American Idol: The Search For A Superstar s12e04 Episode Script

1 - Welcome to the bayou.
- It's a place like no other.
One-of-a-kind culture The is the next singing superstar born on the bayou? This is Louisiana, and this is.
American idol.
[Crowd cheers.]
welcome to American idol! [Alligator hisses.]
[Upbeat techno music.]
- Hi.
Welcome to American idol.
- Hi.
5,000 American idol hopefuls turning out for Louisiana - auditions.
- Thank you.
The next American idol is coming from Louisiana! Whoo! This is really the best part, when you get a chance to travel around the country and see meet the fans.
I love that part.
Idol fever has landed in the bayou Who's coming to Hollywood? [Crowd cheers.]
And the judges are ready for Baton Rouge to deliver.
Lot of gospel, a lot of blues, a lot of soul, a lot of country.
All the good music's from the South.
There's so much culture and soul out here.
And the food's always good.
The auditions start now! [Crowd cheers.]
And we'd expect nothing less from the hometown of the dog.
Lemme just say first: It's good to be home! [Crowd cheers.]
Who feel like winners today? [Crowd cheers.]
- Hi, Mariah! Good luck, God bless.
Have an incredible experience.
[Crowd cheers.]
But before the judges take their seats, someone needs an extra special touch-up for his homecoming.
Me being the beautician that I am, the beauty school dropout, I just had to do it.
I couldn't resist.
I need pictures of this.
This is why people need second career options.
[Laughs.]
I'm gonna look extra beautiful today on camera.
But even though Randy has an a-list glam squad, he's not the only Baton Rouge beauty in town.
I am Megan Miller, and I am the current miss Baton Rouge.
I've always done pageants to win money to pay for my education.
Once I graduate in December I really want to focus on my singing career now that I've gotten my studies out of the way.
Three days ago, I was involved in an accident and put in the hospital.
Last night the doctor said, "we need to get you in right now.
" We've got an infection we have to fix, and you'll be in the hospital over the weekend," and I said, "absolutely not.
" I will let it fall off before I will miss my American idol audition because these are my dreams that are at stake.
I'm going in there with heels on, with my crutches, and I'm gonna do my best, and the leg can wait.
If it's not life or death, the leg can wait.
- Is everything gonna be okay? - I'm actually having surgery right after this audition, so hopefully I can be put to sleep with a golden ticket in my hands.
- You're a serious trouper.
- [Laughs.]
I am a trouper.
I was not letting anything get in the way of this.
Well, clearly.
Okay, well, I hope that you do get that ticket.
I hope so too.
And I hope you make the surgery, so let's get this - okay, awesome.
- Do you need any help? Oh, I've got this.
Under control.
- You've got it.
All right.
- Well, if I fall, I might need - help.
- Okay.
Well, we're right there with you.
- Good luck.
- Hello.
How are y'all doing today? First one in of the day in.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
What's your name, sweetie? - I'm Megan.
Megan Miller.
- Megan, you gotta tell us what happened, Megan.
I got in an accident three - days ago.
- Evidently.
I have to have surgery right after this, so So, you're literally gonna sing hopefully I get to go have surgery with a golden ticket in - my hand.
- Wow, bold.
What are you gonna sing for us today? I'm gonna sing something's got a hold on me.
- Y'all ready? - Yes.
Oh, whoa sometimes I get a good feeling.
Keith and Randy: [Chuckle.]
I get a feeling that I never, never never, never had before no, no something's got a hold on me yeah oh, it must be love oh Something's got a hold on me right now, child oh, it must be love let me tell you now I never thought it could happen to me well, love sure gonna put a hurtin' on me I said, oh [Laughter.]
- Using it.
- I like it.
Oh hey I said, baby oh, it must be love you know, it must be love.
[Laughs.]
- Oh, I like this girl.
- Yeah, boy.
I like this girl.
Entertaining.
- Yes.
- I thought you were gonna sing lean on me.
Randy [Laughs.]
Uh, this girl's a natural, man.
See, it just goes to show you, no matter what's going on crutches, leg busted if you can sing, you can sing.
- Nicki, what did you think? - Undeniable superstar.
I mean, what I want to commend you on is coming in here and not making an excuse, rather you turned that into something - a microphone.
- Hello.
Yeah, you you used it, and it didn't use you.
It didn't make you look like, "oh, God, the poor girl with the crutches.
" You came in here like, "yup, my leg is broken, and I'm I'm still gonna come in here and wow you, and I'm so glad, because sometimes things happen like that to discourage you.
You just gotta roll with the - punches.
- Exactly.
I think you're really endearing, like there's a quality that you have that's just like sweet and nice, yet funny and very talented.
That means a lot coming from you guys.
She knows who she is.
- Yes.
- You sounded great.
I gotta say, Megan, I love that you came in here I agree with.
Nicki came in and you just went at it.
I mean, I wish you'd moved around a bit more.
That's fine.
- [Laughs.]
- Yeah, that's okay.
- You don't want me to do that.
I'll face-plant.
Let's vote.
Randy? - Should we vote all together? - Yeah, let's vote.
- One, two, three, four - All: Yes! [Clapping.]
Hollywood! Hollywood! - Good job, babe.
- I wish you luck with the - surgery.
- Thank you so much.
I'm going to I'm going to have surgery right now, and I'll be - really? - Yeah, let's all go.
- Yeah, let's all go, man.
- Keith, you can go for sure.
"- Ooh.
She said, "Keith, you can go for sure.
" - Oh - wow, hello.
[Rolls tongue.]
Uh-oh.
[Crowd cheering, applauding.]
Keith has no comment.
That's a first for Keith.
- Yeah, Keith.
- Who's in charge of getting you to surgery? Mommy and my daddy right here.
You're going to surgery, Keith.
Only if I can bring my wife.
- Randy and Nicki: Whoo! - Good news.
Megan's surgery was a success, and she'll be back on her feet just in time for Hollywood week.
Over the next hour, Baton Rouge casts a spell on the judging room.
- I have special powers.
- Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh.
- Ooh.
- But just as things heat up - You got a girlfriend? - Nicki.
- The auditions go South.
- Aah! Ah [Pigs squeal.]
- [Squeals.]
- That's Louisiana! - Speeding.
- And when we tell you to, you're gonna do that and then pass it off to Matt, okay? - Okay.
- All right, go ahead.
I've always been very socially awkward.
I don't know, I'm just bad at communicating in a firsthand sort of way.
Hi, my name's Charlie askew sorry, Charlie, don't say "hi" in the beginning.
- Oh, sorry.
- No worries.
My name's Charlie askew, I am 17, and I'm from little rock, Arkansas.
[Soft pop.]
When I was little, I wasn't able to reach out and connect with people socially or verbally.
The doctor says that Charlie has Charlie askew syndrome.
He doesn't really fit any diagnosis, I guess, but he's just a really good, well-rounded kid.
Through music, finally, I found an outlet.
You know, some way I can express myself.
Music has been the center of his life since he was born, and without it how could you not - support that? - Yeah.
He was he was born to play.
[imitates bird whistles.]
[Chuckles.]
[Bird chirping.]
Do you think singing is helping you to come out of your - shell? - Definitely.
It's how I communic it's how I it's how I talk to people and express myself when I can't do it verbally.
- Okay.
- It's a great outlet.
Okay, are you the next American idol? - I hope so.
- [Laughs.]
- I hope so nope.
- That's the spirit.
Are you the next American idol? [Clears throat.]
Well, yes.
Yes, I am.
- [Laughs.]
A reluctant "yes" - Trick question.
- But I finally got it out.
- [Laughs.]
All right, cool, what're you gonna sing? I'm gonna sing the intro to breakthru by queen.
- Oh.
- Yes.
- Wow.
Bold.
- When love breaks up when the dawn light wakes up a new life is born somehow I have to make this final breakthru now - wow.
- Gd golly.
- You got a second song, darling? There was a boy a very strange enchanted boy they say he wandered very far very far over land and sea a little shy and sad of eye but very wise was he - hmm.
- Thank you, my darling.
- Beautiful.
- [Laughs.]
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
I was pleasantly surprised by your voice.
- Thank you.
- I mean, whoa.
You have do you think you went through puberty already? - Yes, my voice is done.
- It's 2:00 now - Oh, yeah, yeah, may maybe he'll make it by 5:00? Actually, my voice was the first thing to mature.
- Really? - [Clears throat.]
- Hmm.
- Well What was the second thing to mature, darling? - [Laughs.]
- All right.
- And there we are.
- Okay.
Well, my darling, I really like you, I like your spirit.
- Thank you very much.
- Randy? You're kind of like this seemingly dark, strange - [Laughs.]
- But cool guy.
- He's so cute when he laughs.
- "Seemingly dark"? [Laughter.]
Seemingly dark, strange, but - cool.
- That was perfect.
- That's a first.
- That's your name.
"Mystery man.
" Keith, my darling.
- Dude, I love your voice.
- Thank you.
I love it.
The tone, it's like it's not of - a gender.
- Right, yeah.
And I mean that in a really glowingly complimentary way.
Like bowie or someone, you know? It's your own thing.
- I loved it, dude.
- Thank you.
Mm, how do I even express this? First of all, I can identify with you in t I wasn't really a shy person, but I can identify with you using music as you know, for escapism, and I think there's an opportunity for you to really kind of shake things up within this competition - Yeah, yeah.
- If you stay on the right track of just being that unique person with that incredible You could be a mystery surprise man.
Count on it.
I can't be anyone but myself.
- Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
- Absolutely, and neither can.
I.
[Laughs.]
On that note, let's vote.
- Yeah.
- [Chuckles.]
- [Rolls tongue.]
Randy - Yeah, yeah, 100% yes to my strange, seemingly dark, cool man.
Great singer.
You are seemingly dark, my - darling.
- Yes, yes.
Of course it's 1,000% yes for you, yes.
- Two yeses from me.
- Ooh.
- Oh.
- A mysterious yes from me.
- Ah.
- Oh, mysterious [Laughs.]
You're going to Hollywood, Charlie! - Sing a David bowie song.
- Whoo! Hollywood for the mystery man! - Whoo! - Wow.
[Chuckles.]
- I like him a lot.
- Hey.
- Look at that! - He's one of those guys that becomes a star, and you look back at his audition thing, and he goes, "oh, my God, I looked like that?" - Right.
- Congratulations, man.
That's great.
Kind of speechless right now.
- Thank you.
- Well done.
I never had a doubt, son.
Never had a doubt.
- I love you, dad.
- It's a good family moment.
[Chuckles.]
What's up, Hollywood? I'm about to kick some arse! Whoo! With the auditions on an upswing, I swing by the holding room to check in with the contestants.
Hey, guys.
[Crowd cheers.]
Hi, what's your name? - Maddie assel.
- Maddie, well, the world has changed for you in the last 24 hours, huh? Literally so much.
I'm Sylvia assel, and I nominated my granddaughter maddie assel to be on American idol.
I knew maddie was gonna be a wonderful singer from when she was a little red-faced baby.
I think she learned how to sing from me.
- Oh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay watching the tide roll - What's up, Randy? - Hi, maddie, how are you? What's going on? [Crowd cheering.]
"Grandma nominated you.
Grandma said, "listen, I think that this girl really should have a shot to come and sing "before the judges.
" You're getting a shot! Maddie's got a shot! [Cheers and applause.]
Thank you so much.
Oh, my God.
[Band playing.]
Yes! Yes! [Laughs.]
What? Yes.
- Why, hello, there.
- Hi, Randy.
- How are you, maddie? - Hi, guys.
Good.
- Hi.
- You never thought you'd be here, but this is your dream, right? Yeah, but I mean, I thought I was just coming for a vacation, and then like just it's crazy.
Grandma's a nice lady.
Your mom seemed really sweet too.
- Would you like some beads? - Uh, sure.
We should put these on her if she gets the ticket.
Okay, uh, what're you gonna sing? - Oh! Darling by the Beatles.
- Okay, let's go.
[Clears throat.]
oh, darling if you leave me I'll never make it alone believe me when I tell you I'll never make it alone no hey when you told me oh you didn't need me anymore I guess I nearly laid down and died oh, darling.
[laughs.]
Nice.
- Uh, what'd you think, Keith? - Is there someone who singularly influenced your singing style? 'Cause you've got a style.
I pick up stuff from Beyonce and Adele and Haley reinhart.
Yeah, well, I love the fact that every person you just mentioned, you don't sound like.
- Oh.
- [Laughs.]
- Right.
- Thank you so much.
- I-I like that.
- That's a key.
- That's actually a good thing.
- Thank you so much.
'Cause you've got your own style.
- Thank you.
- I think that you have a nice voice and you got you got some power there as well, so I enjoyed it.
I loved your song choice.
- Thank you.
- And I really liked how you sang.
I really you know, I like your confidence as well.
Thank you so much.
Let's take a vote.
Yes, Keith? - I say yes.
- Mariah? - Yes.
- Nicki? - Yes.
- Yes for me.
Welcome to Hollywood! Ahh Oh [Giggles.]
- Ahh! - [Screaming.]
- [Laughs.]
- You're so embarrassing! - [Laughs.]
- I love you.
- Oh, my God.
Congratulations.
She's allowed to embarrass.
- I'm allowed, I'm allowed.
- How do you even see? This isn't even on your face.
Wait a minute.
We don't care.
I've got my grandma's magic - dust on me.
- It works.
- I can tell.
- Magic dust is so good.
[Laughs.]
How much magic dust have you had today? - Oh, lots.
[Laughs.]
- Oh, my gosh.
More than you would ever know.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
Oh, my gosh.
You're so cute.
- [Laughs.]
- Magic dust for everybody.
It seems the tide has turned in Baton Rouge.
Everything is beginning to suck.
I can see it in the stars across the sky [Pigs squeal.]
'Cause I got friends in low places where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away [Laughter.]
[Goat bleats.]
What's up, what's up what's up with you what's up, what's up what's up, what do you do.
We are undercover passion on the run [Randy laughs.]
Chasing love under the sun [police siren whoops.]
They're coming to get you right now.
[Laughs.]
- No.
- Oh, okay.
- No, no, no, and no.
- Aah! - That wasn't good.
- Wait, what's going on? - [Laughs.]
- One, two, three - All: No.
- [Sobbing.]
- It's okay, because a chicken one day will win American idol.
[Squawking.]
[Laughs.]
I don't understand why they wouldn't choose me! - What is going on here, man? - Y'all still suck as judges.
- [Laughs.]
What the - So frikkin' bad.
Hopefully the name of our next contestant is a sign of good things to come.
My name is Paul jolley, I am from palmersville, Tennessee, and I am 22 years old.
I am auditioning because this is my calling in life.
My family sees it, I see it, my friends see it.
I just feel like I have to share this with the world 'cause I have so much more to give back.
My grandpa just recently passed away.
[Folk music.]
- I wouldn't be half the man that he was, 'cause he was a first sergeant.
Such a good role model, and taught me take things out in the back, go in your music room, woodshed it yourself, and get it right.
I want to be like that and give back to the world like he always did.
Yo, come on in, man.
- How's it going? - What is your name? - I'm Paul jolley.
- All right, do it for us, man.
What you singing? It's called rascal flatts.
- I won't let go.
- Okay.
- All right.
- You think you're lost but you're not lost on your own you're not alone 'cause I will stand by you I will help you through when you've done all you can do and you can't cope I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight and I won't let go all right, what do you think, Nicki? - I like you a lot.
- Thank you.
Your voice is really, really pretty, and you have not only a nice texture to your tone, but also this clear ability to, you know, play with it and make it real colorful.
I like your vibe, I like that you have a sparkle in your eye - as well.
- Yeah.
- Mariah Carey.
- I liked you a lot.
- Oh, gosh.
- I really did.
I felt that you exuded confidence, and I felt that it was effortless the way you sang.
I know that people are gonna love you.
Yeah, I like your voice, Paul.
It was like a great crafted vocal performance.
You've got an honesty in your tone.
All right, let's take a vote.
Mariah, yes or no? It is a yes.
- It's a yes for me.
- 1,000% yes for me.
It's not 1,000, it's 100% yes for me, but guess what Welcome to Hollywood, baby! Well done, Paul.
- [Screaming.]
- You all right? [Pop music.]
Congratulations, man.
I'll give you a hug, come on.
I want a hug too.
I'm a loving guy.
What'd your grandma whisper to you in your ear? It's for my grandpa.
We just lost him, and he told me never to give up.
And this I'm just so thankful.
It's a blessing.
It's a blessing.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Great to have you with us.
Welcome, welcome.
We'll see you in Hollywood.
I want to give you a hug too.
Come here.
Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm all right.
- You're all right? I'm glad you got some happiness here.
[Pop music.]
It's been a busy day for our judges.
They're beginning to fade a little bit.
It's gonna take someone very special to wake them up.
Nicki, Mariah! Oh, my gosh, Keith! - Hey.
- Oh, my gosh, it's such an honor to meet all y'all.
How are you, man? - I'm doing good, I'm doing - What's your name again? Chris.
Christopher barthel.
- Right.
- When I perform, I have an alter ego.
I know it may sound crazy, but I'm crazy, who knows, okay? I like that.
What's your alter ego's name? I don't have a name yet.
It's something fierce, though.
He could just go by Sasha.
- He needs a name.
- No, I - gimme a name, Nicki, come on.
- Mushroom.
Mushroom.
[Laughter.]
Got a mushroom.
Mushroom, right.
That's what we're gonna keep it as, all right? Oh, you gotta be a fire sign, huh? - Yeah, sag.
- You're your sagittarius? - Yes.
- I'm a Leo, awesome.
- Oh.
- [Hisses.]
- Now you're a mushroom.
- Aries.
- You're an aries? - Keith, what are you? Confused.
[Laughter.]
- What is going on here, man? - I told you I'm here to bring the fun.
Okay, let's bring the fire.
What you gonna sing? I'm gonna do Adam lambert, if I had you.
Adam lambert with your alter ego mushroom.
Mushroom's gonna perform for y'all right now.
Mushroom's about to tear the house up.
Yeah, you already know.
All right, let's do this.
[Laughs.]
From New York to L.
A.
getting high rock and rolling get a room trash it up till it's 10:00 in the morning girls in stripper heels boys rolling in maseratis - oh - What they need in this world is some love now there's a thin line between a wild time and a flat line baby tonight [laughter.]
it's a struggle - word.
- Gotta rumble - yes.
- Tryin' to find it - go, mushroom.
- But if I had you - not me.
- You you you are you you you you no? - No, not me.
- Oh, okay.
I like the keys that song was in.
- All right, shroom.
- Ooh, come on, come on.
Give mushroom a good one, please, oh, this time.
[Laughs.]
Keith, what do you think of my.
Chris, fun guy.
- [Laughs.]
Fun guy.
- Oh, please, I promise I won't - let y'all down.
- Fungi.
- I promise.
- Chris, you're a sweet guy, man, I don't think it's your thing.
- Okay.
- I really don't, brother.
I have to concur with Keith, but you are very entertaining.
- Thank you.
- Okay, mush, if you would let me run my hand through your hair, I feel like you would you would be blessed forever.
Yeah.
- Can I? - [Laughs.]
Nicki! - Yes.
- Come over here, Chris.
When I wear my blanket, I have special powers, babe.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, can I have a high five? Oh, my gosh, Nicki, you are - awesome.
- Thank you.
[Laughs.]
- Oh, my gosh.
- Thank you, babe.
Shroom, I think it's a no for all of us, right, guys? - Yeah.
- Yeah, that's cool.
But you're a fun-loving guy, man.
I appreciate that, and thank you, Nicki, so much.
Bye, babe.
Bye.
Nice to meet you.
- Walk into that world.
- Take care, Chris.
- Give 'em what you got, dog! - The fact that he has more energy than people that actually go to Hollywood look at look at him.
Oh! You work, baby! You better work! Strajay! - [Laughs.]
- Chris? - I didn't get it this time.
- Oh, you have a big smile like you did.
I have a big smile, 'cause I met four awesome people.
Four including yourself.
Nicki, she is such a darling.
She is such a doll, I love her.
She gives me a little tiger rub.
And I'm the first one she ever did that with.
Did you say, "thank you very mushroom?" That's awesome.
Thank you very mushroom.
- That's excellent, man.
- Are you gonna tell your girlfriend about your new nickname? Shroom.
Randy called me "shroom.
" Or mush.
"Mush" might be better.
- Mush, let's go mush.
- "Mush" sounds better, right? Yeah, mush.
We're gonna go with "mush.
" - It's so nice to see you.
- Thank you again, man.
- Let's go.
- So, the judges couldn't find mushroom for a fun guy.
And by 4:00 P.
M.
, Baton Rouge was in desperate need of a lifeline.
And who better to revive our judges than Dr.
Calvin Peters? I'm a physician.
I'm in my third year of my residency.
Right now I'm working at the veterans hospital.
My specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation.
We deal with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, burn injury, and people with musculoskeletal issues.
In college I had to focus because I really wanted to get in medical school, so I just kind of fell back off the singing a little bit.
I know you want to leave me I just started singing again, and I just rediscovered my passion for it.
- How are you doing? - Hey, hey.
- Good.
How you doing? - I'm doing well.
Tell us your name and your age and where you're from.
Okay, my name is Calvin Peters, I'm from fort worth, I'm a resident physician.
My specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation, so it's like people with disabilities or whatever.
They call me the singing doctor at work.
So, what're you gonna sing for us? I'm singing a Maxwell song.
Whenever, wherever, whatever.
Okay.
Wish I knew if I would be the one that you would love forever and a day baby if ever you yearn for the love in me whenever wherever, ooh whatever, baby, yeah, yeah.
I'm just gonna go first and say I think you are a very handsome - [chuckles.]
Thank you.
- I think it's really unique that you are a singing doctor.
I really, really like you a lot.
- Thank you.
- Keith? Yeah, I like your vibe.
That's a brave man taking on a.
Maxwell song, brother.
Man.
- Ooh.
- That's tough.
Like a triple black diamond skiing.
- Yeah.
- I like your voice.
I think that you have a lot more technique than a lot of people we've already sent through to Hollywood.
You did a lot of things that, you know, people don't normally even attempt to do in an audition.
- Thank you.
- I'm gonna vote first and say yes.
Yeah, I gotta say yes too.
- Thank you so much.
- Nicki.
- I'll say yes.
- Thank you, Nicki.
- And Randy.
- Yes for me too, man.
- Yes! - Where's he going, Mariah? - You're going to Hollywood.
- Hollywood, California.
Heal them patients with song, baby.
- [Screaming.]
- Yes! Yes! Hollywood! Uh! - I'm so proud of you, baby.
- My patients and the other doctors and stuff are just gonna think it's so awesome! Like, sick! And as the afternoon rolls on, it seems like the ladies of Louisiana got a dose of what the doctor ordered.
Come on, this is your shot, baby.
- Sometimes I feel I've got to - [Claps.]
Get away from the pain it's driving to the heart of me - [Laughs.]
And the sound of the rain against my windowpane is slowly slowly driving me insane - whoo.
- I'm hell on heels sugar daddy I'm coming for you - yes.
Yes.
- [Laughs.]
Yes.
- Mariah? - I just can yes.
- Oh, my God! [Laughs.]
Oh, my God, thank you! Oh, my God! - Welcome to Hollywood! - Congratulations, little lady.
- Thank you, guys, thank you.
- Here she comes.
- [Laughs.]
- I made it! - [Cheering.]
- All: Whoo! Let's hope this lucky streak continues when we come back.
Coming up, the competition gets serious.
Somewhere there's a spotlight right now just waiting for you to walk into it.
Prepare yourself for a game - changer.
- Oh, man! Yes! Yes! Yes! Better not make me cry.
- welcome back to idol in the - bayou.
- It's hot in here now.
Now it's hot in here.
What you all doing over there? They turned the heater on.
Word.
And it seems like this hot spell is also stifling the talent.
- 'Cause you make me feel.
[laughs.]
'Kay.
- You make me feel.
- [Laughing.]
Look.
You make me feel like a natural woman mm, okay.
Yeah, we'll just vote.
Okay.
Randy.
- One, two, three - All: No.
- Next! - It's so hot in here.
I'm melting.
I'm del I'm I'm delusional it's so hot.
I'myou're saying to me, I'm like, whoa, whoa Maybe what Nicki needs is a true professional to cool her down.
All right, you're a fire fighter? I work-yes, sir, I work full time here in the city of Baton Rouge.
- Excellent.
- Been a fireman for 81/2 - years.
- Yeah? Being a fireman, it's gotta be one of the best jobs in the world.
I mean, it's one of the most rewarding things you can do.
[Pop music.]
every day we show up, you have the possibility of doing something that nobody else wants to do.
That's just part of being a fireman.
[Alarm sounds.]
We get on that truck, and we go on a call, it's a bigger adrenaline rush than any sport.
When I see my buddies go in a fire, it just makes me want to be that much better at my job.
I mean, those guys depend on me.
You got a girlfriend? - [Laughs.]
- Aw, Nicki.
- [Humming.]
- All right, so what you gonna sing, baby? How 'bout garth Brooks, she's every woman? Oh, there you go.
She's so New York and then L.
A.
And every town along the way and she's every place that I ain't never been it needs no explanation 'cause it all makes perfect sense when it comes down to temptation she's on both sides of the fence [laughs.]
That's a great line.
- Yeah, it is.
- I liked you.
- Thank you.
- I really there's something special about you.
Yeah, I like you too, Dustin.
You got a great style, you got confidence.
I thought it was great.
Thank you.
I liked it a lot.
I think you're doing it with ease, and to me you look like a country star.
Like I could I could see it after the show and beyond this, - so yeah.
- Thank you very much.
You could do George strait's song the fireman, that would be great.
You could do George strait's song the fireman.
Mariah, yes, no? - Yes.
- Keith urban, yes, no? - I'm gonna say yes, Dustin.
- Thank you, man, I appreciate - it.
- Yeah.
- And Nicki minaj, yes or no? - Come on, come on.
- [Laughs.]
- Mm No, yes, of course.
Thank you very much.
- You ask me.
- Randy, yes or no? Yes! Dude, Hollywood! Thank you very much! I appreciate it! You save lives every day.
We love you, fireman.
- [Screaming.]
I just got a golden ticket to Hollywood, and we're headed to the fire station right now to let the guys know that I made it.
They don't have a clue.
Boys, we're goin' to Hollywood! [All cheering.]
- Can't believe it's happening.
- I'm really shocked that one of us is getting to go, and I'm just glad it's him.
[Chuckles.]
I got a job to go do.
I'll see you guys in Hollywood.
[Siren wails.]
Welcome back to American idol, folks! As our stay here in Baton Rouge draws to an end, it's left to a Louisiana local to have the last word.
My name is burnell Taylor, I'm 19 years old, and I'm from new Orleans, Louisiana.
I grew up in a musical house.
My grandfather actually got me started with music.
He always loved to sing, even as a little tot, maybe three, four years old.
I've been singing since I was young, but I realized I knew how to sing after Katrina.
I stayed, I witnessed it.
I seen all this water around us, and I was like, you know, we in here, how we gonna get out? - Did you guys lose everything? - Everything.
After Katrina, me and my mother and my sister moved to Baton Rouge.
How do you come back from something like that? I mean, it happened.
You just gotta live after that.
I guess it was an eye-opener, to appreciate the things that I do have.
- I'm very proud of him, because he hasn't given up on his dream.
He's still working on it, no matter what happens.
- How you doing? - I'm doing good.
And yourself? [Laughs.]
I'm good.
What's your name? - Burnell Taylor.
- All right.
You from a musical family? Yes.
My grandfather, he was in a band.
He actually was the leader in the band.
He played a lot of instruments like the bass, he played drums, played a lot.
And then it was passed on to my mother, she's a singer, and it passed on to me.
- Oh.
- And do you play instruments? No, unfortunately.
But I will learn.
- [Laughs.]
- Well, all right.
Burnell, what you gonna sing today, man? I'm gonna sing I'm here from the color purple.
- Wow, all right.
- Okay.
I'm gonna take a deep breath I'm gonna hold my head up I'm gonna put my shoulders back and look you straight in the eyes - yeah.
- I'm gonna flirt with somebody - hello.
When they walk by I'm gonna sing out sing out - aha - Whoo! - Come on.
- You're beautiful - [laughs.]
- Yes I'm handsome and I'm here yeah, yeah - oh, man! Yes! Yes! Yes! Now, now, now, that's Louisiana.
- See? Look at that! - Good lord.
- Yo, crazy, dude.
- You could turn an atheist.
Cra [Laughs.]
Yeah exactly.
Crazy.
Well, let's start here.
Mariah, tell us, what did you think of sweet burnell? Burnell made me cry.
Burnell's tone is ridiculous.
I mean, I loved it.
I don't wanna go I can't even I felt every single word you - sang.
- Thank you.
- Mm.
- Just spectacular.
- That is what we came for.
- Exactly.
I feel like we've been flying all around this country for - that.
- Thank you.
That thing that's can't even be put in words, that thing that gives everybody chills and goosebumps.
- Thank you so much.
- I'm so happy you did that, because you just that wasn't even on an audition, that was just entertainment for us.
While we while everybody else auditions, you just entertained us.
[Laughter.]
- Amazing voice.
- Thank you.
- Amazing voice.
All I can say is somewhere there's a spotlight right now just waiting for you to walk into it, burnell.
- Thank you.
- That is a killer voice.
Let's vote.
One, two, three All: Yes! [Clapping.]
- Please, please! - See you in Hollywood, burnell.
Please dress for the occasion, burnell.
- [Laughs.]
I'm speechless.
But I'm thankful.
[Mellow ballad.]
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
- Man.
- Craziness.
- Oh, my God.
- Now, that's what it's about.
I think you've changed that panel forever, my friend.
- Ryan, you think so? - I think so.
I think they just experienced something they hadn't experienced since we've been out on the road, so congratulations.
- Thank you.
- He was that good? - Of course he was.
- Just goosebumps everywhere.
He done raised the bar for us today, so yo, that's the bar.
- Hollywood.
- We'll be sure to keep a close eye on burnell's journey in the competition As he and 34 other contestants set their sights on Hollywood success.
- 1,000% yes for me.
- Yes.
- Randy? Yes.
- Yes! - Whoo! Yes! - Welcome to Hollywood! - [Screaming.]
- He's going to Hollywood.
- All right! All right! - Look at that! - Whoo! - It smells so good! - Good day in Louisiana, Baton.
Rouge, yo, that's a wrap, baby.
Yeah, you should be proud, - Randy.
- Randolph's hometown.
- Yo, homeslice town! - [Screams.]
- You gotta catch me! - The amount of really great singers we saw here was pretty extraordinary.
Ladies and gentlemen Good night.
Ooh, Mariah.
Oh, I just said "Mariah" and looked at Nicki.
I think I have to go and do some hail Marys for that.
[Laughter.]
- 1,000 hail Marys.
- And then some.
Next week, we're deep in the heart of Texas As we head down to San Antonio We're telling you the truth.
Do you like the truth? I do like the truth.
For a good old-fashioned showdown.
You know what, you guys are great, but it's a no from us.