asked.
[All talking.]
So I'm not totally sure.
They say the finish of one chapter is the start of the next Which is what we discovered in Charlotte, north Carolina.
[Cheering.]
What are you looking for out of the talent coming out - the South? - A winner.
- [Laughing.]
- Lot of great talent out of the carolinas.
I mean, when you think about fantasia winning, you think about Scotty winning.
- Oh, my gosh! Yay! - North Carolina's the state for American idol, you know? [Cheering.]
Good morning, everybody! How you doing? [Cheers and applause.]
Ready to go? - Go give it your best, y'all.
- Thank you.
- All: Thank you! - I'm Ryan.
- Ryan - Seacrest.
- Seacrest.
Okay.
Okay.
- What's your name? - William Abernathy.
- You're William Abernathy? - Yep.
I am him.
- I didn't really expect my fans to be here.
They, like, are kinda crazy.
Have a good day! Looking for sheer talent, darling, sheer talent! [Laughing.]
Scotty mccreery! [Cheers and applause.]
Two years ago this year, I was sittin' in the stands like y'all and ol' Ryan seacrest came out and said, "the next American" idol could be in this room!" And I said, yeah.
[Laughs.]
Yeah, right.
Do we have the next American idol here in Charlotte, north Carolina? [Cheers and applause.]
Wow, Charlotte motor - speedway.
- Wanna race? - Charlotte, north Carolina! - I'll totally race you, Nicki.
- Will you? - Yeah.
This'll be good today.
It's our first time here in Charlotte, so we thought, why not kick it into overdrive and hold auditions at the world-famous Charlotte motor speedway? So start your engines.
Here we go! But before we can begin, our celebrity judges need everything just right.
- Can I get a different chair? - Oh, no, it's raining! Ice, if you have any ice, that would be I just said, "who does Randy?" I want the best.
" Okay, now we're ready.
Well, thank you, Randy.
But it looks like our first contestant is fashionably late.
My name is Naomi Morris, and I am the next American idol.
[Hip-hop music.]
I love fashion.
It allows me to express myself.
Everything that I wear, I make it myself so that it's all of me coming out.
[Giggling.]
Did you design this? - Yes.
- Okay.
- Except the blazer, but - Except the blazer.
- Everything else, yes.
- And when you say "everything" else" - the bra.
- Yep.
- And the skirt.
Got it, okay.
Thanks for permission to look down.
I want the judges to remember me.
And not just for what I have on, but [Laughing.]
For my voice too.
Nice to meet you.
Head on through.
Oh, hey, little ladybug! - How are ya? - Good.
- You're popping out.
- Am I really? Yeah! No, I'm kidding.
It looks nice.
[Laughter.]
Randy liked that one for some odd reason.
I just-you know yeah.
What's your name, where you from? My name's Naomi, I'm 28 years old, and I'm from Charlotte.
I'm gonna-I have to name her.
Omie.
- Omie! - And you should just go by that one name omie.
You omie.
- You omie! - You omie.
If I put you through to Hollywood, you omie.
All right.
What do you do? - I make clothes.
- Did you do your own makeup? Yes.
Every day.
- Did you put lashes on? - No.
You should put lashes on.
It would pop it a little bit.
But everything else is nice.
Thank you.
Okay, so what are you gonna sing, omie? I'ma sing aretha Franklin, respect.
Let's hear that.
Let's get it.
- Hey, hey.
- What you want baby, I got it - mm.
What you need you know I got it all I'm asking is for a little respect when you come home yeah, baby when you get home mister hmm.
- R-e-s-p-e-c-t find out what it means to me r-e-s-p-e-c-t take care, tcb oh, yeah a little respect - ugh.
Okay.
I'm so nervous.
[All talking.]
Y'all don't understand.
Like I know I can sing better than that.
It's just I'm shaking so bad.
I didn't expect-you know what? You shocked me today.
You surprised me.
Y'all don't understand.
Your hands your hands are shaking.
I do open mics and everything.
- Take a deep breath.
- I just omie, look.
Let's approach it from another - angle.
- Okay.
Are you the next American idol? Yes, I am.
I know it, I know I am.
Let's really breathe.
Inhale.
- I'm doing it too.
- Exhale, exhale too.
We all gotta breathe for some strange reason right now.
Okay.
I know you wanna leave me but I refuse to let you go.
Whoo.
If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me ain't too proud to beg sweet darling please don't leave me, no don't you go - what? Oh, you're fini wait.
- I don't know! Aren't any of you seeing what's funny about this girl? Omie, we gotta wrap it up, boo, okay? I know.
I know y'all Your bra is poppin', your shoes poppin'.
Get some lashes and figure that out, and, um We gonna we're gonna have a vote, okay, babe? I'm just-oh, my God.
- Okay, Randy.
- Um Don't let this bring you down, 'cause you're a beautiful girl.
You ma I mean, look at the clothes.
You already made your ensemble.
- Very talented, very talented.
- That's big.
- Clothes are dope.
- Really nice.
- I have to say no, Naomi.
- Oh! A man of few words today.
Okay, so, my darling, it's a no from the panel.
God bless you and continue to shine as a fashion designer, - okay? - Yes.
We hope to see you soon.
Shoes is poppin'.
I'ma call you about that skirt.
- I like the bra.
- I like the shoes.
What size is that bra? Can I have the bra, omie? - It's too small for you.
- Omie! No, that's not small for me.
That bra is too small.
- No.
- Yes, it is.
Yes, it is.
All right, friends, we're gonna take a quick pit stop here in Charlotte and come back with more auditions right after the break.
[Tires screeching.]
This is the most fun shoot ever! ['70s soft rock.]
Over the next two hours We're running flat-out Oh! - I that's a first for us here.
You made history.
[Laughing.]
As Charlotte gives us a clean shoot.
I gotta say, Keith is a huge inspiration to me.
You're going to Hollywood! But will it get a little loose in the turns? Sign - [Extended note.]
[Extended note.]
Something about that was scary.
Think I could get a handshake - or something? - All: No.
We're burning rubber straight off the line.
- One, two, three! - All: Yes! [Cheering.]
Better fasten your seat belts because this is where it all happens.
[All arguing.]
We're trying to help her.
You always do.
Go ahead.
Maybe I should just get off the [Bleep.]
panel.
Stay with us as the wheels fall off.
Finish the [Bleep.]
show.
I'm over it.
Welcome back to the Charlotte auditions.
Takes a second to get back into it, doesn't it? - It does, right? - Is it just me, or does it feel a little like "what the hell is this again?" [Laughter.]
What are we doing? Just settle in.
You gotta settle in.
As it turns out, Keith wasn't the only one having trouble settling in.
My nerves are telling me to run Jump Uh, pound the grass.
You all right, Joel? Hi, I'm Joel neimoyer from Carlisle.
I am 20, and I Am from Carlisle.
My style is unique in that I can lie on the ground and sing with high clarity.
[Singing descending scale.]
- You like to lie on the floor.
- It's because to use my lungs and bypass the throat.
Got it.
In season five of American idol, I heard that they backed up the lying down technique with science.
When we were making the record with Andrea, he recorded one of the songs laying down.
[Singing powerful note.]
They had Chris Daughtry lay on his back to produce get him trained.
I knew they were talking about how it creates a different sound, but being backed up, that's nice.
[Laughing.]
Well, I think you should see what the judges have to say.
[Laughs.]
Oy.
[Laughing.]
- Uh, are we keeping you? - Are we running late? - Are we keeping you? - I just wanted to make sure that it was still morning.
We've got three minutes.
- What? - So you could say "good" - "morning," right? - Yeah, yeah.
I don't want to say the wrong thing, you know.
- He doesn't wanna be rude.
- Have you met Nicki minaj? Your outfit is very reminiscent of cotton candy.
Don't take that the wrong way.
Really? Thank you.
I love cotton candy.
You have the white paper cone and the nice, Fluffy pink.
Yeah.
My hair is edible.
Um, okay, so [laughter.]
- I don't think - that is - I like your laugh.
I'm really blessed! I'm on American idol! - Yeah! - I'm in front of four judges! - That's the spirit.
- Season 12! That's the spirit.
Get it poppin'! You know how to dance? What? Oh, okay.
- Yeah, I love to dance.
- Dance.
Let me see something.
- Hit it.
- No music.
Hit it, hit it, hit it.
Hey, hey, hey.
Oh, yes, crazy.
Wow! Okay.
Whoa! Oh, okay.
- Oh.
- Oh, you hit 'em with that? Wow! I think that you're so cute, jojo.
Can I call you jumanji? - Huh? - Okay, cool.
What you gonna sing, manji? Uh, I was thinking feeling good by Michael buble, because I'm feeling swell.
- Oh.
- Okay.
- Wait.
- What are you doing? What's going on here? Oh, my goodness.
Birds flying high [Laughter.]
You know how I feel sun in the sky you know how I feel - wow.
- Oh, my God.
I don't know.
- Breeze drifting on by you know how I feel it's a new dawn it's a new day it's a new life for me and I'm feeling good [Laughter.]
- Thank okay.
- Where are we? What are we doing? What's going on here? He's gotta have the right song, I think, is what - oh, yeah.
- Okay, Jo Jo, Jo, Jo.
Actually, that's a first for us here since we've been judging laying down and singing.
Yeah.
So I feel like, you know, if nothing else, you made history.
Joel, you're sweet, man.
I don't know that singing is quite your expertise.
Yeah, it's maybe not your thing.
- So yes or no, Randy? - Never.
- [Gasps.]
Oh, God.
- It's a no from me.
- That's a no from me, Joel.
- No.
- Oh, thank you.
- Wow! I like that bow.
Thank you, honey.
Bye.
- Thank you, Joel.
- Bye, Joel.
- Thank you.
- Oh, another bow.
Have you ever lived in Tokyo? No.
Oh, okay.
Bye.
- Bye.
- [Laughs.]
What? Hey, dad! Oh, he's not here.
Wow.
This is getting crazy today.
I'm just gonna have to get proper training.
I'll probably audition again, even though Randy said "never.
" - Terrible song choice.
- I'm Brian rittenberry from Jasper, Georgia, and I'm a bookkeeper.
- [Singing scale.]
- My son is my biggest - supporter.
- I can't do it.
My wife was diagnosed at the end of 2009 with stage four appendix cancer, and, um, it was the size of a grapefruit.
[Piano ballad.]
And then December 2009, uh, it had grown to the size of a basketball.
The doctors said they couldn't guarantee, um, two years.
It was very difficult watching her go through the things that she went through.
The hardest part about everything was trying to figure out how I was gonna explain to our then-five-year-old son that mom was gonna go to heaven.
And so here we are, three years later.
And, uh, she's well.
And we're blessed, we're happy.
I feel like God's gave us a second chance with Megan, and, um, I wanna make it all it - can be.
- Hey! - How are you? - You guys look awesome.
Aww.
Thank you.
Tell us your name.
I'm Brian rittenberry.
I'm 27, I'm from Jasper, Georgia.
So what's going on in your life right now? Do you sing with your family at home or something? Oh, my gosh, I sing all the time.
My wife's like, "please go to the basement.
" - Whoa! - I'm like, "for real?" That's not a good sign to say at an audition.
When it really comes down to it, she always wants me to sing.
- So she's supportive of you.
- Oh, she is.
She, you know she loves Keith urban.
Oh, my gosh.
She won't send me to the basement though, will she? She wouldn't send you to the - basement.
- Okay, good.
You know, she said, "I've gotta get my nails done! I've gotta get my toes done and my hair done.
" I'm like "But, Megan, I'm the one that's gonna audition.
" She's like, "no, no, no.
It's not about you.
I might get to see Keith urban.
" [Laughter.]
- Aw, that's cute.
What is this about a hall pass with Keith urban? - Um, I can't speak about that.
- But You have a bit of a crush.
You've seen the movie, right? Exactly.
He's a great guy, so we're happy that at least it's Keith, you know? - What are you singing, Brian? - I'm gonna sing let it be.
- Yeah.
- Nice! - Well, let's hear it.
- Ready? - Yes, sir.
- Always in my time of trouble mother Mary comes to me - oh My God.
- Speaking words of wisdom let it be and in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me speaking words of wisdom let it be - hey! - Nice! Nice! - Very nice.
- You know, when you came out and started talking, I just thought, oh, my God, I hope you sing with that voice.
Wow! I didn't expect that.
And you took me by surprise.
And I just seriously enjoyed it.
I didn't know what to think.
I didn't know what we were gonna - get.
- Oh, yeah.
I mean, you sounded great.
Thank you.
You just have a good light about you.
- Thank you.
- And soul.
And it's just husky and cool.
And you just your vibrato's great.
Other than that, it sucked.
[Laughter.]
But you went to great lengths to prepare for this day.
I did.
Because we need you to meet somebody.
Come with me.
I love your tone, I love that raspiness.
Um, I love the commitment that you're making to that genre.
Thank you.
I say yes.
- [Laughing.]
- I say yea.
- I say yes.
- Oh, thank you.
- Nicki? You're going to Hollywood.
[Applause.]
[Country rock music.]
I think someone would like to meet Mr.
urban here.
Did you get your nails done, honey? I hope so.
Show him your hair, your nails, your toe nails.
How you doing, baby? - Yes! - Keith urban.
You got a talented man.
Just don't keep him in the basement, baby.
Good job, man.
He can go wherever he wants now.
- Awesome.
- And you next? No.
Well bring it on, let's go.
- Welcome to Hollywood! - Brian, you're very talented.
- Bye! - Congrats, Brian.
[All screaming.]
Love that kind of singer.
Right? That's the real stuff.
- Yeah.
- Not this fake, bluesy and it's effortless.
You know? Ugh.
I love it, man.
Cross 'em out as we go, please, Mariah.
Then you'll know what's happening.
Stay with us.
Why are you trying to mock me? I'm trying to help you, actually.
- American idol.
- How we doing? What's happening here? How are you? Can we buy you a hot dog? I'm okay.
I'm good on my hot dog quota.
Chicken sandwich, anything? - No.
Are you guys hungry? - We are - you're starving.
- What are you snacking on? - Trail mix.
- I want trail mix.
I have to get you know what, no.
I'm gonna start getting, like watching whatever you're - snacking on.
- Check it out.
There you go, that's you.
Thank you.
Yay.
Hide it under here with all the other.
You're gonna need a bigger one of these eventually.
- Hey, what's going on, dude? - How's it going? Dude, happy to have you, man.
What's your name? - My name's Jimmy Smith.
- All right, who inspired you to sing, man? Who are your influences? I gotta say Keith is a huge inspiration to me.
You're going to Hollywood! Oh, sorry.
- Okay, I'll take it.
- So who has heard him sing? - All of us.
- All of y'all.
- Yeah.
- And was he influenced by one of our judges? By Nicki minaj? No, by Keith? [Laughter.]
- By Keith urban? - A little.
And how did you happen to come here to audition? Actually, I was looking on Twitter one day on a work break, and I saw "last day to submit your online aution.
" And on a whim, I just went home and did it, and I got the call.
Wow.
So what you singing? I'm gonna try bless the broken road.
- Yeah.
- Rascal flatts.
Do it.
Every long lost dream led me to where you are others who broke my heart they were like northern stars pointing me on my way into your loving arms this much I know it's true that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you hmm.
Yeah.
Poppin'.
Poppin', poppin'.
- Nice.
- Poppin'.
- Uh, Nicki, what do you think? - I think you poppin'.
- Like, you mad fly.
- Okay.
And I feel like, yo, your voice is the voice that I was - waiting to hear today.
- Wow.
Like, it got that sweetness that I need to hear from my country singers.
And that's poppin'.
Boom.
- All right.
- Keith, does it have that thang for you? I love your voice.
I mean, it sounds ma way more influenced by Gary levox than - yeah.
- Than me.
I wish I could sing like that.
The great thing about your tone is it's your personality.
I can tell who you are through the tone.
'Cause it's really it's all connected in there.
So yeah, I dug it.
- Very nice.
- Thank you.
You have something incredibly special and unique.
I can't wait for the world to hear it.
- Oh, wow.
- Yeah.
Impressive.
Let's take a vote.
Nicki, yes or no? Absolutely yes.
- Thank you.
- Mariah.
Yep! [Laughter.]
- Okay.
- That was like a Beverly hillbillies "yep" up in here.
Yep! I liked it! Sure did.
- That's a yes from me, Jim.
- I say yea! - Yeah! - Yes! Let them eat cake in Hollywood with Jimmy Smith! He's going to Hollywood! What is that voice, Randy? - Let them eat cake.
- There it is! [Group screaming.]
It's impossible to get time to eat, isn't it? Oh, I make time.
- Good job, man.
- Wow, I was a little nervous with Nicki, but she she was right on board from the beginning.
Yeah, she jumped out of the gate in favor.
You're sweet, Nicki.
Yeah.
And even if the judges are running on empty, the Charlotte speedway was bursting with - topgrade talent.
- How can I trust someone who's lying to me so bow out, go now I said bow out and leave I said take your stuff and go 'cause you're not for me, no - oh, wow! Yes! And I saw you last night you held my hand so tight as you stopped and said hello cute little ladybug.
I wanna take you home in my pocketbook.
- Told you [gradually ascending in pitch.]
[Vocalizing stops.]
[Continues higher.]
[Descending in pitch.]
- Yeah, ha ha! - Word! Word, word, word! Word! - Yes, mama! - All: Yes! You got class and you got style.
Hello! [Cheering.]
One, two, three, four.
All: Yes! - Yeah! - Oh, my God.
I'm about to pass out from hunger.
[Cheering.]
These golden tickets are going down, man.
Oh, my gosh, Mariah Carey just told me that I had a great voice.
I can't even do this! Yes! I am famished.
Can we go? Yes, this is lunch.
Good morning! We're actually getting to eat today? - Good morning, heartache.
- That's a beautiful song.
- Which one? - It sure is.
Good morning, heartache Billie holiday.
- I don't know that song.
- Oh, you gotta get her I need to get hip to more Billie holiday.
Getting low hanging around I missed all of that growing up.
Good morning, heartache sit down welcome back to Charlotte.
Just taking a gentle afternoon drive Here on the track.
And outside, the crowd is being treated to some face time with season ten winner Scotty mccreery.
Scotty! Oh, I don't know.
I'm a busy I'm a busy man.
The line's yours.
Yeah, definitely.
We're back in Carolina, and uh, you just never know who you'll run into.
I went to middle school with this girl right here.
Pretty crazy being back here.
It's like deja vu.
Seeing all the, uh, the hopefuls and the future idols, you know, I might be walking amongst.
So is the next Scotty here in north Carolina? Our next contestant certainly thinks so.
How bad do you want that golden ticket? - [Laughing.]
My name is Matthew.
I'm from Florence, South Carolina.
I'm gonna do everything I can to get that golden ticket! Aghh! I started singing a little at a time through different karaoke clubs.
I like to communicate with my eyes, a lot of movement.
And then I would just start singing and getting my feet moving the body and just see how they react and just keep them warmed up and very excited and enthusiastic.
Mr.
Keith urban, I just wanna say it's an honor.
Matthew is excited, and I am ready to show you exactly what I've been working on and see how you think And wonder if you approve.
- How's it going? - How do? How do? - Hey! - Howdy, howdy.
- What's your name? - My name's Matthew muse.
- Matthew muse.
- I'm honored to be here today, sitting amongst you four, and it's just a dream come true.
Thank you, Matthew.
And have you ever been compared to any country artists or anything like that? A lot of people say that I am sound like Brad paisley.
Like Brad paisley.
And look a lot like him.
Thank you.
[Laughter.]
Thank you.
What song are you gonna do today? When I get where I'm going - by Brad paisley.
- Yeah.
- All right.
- Oh, yeah.
Hit it! [Laughter.]
Assume the position.
What's going on? [Takes deep breath.]
When I get where I'm going and on the far side of the sky first thing that I'm gonna do is spread my wings and fly.
Mm.
I'm gonna land beside a lion and I'll leave my heart wide open and I will love and have no fear hallelujah ooh okay.
All right.
That's a pity Brad plays guitar 'cause he could pick up some of the hand gesture tips and incorporate those.
Uh, I like more of the stance he was doing.
- Thank you.
- Do you dance? A little bit, yes, sir.
A lot of times I like to oh.
Oh, my God.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah! Wow! All right, man, all right.
Thank you.
You're nowhere near ready for this, I think.
You could be a model though.
- Thank you.
- Let's see it, let's see, like, if you were on the runway just a I just wanna see the strut.
'Cause you're tall and you're, you know [Laughter.]
Now put the hat on while you're walking.
- Yeah.
- Now pose.
- Oh, yeah! - Word, word, word.
- Yes! - That's it.
- Cool dude, but no.
- I agree.
- Cool dude, but no.
- Cool dude.
You should take that and run with it.
But the answer's no, cool dude.
I have to say no too.
- Sorry.
- Thank you, Matthew.
- Nice to meet you, man.
- Bye, baby! - Thank you, brother.
- I like your walk now too.
- Okay.
- What? - Really? - You hate to see him go, but you love to watch him leave.
Right, right.
Exactly what I was talking about.
- Next! - And with that, our cowboy crooner heads back to the world of karaoke.
So you're about to roll in there? The element of surprise, and now you've got the nerves from Randy meeting you and walking in and surprising you.
We're in alpharetta, Georgia.
Yes, the dog is on a school bus.
Isabel Gonzalez has been nominated by her aunt.
I nominated Isabel because she has an amazing voice, but she'd be too nervous to go on her own.
And I figure, if you give her that little push, she can rise to the occasion and could really go to the top.
Is this everybody? Are we good? Can anybody tell me what an s.
A.
T.
Score means or why that's important to you as a student? Excuse me, principal kersey? Hi.
What's going on, man? - How are you? - How are you? What's happening? I'm looking for someone named.
Isabel Gonzalez.
Is she here? - Oh! - Isabel, will you come up? Hi.
Nice to meet you, hi.
[Cheers and applause.]
Your aunt nominated you.
And do you know what this is? Come on, do you know what this is? Come in front of us and sing.
It's definitely a surprise.
Like, I had no idea.
You can't ditch us for all your famous friends now.
Are you gonna change your phone number and never call us? I feel super duper important.
I gotta pick out my outfit.
- Why, hello there! - Hello! - Good to see you again.
- Nice to see you again too.
- Is this your dream? - Yes, this is my you would, like, ditch high school and just do it? - Oh, heck yeah.
- Wow! I like this girl I like her attitude.
You ready to go! All right, what you singing? Nothing could ever change this love by Sam Cooke.
- Go for it.
- If I go a million Miles away I'd write a letter each and every day but I know nothing no, nothing, nothing nothing - nice.
Could ever change this love I have for you make me weep and you can make me cry see me coming and you can pass me by but I know nothing no, nothing, nothing nothing could ever change this love I have for you - okay, all right.
- If she brings a golden ticket, you're gonna go nuts? Yeah! - What is that? - Crazy string.
Crazy string? This is could be dangerous.
I'm absolutely head-over-heels in love with you.
Yeah.
Everything about you.
I could listen to you riffing all day.
Like, you're doing it so effortlessly.
Thank you.
And that's what makes it so dope is like you're up there and you're not even trying.
It's like you could be just doing your nails, and you're just like - I love you.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- You're a natural.
I mean, you walked out and had the confidence to perform in - front of us.
- Yeah.
That's what it takes.
You gotta be comfortable doing this, like you're just born to do it.
You are so adorable.
People are going to fall in love with you, because you are a star.
- Thank you.
- Well, let's take a vote.
Let's where this girl is going.
Nicki, where's she going? - Hollywood.
- Uh, Keith, yea or nay? Four seconds after you started singing, I'm like, let's just vote yes.
Yes.
- Mariah? - Hollywood.
- Randy? Yes, again! You're through to Hollywood! You're my favorite! You look like a young Phoebe cates, right? - Phoebe! Yes! - Duck.
- Great light.
- Yeah.
- It's just easy.
- I love her! This is something that I've always wanted, and it's my dream.
I'm on top of the world right now.
Well, we're happy that you and four cans of silly string have come.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
[Kids giggling.]
Get him, get him.
Bye, guys.
Gotcha! - [Squeals.]
- And that's how you do it, man.
You come in looking like a star.
- Hollywood, here I come.
- Up next, the auditions come - to a screeching halt.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Is that what - I dig the hip-hop thing.
- We're trying to help her, because I'm sorry, it's just that that's what I do, Nicki.
I'm gonna continue to speak.
You always do.
Go ahead.
- 30 years, a little insight.
- Oh, you're right.
Maybe I should just get off the [Bleep.]
panel.
Nicki's mad, she's walking out.
[Bleep.]
, I'm done.
[Upbeat techno music.]
[People chattering.]
Let's go, everybody! When did you start writing songs? If today's Wednesday Yesterday.
No, I was, like, six.
Six? Wow.
That's when I was writing poetry 'cause my older sister wrote poetry.
And I would see her do that.
That's such a great way to start.
Clear the set, please! Thank you very much.
As Keith gets to know Mariah a little better I go and get a little backstory of my own on our next contestant.
My name is taisha bethea.
I'm 21 years old, and I'm from Concord, north Carolina.
And I sing in a rock band.
My band's called Carson.
We've been a band for four years.
We've been friends for forever.
I used to be the girl in high school that would just sing really loud all the time.
He's like, "hey, do you wanna be in a band?" I was like, "for sure.
" It's been the best four years of my life.
You think she's got a good - shot? - I think she does.
- 'Cause she's really unique.
- They support me 100%, and that's awesome.
'Cause most bands do not want their lead singer going off to Hollywood for forever, but - They love it.
- Hello! Hello! - Hi.
- Hi! - Where are you from, baby? - I'm from Concord, north.
- Carolina.
- What do you do? What's your day job? I sing in a band.
We do alternative rock music.
Nice! - Yeah.
- What kinda artist do you wanna be? Rock, I wanna do rock 'n' roll.
So let's make that happen.
- What you singing? - I'm gonna sing Johnny cash, folsom prison.
Okay, so let me get this straight.
You wanna be a rock 'n' roll singer But you're singing Johnny cash, - folsom prison.
- I do a twist.
I make it rockin'.
You got a twist.
All right, here we go.
Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go.
I hear the train acoming it's rolling around the bend and I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when but I'm stuck in folsom prison and time keeps dragging on oh, when I hear that whistle blowing I hang my head and cry okay, that was your twist on it? - Oh, yeah.
- Okay, okay.
Well, she was happy to be there.
[Laughing.]
All right, what's your second - song? - Alanis morissette.
I'll sing that one.
and I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away it's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me you, you, you oughta know uh, what do you think, Mariah? I think you're interesting.
You're different.
You have your own thing going on.
I wish I could hear you with your band.
'Cause I almost wonder if you just I'm on that cusp of thinking that you're more suited to a band situation.
- Mm-hmm.
- There's something about your voice I really like and I like the way you perform.
I'm not sure I can wrap my head around it right now just because you're doing different songs and I'm getting confused.
Like, where are you going? Is she really that rock girl, you say? Yeah, are you really the rock girl, you know? That would be interesting.
I like your voice, I like your style.
I don't really care for you to make a decision as to what kind of music you like.
It wouldn't even matter to me.
I feel like your voice is unique, especially because you're a black girl.
You're not doing the typical R&B type of runs.
I really, really enjoyed it.
Thank you.
- Black girls can rock.
- We can rock too.
- The whole band's out there? - Whole band.
Just four guys.
They're nothing.
No big deal.
I'm just kidding.
They're everything to me.
That sounded horrible.
Don't I'm sorry.
Wow.
Well, let's take a vote, man.
Let's see where we go.
Nicki? - I'll say I'll say yes.
- Mariah? I'm not 100% convinced.
And I see, yes, that you could be a rock star, absolutely.
But for now, no.
- Sorry.
- Keith? Um, it's actually a yes from me.
- Right on.
- Yeah, 'cause I wanna hear more.
I would say not quite yet.
So it's a no from me right now.
So you got two yeses, two nos.
We're in Charlotte, north.
Carolina.
So evidently, I'm the deciding vote today.
So guess where you're going? - Means I'm going to Hollywood.
- Hollywood.
You're going to Hollywood, taisha! Me and Mariah! My band's in here! [Cheers and applause.]
- Whoo! Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, hey.
Hey, band! Hi, guys! Would you guys be happy that she's gonna be on idol? - I mean, what is this? - Oh! Nice.
They look like a happy band.
- Yeah.
- At least the judges can agree on that.
Because for the next couple of hours I love that kinda singer.
Really? Oh! Okay.
They couldn't agree on anything.
Nicki, what do you think? Yes or no? - No.
- I disagree with Nicki.
- I thought it was interesting.
- What? - Nicki didn't love it.
- Are you done, Randy? Can I speak? There's the drama.
- We should vote.
- I'll say yes.
- Yes, yes, yes.
- I would say yes.
I'm gonna say no.
But those other three - yay! - You're going to Hollywood, - baby! - Hey, hey, hey, hey! I'm gonna say yes.
I think you were amazing.
- Ugh! - Your performance was just - like Rawr! - Whoa! I have no idea what just happened.
- Where.
- Now, that girl's got vibe.
- Oh! - Should we vote? - Might as well.
- I say yes.
[Laughing.]
- I say yea.
- I say yes.
- Nicki? It doesn't matter, you're going to Hollywood.
[Laughter.]
And the stage was set.
- Good news.
- Cracks had already formed in the panel, and a long day of judging was about to take an - unprecedented turn.
- Hi.
- Hi! - How are you? I am great.
I'm so excited to be here.
- How are you guys? - All: Good.
- What's your name? - My name is summer.
What are you gonna sing for us today? - I'm gonna sing lean on me.
- Let's hear it.
Lean on me when you're not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on for it won't be long till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on - yeah! Yeah.
Nicki? I really like you.
I think your voice was really, really pretty And controlled, and I love the tone.
And I love your look.
I was really pleasantly surprised by you.
- Keith? - Thank you.
Where do you see yourself as a singer? Um, I don't know.
I did the country thing.
I'm more of a Soulful country maybe - Right.
- Is kinda what I have beendoing.
- Right.
I always get thrown when people say, "I did the country thing.
" I'm like, "well" It's like saying, "I did the brain surgeon thing.
" - Yeah.
It's like either you're a brain surgeon or you're not.
- Astronaut thing.
- I've just been trying to, uh, to put a little more soul behind it, I guess is the best way to - put it.
- Right, okay.
- Randy? - Uh, your voice naturally lends itself to country.
You have a yodel every time you - sing.
- Mm-hmm.
I mean, I could see you doing the country thing more than I could see you doing anything.
Mmhmm.
- Mariah, what say you? - When you said you did "the" country thing," Keith got mad.
I didn't get mad.
No, I'm joking.
But question, though.
Did you grow up listening to country music? Do you love it? Is it your passion? I mean, I grew up singing all sorts of stuff, but whenever.
I decided to pursue music it was country music.
- Mm.
- Yeah.
- I love country music.
- What do you love about it? - About country? - Yeah.
I mean, it it's just so real, I feel like.
I mean, it's just like being home almost.
- Mm.
- Yeah.
- Can we vote? - I'll tell you what.
I love your voice.
You can really sing.
- Thank you.
- So this is a singing competition, so I'm gonna say yes.
For me, uh, I would give you a yes too.
I agree with Randy that your voice seemed to work well in terms of like, okay, if you were going to sing country music, I could hear that in your voice.
Mmhmm.
And I think you have a really clear, clean pretty voice.
- Thank you.
- So I'm gonna say yes.
- Thank you.
- Nicki? - Thank you, 'cause for a minute, I thought it was like a country music debate.
[Laughter.]
I mean you're like, where am I? In the court of country.
Why are we like picking her apart? Becau you know, of a country comment.
I mean, you guys make comments about everybody in the pop you know, in popular music all day, nonstop.
- Who's "you guys"? - Not you, Keith.
- Randy and Mariah.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Is that what I do? - Yeah, you guys do.
- When someone says, "oh, I did" the hip-hop thing" We're trying to help her because "I did the hiphop thing.
" I know, but I feel like we're kinda like we're going into, "are you country? Are you country? Do you like country? Do you like country?" And I kinda feel like we're we're making and so when I'm making comments I'm trying to help her.
- We're trying to help her.
- We're trying to help her, as opposed to just talk about her outfit.
Well, I'm gonna continue to speak.
Of course, girl, you always do, go ahead.
What we're almost actually doing is, like, scaring her into lying.
Like, she said what she said.
She has every right to say that and feel that.
You have a great voice.
She didn't walk in here claiming country.
And I knew that.
"And that's why I asked.
She said, "oh, I did the country thing.
" And I'm like, "baby, you're a country singer.
" We kept on trying to make her claim it.
I really wasn't, but- but then we're forcing her to claim something.
- We're trying to help her.
- Well, my view is that we're kinda, like, making them change their minds.
No! She can be whoever she wants to be.
I think it's asking who she - is.
- Watch the tape back and - you'll understand.
- Really? In my expertise Is that what you do? - So is that a "yes," Nicki? - That's an absolute, 10,000 times yes.
You're going to Hollywood! - Yay! - Oh, my God! Thank you so much.
Thank you.
- All right.
- Make sure you wear a hat.
- I love this moment.
- No matter what Nicki thinks, your voice still fits better in country.
See you later in Hollywood! See you there! Just trying to help you a little bit.
- Yay, country! - 30 years, a little help.
Yeah, insight.
Oh, you're right, I'm sorry.
- I can't help her.
- No, she's maybe I should just get off the [Bleep.]
panel.
Every word she said was a yodel.
What do you think that fits in, her voice? - Let me get off the panel.
- Nicki's mad, she's walking - out.
- That was my move! I was gonna do that the next time she ragged on me.
- I was gonna walk out.
- Shut the [Bleep.]
up.
What are we doing? Is this like - finish the show.
- Next! I-I'm done.
[Upbeat techno music.]
Okay, what do we want to talk about today? All right, there was a huge fight between Mariah Carey and Nicki minaj.
It completely imploded American idol.
It happened yesterday in Charlotte, north Carolina, where the show was holding auditions.
Now, according to sources, the argument started Fights have already begun- would-be singer toward the very end of a long day of auditions [Speaking foreign language.]
Idol producers were genuinely shocked talked to somebody who's there now, they've just started Said that they want the judging panel to get along.
[Slow pop music.]
- Something happened, and production was shut down, so I'm not totally sure.
- Now the producers are supposedly worried If they can keep Mariah Carey from quitting Obviously, there are probably conflicts behind the scenes.
I mean, was this surprising to you? Of course, and that's why there's four judges.
Different opinions.
I don't know, really, all of the full details, but just hope everything is okay and they're Hope not.
- I'm so excited to audition in but considering the spit that happened, I'm rather nervous, really, to be there auditioning.
We need two minutes to refocus all their keys.
I am a little worried.
You know, I hope everything's fine once I get in there.
Let's do it! Thank you very much.
- Hi, honey pie.
- Hey, y'all.
- How are you, darling? - Oh, my God, I cannot believe okay, I'll cry.
I cannot believe y'all are right here.
What's your name and where you from, honey? My name is Brandy Alexandria Hamilton, and I live here in Charlotte, north Carolina.
Tell us about yourself.
You are a Navy reservist.
Correct? Yes, but and you got in trouble for doing what? - [Chuckles.]
Singing.
- [Laughs.]
I would get in trouble for singing, like, when we weren't - in uniform.
- Yeah.
Just be like, you know, making our beds or cle shining our boots, I would just hum, you know, a little song.
- Right.
- And or in the shower, and they "Hamilton, don't everybody don't wanna hear" "that!" I'm nervous if it doesn't go well.
[Laughter.]
- We love you, Ryan.
- We do love you.
- Okay, allight.
- What are you gonna sing? All I could do is cry by etta James.
- Yeah.
- Great, great.
- Let's hear it.
- I heard church bells ringing and I heard a choir singing I saw my love walk down the aisle on her finger he placed a ring I heard them promise till death do us part and each word was a pain in my heart.
All right.
- Wow.
- Mm, so you like the soft, sensitive songs, huh? Yeah.
[Laughs.]
- What'd you think, Randy? - I love you, man.
I love you came in, you were so positive.
You kind of like lit up the room and that's what people - yes.
- Yes.
That's what stars do, you know, they're infectious, you - know what I'm saying? - Oh.
Yeah, I mean, even through the nervousness and the dry voice and all that, I heard enough to know it's all in - there.
- Wow.
Yeah, yeah.
So I would love to hear more.
I've never had any training.
I just sing at church and at school, so I know if I could get a little you really made me feel what you were singing in that particular song.
Like, I almost felt like I was watching my man walk down the aisle with someone else, and I started getting furious inside.
So, you did a good job with feeling it and being true to you.
And like Randy said, you light up the room.
- She's infectious.
- Aah! [Laughs.]
Okay.
No, darling, it was pow.
It was actually pippity-pow, which means Huh? What'd you say? It was a-plus.
And I'm just like, I can't wait to hear more from you.
I can't wait to hear you if you - go to Hollywood.
- Yes.
I want this girl to do well.
I say yes.
I'm rooting for you, my darling.
Keith? - I say yes.
- Mariah.
- I say yes.
- Yeah! - You know what that means.
- You're going to Hollywood, - baby.
- Whoo! [Pop music.]
- It's that way.
Thank you! Hey, y'all - What? - What? - What he's what did she say? - Thank you.
"Please don't fight.
It makes usad.
" - Oh, my God.
- She what? What? Don't what? Please don't fight, it makes her sad.
[All screaming.]
Whoo! See, I knew I sent you through for a reason, little ladybug.
[All screaming.]
But see, that makes it worth it right there, I mean, wow.
Right.
- I know.
- Who could ask for anything - more? - We're good to go.
Let's do it! People will talk.
We'll keep singing.
Coming up, as the judges turn the corner in Charlotte, the contestants put the pedal to the metal.
- Oh! You - Fantastic.
Incredible.
You got a little spunk in you, man.
Oh! - Your talent - I couldn't look away.
- Their passion - You're a superstar.
- Oh, my - Our American idol.
Hollywood! [All cheering.]
Well, who will be next on the fast track to Hollywood? Find out.
More auditions from Charlotte after the break.
[Upbeat techno music.]
- Nice to meet you.
- Thank you there, brother.
- That was just really weird.
- I could see a cartoon dude with a hat on playing that.
[Laughs.]
[Sighs.]
No I didn't mean that in any way about hats.
[Laughs.]
Oh, my God.
Mm.
This sandwich is amazing.
I'm Ashley Smith from Charlotte, north Carolina.
Hi.
Welcome to the Ashley show.
Hi.
I just turned 22 years old September 3rd.
Yes, Virgo! That's why I like ya.
[Laughs.]
It's hard for me to stay still.
I'm not really good at it.
I'm just around here being all up in everybody's business.
Can I sit right here? Look at you with your tattoos.
- I know.
- I wonder about this guy over here, I'll see you guys later.
So, how are you feeling? Are you nervous? Are you crazy? Sometimes I might come across as normal.
I'm a loud talker too.
I gotta get it together.
[Groans.]
But a lot of times I don't even like to be that way.
Ha-ha! I'm bustin' this interview.
How are you guys? I just like people to look at me.
[Laughs.]
When I get in the room with the judges, I am gonna show them that I am season 12's American idol.
I'm ready right now.
I wanna go right now.
I don't wanna wait.
I wanna go right now.
[Laughs.]
Okay.
Yeah.
Really? Okay.
Really? Let's go.
- Hey.
- Hi, blondie.
- Hi.
How are you? - So, your name is Ashley.
- Smith.
- Yes, that's my name.
But I named you "blondie," 'cause I feel like that's you.
- I like that name.
- So go with that, okay? Okay.
Now, if I'm picked next, will you still call me "blondie"? Yes.
- Oh, I like that.
- Just gonna keep you blondie.
- I like it.
- Okay, blondie, how tall are u? Yo you look little.
I'm 51/2 foot, meaning I'm almost 5'1", so I mean, it counts, the half counts.
No, we'll just say you're 5' and you're blondie.
And I like that.
That's a package right there.
We couell you that way.
[Laughter.]
- I like it.
Okay? So, what're you gonna sing, blonde? I was thinking about singing.
Carrie Underwood, cowboy Casanova.
- Absolutely.
- Okay, let's go.
- Wow, of course.
- I just knew you were gonna do - that.
- Why not? - Are you guys ready? - Randy and Nicki: Yeah.
It's this is my stage? All right.
[Laughs.]
- All right.
Okay, um you better take it from me that boy is like a disease.
Hello.
And you run and you try and you're tryin' to hide and you're wondering why you can't get free he's like a curse he's like a drug you get addicted to his love and you wanna get out but he's holding you down 'cause you can't live without one more touch he's a a good time cowboy Casanova leaning up against the record machine.
[Laughs.]
He looks like a cool drink of water but he's candy-coated misery he's the devil in disguise a snake with blue eyes and he only comes out at night gives you feelings that you don't wanna fight you better run for your life - all: Yeah! - All right, now! Oh, my God, the nerves.
[Judges chattering.]
I really like blondie.
I like blondie.
Blondie, lemme tell you something.
That sounded really, really pretty.
- Thank you.
- And I like that you sang country.
I thought that was pretty.
That was kinda cool on you.
Thank you.
- Mariah? - I enjoyed you.
I really did.
- Oh! - There's something about you that's that's very, um, effervescent, is what I will - say.
- I like that word, effervescent.
[Mariah and Randy laugh.]
- I couldn't look away, Ashley.
- Like how I am with you, okay.
Wow.
Couldn't look away from Keith? No, I couldn't.
I tried, I was like - Uh-oh.
- Are you feeling something - right now? - I'm trying not to.
I'd rather keep it a secret.
No, feel.
You're allowed to feel on idol.
Okay.
Keith, uh Well, I love that you did the Carrie Underwood song.
It's so I just all the juxtapositions were thoroughly entertaining for me, so You singing Carrie.
Underwood like yo, "I can sing.
" And I always say if you can sing, you can sing anything.
And you did that justice, I think you can sing any kind of song, and I love that you chose that.
- Right.
- And blondie got on and she went on and killed it.
That's why she had blonde, for Carrie Underwood.
Okay, you guys, let's vote unanimously.
One, two, three All: Yes! - [Laughs.]
- You did rad, blonde.
- That's it, go, blondie.
What a great reaction.
That is the reaction.
Going to Hollywood, blondie.
Go on.
Thank you! I'll see y'all in Hollywood! Okay.
[Laughter.]
[Screams.]
[Cheers and applause.]
Hollywood! [Cheers and applause.]
Keith, who's your alter ego? You have to join the club.
- I need one, don't I? - Yeah.
- Yeah, I don't have one.
- Okay.
I bet you could round one up for me.
I could I was gonna say Whoo! [Pop music.]
I can't remember people unless I - give them a nickname.
- Really? That's just my thing.
Can I call you "Vicky v"? - Sure.
- "Victoria Beckham"? [Laughter.]
- Fonzie? Why are you changing everybody's name, man? - Hello, tom cruise.
- Huh? You should go by "stud.
" Stud.
Fishnet girl.
Let's hear you, gumby.
- What'd you call him? - Gumby.
[Laughs.]
- G? G-riff? - That's not his name.
I like you, curly.
[Randy and Keith laugh.]
- Can I call you "bunny"? - Yeah, you can call me "bunny.
" [Laughs.]
- [Laughs.]
Okay, chicken lady.
Hi, booby.
- Booby? - Booby trap.
[Laughs.]
- Purple boy.
[Laughs.]
- Okay, top hat.
Edgar Allan poe.
Big, crazy Barb.
- Love it.
- Stick with it.
- Yeah.
- Can I call you "finger-lickin' good"? That's right.
[Laughs.]
- Whoa, easy, tigress.
Can I call you "collard Greens"? You can call me anything you want.
Hello, little ladybug.
Hi, sexy.
- Hi, honey pie.
- Ah.
[Giggles.]
- How are you? - Nervous out of my everlovin' - mind.
- Take a breath, darling.
I like the "everlovin'.
" Take a heaving breath.
Yes.
But more excited than nervous.
- There you go.
- All right, that's good.
What's your name, where you from, darling? My name is janelle Arthur, and I'm from Oliver Springs, Tennessee.
So, how long have you been singing? I was eight years old, I was cast in a production at dollywood theme park, and I performed there and portrayed a young Dolly parton in that show.
- Oh! - So, that was kind of where I got my start.
Did you ever get to see.
Dolly herself? Did you ever get to see I did, I got to meet her when I was little.
- Wow.
- She wouldn't know who I was today, but I got to meet her.
She does now.
- Yes, exactly.
- That'd be great.
[Laughs.]
Nice.
What're you gonna sing for us today? I wanted to sing where the blacktop ends.
Oh, gosh, you gotta sing - that, baby, yeah.
- Okay, okay.
- [Laughs.]
Okay.
- I'm gonna kick off my shoes and run in bare feet where the grass, the dirt the gravel all meet going back to the well gonna visit old friends feed my soul - [Drums hands.]
- Where the blacktop ends.
- Oh, yeah.
- Oh - Uh-huh.
Yeah I'm looking down the barrel of a Friday night riding on a river of freeway lights good-bye, city I'm country-bound till Monday rolls around walk in the country with me.
Oh, and you transitioned.
[Laughter.]
- sun sinkin' down on the trees - [Laughs.]
- Oh, God, it's a medley.
- Gonna do us some good to get down in the woods take a little walk in the country with me.
Yeah.
[Clapping.]
- Nice, nice.
- Keith, what did you think? - Yeah.
[Keith and Mariah laugh.]
I just love that song.
[Laughs.]
Keith, what did you think? I wanna know.
I loved it.
Beautiful voice.
- Thank you.
- Great control.
- That means so much.
- Yeah, it's gorgeous, babe.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Nicki? I think you are really, really special, and you already - seem like a star.
- Mm.
Which is something that's very hard to come by.
So, it goes without saying, the voice is absolutely beautiful.
I think you did a really, really good job without doing too much.
- Thank you.
- Well, listen, I love you.
I thought the vocals were amazing, it was like a young leann or something.
I mean, amazing.
- Yeah, a little bit of leann.
- I love.
Yeah, I love.
Fantastic.
Very pretty.
Really pretty voice.
Thank you.
And really pretty demeanor.
Really, really nice.
That means a lot.
Thank you so much.
- So, should we vote? - Yeah.
- Yes for me.
- Nicki.
- Definitely yes.
- Mariah.
- I say yes! - Ah, and that's a yes for me too.
You're going to Hollywood, baby.
Whoo! Welcome to Hollywood, baby.
- Thank you so much.
- Whoo! - Thank you.
- That was fantastic.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome, baby.
One day you'll be doing a duet with Keith.
- Yeah.
- Life is like that.
- See you in Hollywood.
- Get yo ticket.
[Laughs.]
- I like that.
- Yeah.
- Love it! - I like r achent.
- Sweet.
Oh, she's real.
[Country music.]
- I can't get it.
It's locked.
[Knocks.]
Tryin' to get out.
Who is it? [Laughter.]
It's janelle oretith Arthur.
[Laughter.]
I'll only open this if you have a golden ticket.
Well, honey, you better open it up.
[All screaming.]
I could call him something like ozzie.
- Aussie.
- Ozzie, yes.
Oh, my - or "who kid.
" "Who k " - [Laughs.]
Sitt dosi.
Shut your mouth.
[Upbeat techno music.]
It's 2:00 P.
M.
in Charlotte, and it's not just the cars that are Keith has to leave at 2:30 today, so the clock is ticking.
Okay.
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
Here we go.
Hi, sweetheart.
You had my heart inside of your hand - oh - But you played it you played it, you played it you played it, you played it you played it, you played it you played it to the beat all right.
Something about that was scary.
[Laughter.]
Stop making a fool out of me Put your hands out front lean side to side [rock music.]
- Hey.
- How are you? Hopes that maybe I'll get a chance to see you when I close my eyes - oh Uhoh.
- Work.
- Uh.
- Work.
Work.
- Ooh - Work.
You're not good for the singing - portion of this show.
- Okay.
But you are a good everything else.
Guys, let's get one more before Keith leaves us.
Go.
Let's do it.
Hey, nah.
What's going on? I like the "hey, nah.
" - Yeah, what's going on with? - What's your name, dog? - Rodney barber.
- Where you from? Originally South Carolina, but I've been staying in Charlotte, representing Charlotte.
- Representing Charlotte? - Yeah, they call me the voice - of Charlotte.
- The v what? - The voice.
- Wow.
So you're putting all the pressure on yourself.
Who calls you the voice of Charlotte? I didn't put it on myself, about a million people in Charlotte right now that put it on me.
- Uh-oh.
- All: Oh! That's what kind of confidence I like.
I've been singing downtown Charlotte for the last two years.
I sing around Charlotte every day.
Singing on the street is great.
I'm actually able to talk to people.
That's like my stage.
And I take half my proceeds, and I'm helping people.
I'm homeless right now.
I live on the streets.
And he helps me out, you know.
- He'she's a real good person.
- I was homeless four years ago.
Stayed on the street for a while.
That was one of the toughest moments of my life, but it made me stronger.
Without the help of people, I would not have been able to get out of it, so why can I not help other people? So you paying it forward.
I love that, man.
- I got to.
- Well, what you singing, baby? - Edwin mccain, I'll be.
- All right, do it.
Strands in your eyes color them wonderful stop me and steal my breath emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky never revealing their depth and I'll be your crying shoulder I'll be love's suicide I'll be better when we're older I'll be greatest fan of your life.
Mm.
All right, now.
All right, voice of Charlotte.
Mariah, what'd you think of his vocals, man? I thought you were fantastic.
I really loved it.
I had, you know, also an experience with you because of what you've been through and stuff.
- I loved it.
- Keith? - You got a big voice, man.
- I can't help it.
- Strong.
- Crazy big.
I really, really like like you, I'm really inspired by your story, and I think that you have something really captivating about you.
I'm-I'm inspired by you, man, I love your story.
I think you're an inspiration to a lot of people to keep life moving.
I like your voice.
Let's take a vote.
Mariah, yes or no? Absolutely yes.
- Keith? - It's a yes for me.
- Nicki.
- Yes.
Randy.
Yes.
Welcome to for the voice of.
Charlotte's idol! - That way.
- Hollywood's through there.
Thank you.
- Crazy, Charlotte.
- All right.
- Where are you going, Keith? - My wife is getting an award at the New York film festival.
Ooh, nice.
And I wanted to be there to hold her hand.
- That's so nice.
- As Keith leaves for the day, a familiar face is arriving to audition.
22-year-old Candice glover.
How you been since we saw you in Las Vegas? I have been wonderful.
- Working really hard.
- Yeah? To come back and impress you guys.
Well, and I think you're going to.
I think so too.
Getting cut last year in Vegas it hurt, I cried about it a little bit.
- Candice, I'm sorry, baby.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- You don't want to hear, "oh", come back next year.
" At that moment you don't wanna hear it because you want you want it now.
I think I grew a lot between last year and this year, because last year I didn't really know who I wanted to be as an artist.
I was just kind of going with the flow of what I felt like everyone wanted me to be, but this year I'm coming back completely being Candice, and I want everyone to see, you know, what I do, not what I think everyone else wants.
Hey.
So, what is your name again? - Candice glover.
- Who do people say you sound like? Most recently, Joshua ledet.
Whoa, church girl.
You a church girl? - Yep.
- Joshua was here last season, he finished third.
Third, mmhmm.
Great church boy from the proud state of Louisiana.
- Ooh.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, let's see what you got, man.
Okay.
[Clears throat.]
don't you be wastin' all your money on syrup d honey because I'm sweet enough hello.
And don't you be using every minute - mm.
Making a living because we Ooh.
[lmitates sizzle.]
Whoo! Whoo! Got our love - yes.
Yo! Best audition I heard so far - this season.
- The entire time.
- Thank you.
- Oh, my God.
- Absolutely.
- What the what is going on? - Oh, my goodness.
- Wow, where have you been? - Right? - Right.
[Laughs.]
What can we listen to you the rest of the day, please? Right, exactly.
I mean, man, you sound amazing.
I'm obsessed with you.
[Laughs.]
I'm obsessed with you.
[Laughs.]
- Thank you.
I want to skin you and wear you.
[Laughs.]
Whoa, hey.
[Laughs.]
- Hey, hey.
[Laughing.]
- I love you.
- Thank you.
You are [Pounds table.]
You are what people in America watch American idol to hear, to see.
Like, I'm not even worthy to critique you.
Like, you have it.
- Aww - I'm obsessed with you.
- Thank you, Nicki.
- I really don't have any words for this except this was the absolute best singing we have - heard thus far.
- Thank you.
And if you don't go to Hollywood, then [Laughs.]
No, if you don't go to the last round of this competition, there's something wrong.
- Right.
- Yes.
- Something's really wrong.
- I'm just taking it one step at a time.
I wish you already had something out that I could listen to.
[Nicki and Randy laugh.]
Seriously.
I love it.
I felt you.
I felt you.
Thank you so much.
Well, let me just throw in that you're exactly what this show is about.
This is the greatest singing talent show that there ever has been, ever was, and that right there is what it's all about.
Yes.
- One, two, three - All: Yes! - Please, yes! - Thank you so much! - Welcome to Hollywood, baby.
- Yes! - Thank you.
- Make me that that mix tape.
I need my mix tape.
- [Laughs.]
[All screaming.]
- Wow.
That was really - I don't even believe that really just happened.
That was crazy right there.
They gave me a standing ovation.
- They did? - Listen, oh, and they said that I was the best they heard all season.
[All screaming.]
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! This means the world to me.
Oh, my gosh, I'm one step closer to being the next American idol.
I cannot believe this! Oh, my goodness.
Whoo! [All screaming.]
I'm Candice glover, and I'll see you in Hollywood! [All scream.]
Hershey's is more than chocolate.
It's an invitation.
To stop and savor.
When the chocolate is hershey's.
Life is delicious.
[Upbeat techno music.]
[Upbeat music.]
[Crowd cheers.]
- Oh, my God! - I'm just gonna say this - oh, my God! - Can somebody take this? Welcome back to Charlotte, north Carolina Where's your camera? Oh, I'll get it.
[Girls laugh.]
All right, we'll just pose - for this one.
- All right.
In the process of auditioning all this budding talent.
- Let's get back in there.
- Hi.
- Hi, cute stuff.
What's up? - What's up? What's your name, where you from? I'm de'brea barber and I'm from clover, South Carolina.
- What do you do out there? - I like to hunt, and I like to - fish.
- You hunt? - Yes.
- What do you hunt? Well, have you ever heard of frog gigging? - No.
- Frog gigging? - Frog gigging.
- "Gigging"? - Yeah.
- Gigging.
Clover is a small town.
A lot to love.
- You going gigging? - Yeah.
- That is so gross.
- Ma, no, it's not.
- Okay, who's gonna fry 'em? - You.
I like to go frog gigging.
You go out at night, you go by the creek, and you have these big bullfrogs.
My foot's stuck.
Get the frog, cut the legs off, fry 'em up, put some hot sauce on it, tastes like chicken.
If I made it to Hollywood Yum.
I would definitely invite all the judges over to my house to eat some frog legs.
Tastes like chicken.
Oh, yeah, right, everybody says that.
- It does! - It's very French, darling.
Chicken gets a bad rap, I'm telling you.
Everything tastes like chicken.
So, the fro-wait, so the you don't eat the body of the frog, just the I uhuh, uh-uh, that's too much.
Oh, that's too much, but the legs is fi - yeah, the legs is fine.
- But what do you do with the body? They just - so, you just throw away the big, fat body? [Laughter.]
If you were eating the whole frog, I'd say, okay, fine.
People gotta do what people gotta do.
But you chopping them little, tiny legs off.
Yeah.
- What? - There'll be a lot of disabled frogs in the world.
I know! [Laughs.]
Maybe you should just try the middle section and see if it's if it's tasty.
I don't know, maybe you should try it, Mariah.
No, darling, no.
No, no, no, no.
I won't be having the leg, the meat, or the middle.
- [Laughs.]
Okay, listen, ladybug, you if you go to Hollywood, you gotta stop killing them frogs.
Okay.
- Promise me that? - I got you.
- Frog killer.
- That's your nickname.
Nicki and Randy: "Frog killer.
" This is horrible.
Animal lovers, I'm sorry.
Okay, so, my darling, what are you gonna sing? I'm gonna sing pride and joy.
Well, Bonnie Raitt's version of pride and joy.
Let's-let's hear it.
Well you heard about love giving sight to the blind but my baby's love caused the sun to shine he's my sweet, little thang he's my pride and joy and I'm his sweet, little baby and he's my little loverboy I love my baby strong and lean you mess with him you see this woman get mean he's my sweet, little thang - uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh.
- He's my pride and joy I liked your song choice.
Pride and joy is a favorite of mine.
And I really like your voice, and I think you are adorable.
Thank you.
I'm gonna give you a pass on the frog thing, but just don't tell anybody about it, because [Laughs.]
Listen, I mean, you got a little spunk in you, man.
You got you got a little crazy swagger.
You're all, like, all slim and like, you know.
- [Laughs.]
- I like you.
I like you.
You are not scared.
- Mm-mm.
- I like that.
You definitely got some conviction going on.
I believe this girl, Nicki.
Yeah.
I think you have a strong voice, and you know, you're a big piece - of cutie pie.
- Thank you.
And yeah, let's vote.
Mariah? - Yes.
- Thank you.
- Randy? - I'm still laughing at all the frogs, man.
Right, ribbit.
Frogs don't taste like chicken, but anyway, yes.
- On to Hollywood, off you go.
- Yeah! Thank you! [All screaming.]
Congratulations! You did it! - That's crazy.
- Wow.
That could be the start of something good.
I'm Brad Harris, and I'm your next American idol.
When I was in high school, our high school did not have a wrestling team.
So, we used to start making videos and performing.
We got so into it that I would randomly bang my head into the locker doors.
The p.
E.
Teacher used to get mad at me 'cause I'd start breakin' his steel chairs with my head.
[Laughs.]
[Screeches.]
I don't think that it did any damage.
[Warbling.]
So, you been watching the show? - Yes, sir.
- I heard you doing "this is.
" American idol" earlier.
This is American idol.
That's good, man.
Not bad.
I really feel like this is where I'm supposed to be.
Like, it really is part of some plan for me.
To the right.
- How are you, darling? - I am great.
Tell us your name, where you're from.
My name is Brad Harris, I'm 28, and I am from maiden, north.
Carolina.
Obviously, you sing.
What else do you do? I actually used to rap in.
Houston, Texas, under the name bakon.
- "Bakon"? - Bacon.
- Yes.
- Not "akon," "bakon.
" "Akon" with the "b" in front.
Yes, ma'am.
- So, do you like bacon? - Bacon.
[Laughs.]
- [Laughs.]
Because I eat Turkey bacon every day.
I do it really, really crispy.
Real crispy.
- That sounds good.
- Bacon is actually a really good food, I actually like it.
If you were bacon, would you be soggy, soft, crispy, what? [Laughs.]
- Very crispy.
- Ooh.
Okay, so what I would like to do is hear you sing, please.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay, this is a whole new world - from Aladdin.
- Yay.
- All right, yes.
- Beautiful song.
Well, I can open your eyes take you wonder by wonder over, sideways, and under on a magic carpet ride a whole new world a dazzling place I never knew but when I'm way up here it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with you you're practicing your breathing when you're doing - that? - Yes, ma'am.
- Oh.
- So Uh Randy? - Uh, dude, it wasn't good.
- No, not your thing, babe.
- Should we vote quickly? - Yeah.
- Yeah, all together.
- Yeah, all together, thanks.
- One, two, three - All: No.
All right, thank you.
Bye-bye.
Think I could get a handshake or something? Okay, that's fine.
Okay.
- Bye.
- Brad? - Ah, no ticket.
- No ticket, oh.
- Why not? - I don't know, they really didn't tell me exactly what went wrong.
[Laughs.]
- That was funny.
- Where did that come from? - Where did that come from? Looking like You know, maybe I'll try to go be a host or something.
Be just like you.
This is American idol.
[Laughs.]
And just in case I missed the other one, this is American idol.
Cover your bases, right? Why not? [Upbeat techno music.]
[Mellow folk music.]
Hollywood! [Crowd cheers.]
[Cheers and applause.]
One, two - [Laughs.]
My name is seretha, I'm 26 years old, and I'm from right here in Charlotte, north Carolina, and I am a hairstylist and a mother.
I have a really beautiful family.
It's myself, my boyfriend monty, and our beautiful three-year-old daughter London.
London, are you ready for mommy to meet Nicki minaj? All right.
And then I can go to Hollywood.
Last may, my boyfriend was in a very serious accident which almost cost him his life.
He was listed in critical condition, and he was unresponsive for two days.
We would be speaking to him, we didn't know if he understood or even knew what it was that we were saying.
He broke both of his hands, lost a finger, he had metal plates and rods in both of his hands, and has had to have eight surgeries so far, and two more to go.
It's definitely been a tough year for me.
I don't see it getting any worse, I see it only getting better for me now.
And what did he say when you told him what you wanted to do? Actually, he doesn't know that I'm here.
He doesn't know that you're - here? - No.
[Laughs.]
- Why didn't you tell him? - We just went through something that was so tragic, I just wanted a surprise that was gonna lift his spirits, and You wanted to walk in with - great news.
- Right.
Okay, well, we'll keep it a secret for now.
Okay.
[Laughs.]
Okay.
- Aww - Hi.
- Hello.
- Hello, little one and little one's friend.
What's your name and where you from, honey? My name is seretha guinn, and I am from Charlotte, north Carolina, from here.
- And that's your daughter? - This is my daughter London.
- Marie.
- How old is she? - She's three.
- Hi, London.
- That's a beautiful name.
- Hi, London.
She absolutely idolizes you, Nicki.
She actually doesn't call you Nicki minaj, she calls you "dun dun.
" - [Gasps.]
- She gave you a nickname.
- She gave me a nickname.
Yeah, you're her best friend, you just don't know it yet.
London, you're my best friend? - Oh - Oh, my so, are you gonna give me a hug and maybe we can take a picture today before you guys leave? She actually has a bear for you too, a matching bear.
I can't take that from you, lond.
It's for me? - She has a matching bear.
- What's the bear's name? - Dun dun.
- Dun dun.
So, dun - dun dun.
[Laughs.]
So, he's dun dun and I'm dun dun too? [Laughs.]
- Nicki, she - So, we're both gonna be or is it "dun," "dun"? Which one is it gonna be? - Da dun dun.
- That's where she got it from.
Da dun dun.
[Laughs.]
Okay, well, tell us about yourself, darling.
Well, I've been singing all of my life, but I put my singing on the back burner.
This year, her father was in a serious accident, which almost cost him his life, so He's doing a lot better now.
And it just encouraged me to chase after my dream because life is way too short and precious.
So, where is he now? - He's at home.
- Is he supportive of what - you're doing? - It's a secret.
[Laughs.]
I haven't told him.
Oh, that's cute.
Wow.
What're you gonna sing? I'm gonna sing the fresh prince of bel-air.
- Fresh prince of bel-air? - Yeah.
- Okay.
- Okay.
On the east side of Charlotte I was born and raised on the playground is where I spent most of my days chillin' out, maxin' relaxin' all cool flirtin' with the young boys outside of the school when a couple of gals they were up to no good started making trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight my mama got scared said you know the rest that's how I ended up here so I whistled for a cab and when it came near the license plate read "fresh" and had dice in the mirror if anything I could say that this cab was rare but I thought man, forget it yo, home, to bel-air.
Nicki and Randy: Yes! Yes! [Laughs.]
Yes, yes, wow, nice, brava.
Let's hear something else, darling.
Okay.
Oh, I need you in my heart need you to hold you're my world my heart and soul if you ever leave baby, you would take away everything good in my life - now tell me how - Mm.
Oh, my God.
Incredible.
- Thank you.
- Incredible.
I'm so proud of you too.
I'm proud you have the baby, and you know, even with her father getting in that horrible accident, I mean, I can't imagine And you you're a superstar.
Oh, my God.
Yeah, I was blown away too.
I mean, you got a little Whitney thing there.
It was interesting.
- Thank you.
- And I love that you're taking the time to follow your dreams, because that's just what this show is about.
I think you have a beautiful voice.
Personally, I liked when you sang the first song.
Believe it or not, I liked that better because it felt like you more.
I loved you.
I loved you.
I absolutely loved you.
- Thank you.
- So much, it was great.
- And look at that face.
- And this little baby - Oh, my God.
- Is too cute.
And you're shy, really, cutie pie.
Can we vote, you guys, before - yes, let's vote.
- Let's vote all together.
- Let's vote, let's vote.
- All: Yes! - Please! - Yes! [Laughs.]
Welcome to Hollywood! Hollywood! Hollywood! - Whoo! - London, come.
Welcome to Hollywood.
Come come can someone take a picture for us? I'm just overjoyed.
It just really, really, really put me in a good place.
My daughter was standing beside - me.
- Cute little kid.
- What a day, huh? - Charlotte? Oh.
Charlotte was crazy talented.
I mean, wow.
- We're blown away.
- So, ladies and gentlemen, that is a wrap in Charlotte.
Yay! In all, 37 American idol hopefuls leave the raceway hearing that all-important Yes! [Screams.]
- Here he comes.
[Group cheering.]
I'm going to Hollywood! Okay, crew, are you really ready for Hollywood? All: Yes! - Bring it on.
Let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
[Tires screech.]
We found some top-notch top-top-top-top-top-notch people today.
Charlotte delivers in a big way.
Think we found a lot of top tens, top fives, maybe a winner.
We're off.
Good night, everybody.
Ryan, Ryan.
Except I'm going to the wrong place.
You go there, I'm going in here.
[Zydeco music.]
Tomorrow night, we march into cajun country Welcome to American idol! - The hometown of the dog.
- Come on, b.
R.
, don't let your boy down.
This is my dirt right here.
Be there for the best that Dixie has to offer.
- Undeniable superstar.
- Oh, man! [All cheering.]
But things can't always go smoothly in the South.
Ooh, Mariah.
Oh, I just said "Mariah" and looked at Nicki.