American Idol - The Hollywood Gossip

American Idol Spoilers: Season 11 Semifinalists Revealed!

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:14:16 EST

American Idol kicked off its Hollywood auditions last night with a couple memorable performances and one painful cliffhanger.

But with these episodes already having been taped, the identities of the season's top 24 have leaked online. Did your favorite make the cut? Read on to learn which 12 women and which 12 men advanced and remember: one of these will be the next American Idol...

FEMALES

Elise Testone
Haley Johnsen
Shannon Magrane
Baylie Brown
Hallie Day
Jessica Sanchez
Jen Hirsh
Chelsea Sorrell
Skylar Laine
Erika Van Pelt
Brielle Von Hugel
Hollie Cavanagh

MALES

Eben Franckewitz
Reed Grimm
Heejun Han
Deandre Brackensick
Aaron Marcellus Sanders
Adam Brock
Creighton Fraker
Phillip Phillips
Joshua Ledet
Jeremy Rosado
Colton Dixon
Chase Likens

Symone Black Auditions in Hollywood, Falls Off Stage

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:35:00 EST

Give American Idol credit for airing a legitimate, soap opera-esque cliffhanger last night.

Or lament the show for exploiting what could be a serious injury to a 16-year old girl.

Either way, the competition concluded its first set of Hollywood auditions not with a high note, but with a thud. Literally, as Symone Black was talking to the judges about why she selected "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" when she took a couple uneven steps and then... WHAM! She fell off the stage and crashed to the floor.

Cue the credits and fade to black as producer Nigel Lythgoe called for a medic. Was this great television? Or a pathetic way for a fading series to try and recapture some headlines? Watch and decide for yourself:

Symone Black Auditions, Crashes to the Floor

Shannon Magrane: Fallin to Round Two?

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:23:30 EST

Remember Shannon Magrane? This 16-year old got the attention of American Idol viewers two weeks ago in Savannah - and REALLY got the attention of Steven Tyler, for all the wrong, awkward reasons.

She was back last night, auditioning in Hollywood with a version of "Fallin" and impressing the judges enough to earn a pass on to the next round. Was it well deserved? Watch Magrane do her thing below and try to avoid any sketchy comments about her looks.

Seriously, she's really young, people...

Shannon Magrane in Hollywood

Phillip Phillips, Reed Grimm and Travis Orlando Audition in Hollywood

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:08:12 EST

Phillip Phillips is clearly going to win American Idol. It's unclear why we're even letting season 11 play out.

The singer - who had never landed on a plane until he touched down in Hollywood and who impressed us so much with his initial audition of "Superstition" and "Thriller" - embodies pretty much every recent show champion, from David Cook to Kris Allen to Lee DeWyze to Scotty McCreery.

He once again proved his worth last night, as Idol took to California and Phillips took to the stage along with Reed Grimm and Travis Orlando.

Two of the three advanced to the next round. Who will join Phillip there? Watch and find out:

Phillip Phillips, Reed Grimm and Travis Orlando Group Audition

Ethan Jones Does It For Dad on American Idol

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:08:21 EST

American Idol contestants really put Steven Tyler through the emotional ringer last night.

First, Reis Kloeckener brought the Aerosmith frontman to tears due to his story of overcoming high school bullying.

Then, Ethan Jones moved the rocker by talking about his father, who used to lead the family band until he was overcome by drugs and alcohol and is currently in a rehab facility. That's something to which Tyler can definitely relate.

But Jones has more than a gripping tale; he also has a strong voice. Watch him put it to use now during a rendition of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be."

Ethan Jones American Idol Audition

Ethan is off to Hollywood, one of 255 total Golden Ticket recipients. He'll compete with Lauren Gray, another strong St. Louis performer, when he arrived in California.

Lauren Gray on American Idol: The One and Only?

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:54:00 EST

Lauren Gray delivered a black-and-white audition on American Idol last night, leaving little for the judges and viewers to even debate.

She was awesome!

Lauren Gray American Idol Audition

This Arkansas native - who works in her family's one-stop wedding business by day, and sings in her family's rock band at night - did Adele proud by covering her single "One and Only." The look on Jennifer Lopez's face in the following video really says it all about this crooner, as does J. Lo's appropriate response when Lauren says "This is the biggest thing that's ever happened in my life."

"It won't be the biggest thing ever."

Gray is off to Hollywood, and so are two other standouts from St. Louis: Johnny Keyser and Reis Kloeckener.

Reis Kloeckener Makes Steven Tyler Cry

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:29:06 EST

Reis Kloeckener is like a character on Glee come to life.

Equipped with a Justin Bieber haircut, the American Idol hopeful tried out in St. Louis last night and explained how he attended a 152-student Lutheran middle school... before entering a much larger high school and getting bullied non-stop.

He considered dropping out, until a teacher overheard Reis singing in the hall one day and asked him to join choir. From there, he made friends and found a niche for himself.

The story, combined with Kloeckener's take on "Lean on Me," was too much for Steven Tyler. The singer/judge welled up and quickly gave this aspiring artist a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. See if you have the same reaction now:

Reis Kloeckener American Idol Audition

Among Kloeckener's strongest competitors in St. Louis? Johnny Keyser.

Johnny Keyser on American Idol: FTW!

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:09:35 EST

Based on the last few years' worth of voting results, Johnny Keyser has the look of an American Idol champion. He's young, white and male.

But does he have the sound?

Yes, based on this 22-year old's audition in St. Louis last night, the last stop for the Fox juggernaut before it finally showcases contestants to Hollywood.

With his family watching, and following Johnny's tale of growing up without a mother, Keyser received nothing but praise from the judges and unanimous Golden Ticket approval. Does this waterskiing waiter from Pompano, Florida really have a chance of going far? We think so. Listen for yourself:

Johnny Keyser American Idol Audition

Adam Levine: Shame on Randy Jackson!

steve@thehollywoodgossip.com (Free Britney) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:05:39 EST

The brewing feud between American Idol and The Voice, which returns for a second season after the Super Bowl Sunday night, shows no signs of simmering down.

Coach/judge Adam Levine is taking Idol's Randy Jackson to task for saying NBC’s upstart singing competition is more for “second chance people” than true stars.

“The winner of The Voice, I will remind you,” Jackson noted at the TCAs, “is an artist who had a deal at Capitol Records for several years, a failed contract.”

Levine's response, in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres:

Adam Levine Responds to Randy Jackson on Ellen

“Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that,” Levine said. “He, of anybody, should know that if you’re in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances."

"So we love and embrace having that being part of the show.”

Levine, who was joined by fellow The Voice coaches Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton, does credit Jackson for being “a working musician [who's] had a lot of success,” but he contends Jackson’s comments were “irresponsible.”

Do you agree? And which show do you like better?

Brittany Zika on American Idol: Better Than She Looks?

matt@iscribelimited.com (Hilton Hater) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:49:27 EST

Do not judge a book by its cover. Or an American Idol contestant by her glasses.

That's the back-handed compliment of a message Randy Jackson sent to viewers and Brittany Zika last night, telling the aspiring singer - following a great rendition of Brandi Carlile's "The Story" - that she looks "nothing like what you sound."

Meaning, we can only presume, that someone with a terrific voice ought to look more like Carrie Underwood and less like your local librarian?

Either way, Zika is off to Hollywood. Watch her audition now:

Brittany Zika American Idol Audition

Along with Brittany, two other Portland-based hopefuls stood out this week:

Britnee Kellogg, who is taking her two sons with her to Hollywood, but not her cheating ex-husband.
Romeo Diahn, who spent most of his childhood in a refugee camp after fleeing from war torn Liberia.