American Idol Season 8

[PirateLover]

America's favorite TV show returns next week. First stop? Phoenix.

"American Idol" will offer auditions from that city on the season premiere from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, on Fox.

The next stop? Kansas City, Mo., which is featured from 8 to10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14.

The biggest change this season will be quickly evident: Kara DioGuardi becomes the fourth judge, joining Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and the sharp, indispensable Simon Cowell.

I can't wait to see what Kara DioGuradi brings to the mix. I like some of the changes this year. Also there is a great fansite that tries to track all the contestants that make it into the top 50. I've watched a few youtube clips and listened to some music from some of the contestants and I think there's definitely some promise. There are a few more "ringer" rumors again this year but you know what-I don't even care anymore. I was all up in arms last year about Carly Smithson and I don't even know why. By the time she got kicked off I liked her, and she was one of my favorite performers on the tour. Here's to a season of less bad auditions, less audition episodes, more Hollywood exposure, and the return of the Wildcard!

[PirateLover]

Just a reminder, tomorrow night is the premiere! Hopefully I won't be conversing with myself the entire season

[JanetMegan]

Nope I'm ready, has someone figured out exactly how many hours of our lives we are going to commit to this season??

[Momof2boys]

A lot. I've already had to reprogram my Tivo to make room for AI.

Let the auditions begin

[PirateLover]

I liked the premiere! I thought the balance was a lot better in terms of showing the good singers vs the bad. I think it was almost 2:1 good:bad. Although they waste SO much time making them sing the "theme" song for each city (in this case, Wanted Dead or Alive) while they splice in looks and comments from the judges reacting to something different.

No one completely blew me away, although I was touched by the blind guy's story and I did like his voice. He did look out of place without a piano though. I liked the girl with all the tattoos who sang Barracuda, but I've read on fan blogs that they don't think she makes it through Hollywood.

The bikini girl incident was really weird and has me questioning if I like Kara or not yet. I got her point, that while the girl hit the notes, she had no passion- but to make that point by attempting to "Show her how it's done" made her seem full of herself.

[Ian]

Barracuda girl was probably the best of the bunch.

Bikini girl ... let's just say that I wasn't as smitten with her bod as AI seemed to be and I thought her talent was sub-marginal. I do agree, though, that Kara came off as being very catty with her. Overall, I liked Kara, though.

The one girl towards the end ... kinda plain ... sang (I think) Sitting on the Dock of the Bay ... she was pretty good. I liked her voice a lot. She just needs to get dolled up a little bit.

It was a good first show. I agree it seemed a little more balanced, a little less cheesy, and a little less nasty than last year.

[Melanie]

Hmmm. Wonder if AI has run it's course for me. Even with the new judge and new set, I wasn't that excited tonight. Kind of a boring premiere for me.

[SBETigg]

I liked Kara. Did Bikini Girl hit the right notes? I don't think she did. She seemed really off to me. I can't believe they put her through. Kara seems to have a very right to the point delivery of her opinions that could be cutting, too. Perhaps to show us that Simon isn't so mean, the business is simply a harsh one with no room for mediocrity. Paula has never seemed really professional but more there to identify with the contestants. It's a nice balance.

I think some of the contestants who weren't put through, and clearly wouldn't be, seemed like fun people, generally nice and aware, and there weren't as many of the severely self-deluded or deliberately idiotic auditions so far.

[JanetMegan]

The one girl towards the end ... kinda plain ... sang (I think) Sitting on the Dock of the Bay ... she was pretty good. I liked her voice a lot. She just needs to get dolled up a little bit.

Do you mean the chick that sang "Put the Records on?"

[Jeff]

Bikini girl ... let's just say that I wasn't as smitten with her bod as AI seemed to be and I thought her talent was sub-marginal.

I agree with this completely. Other than the shock value what was the point of this girl????? I guess it makes for good TV as she is probably who most folks are talking about today. Her voice was nothing special that's for sure and I don't think she had spectacular "star quality" looks either.

The Barracuda girl looks to be this years version of Smithson and every other "Rocker Girl" to go through the auditions. She can probably belt out a gravely power ballad but will be gone in the first few weeks IF she makes it to the finals.

All in all, not a bad premier night. At least we didn't have to see some foul mouthed punk spew about "AI not having a clue and America will hear from me yet", etc.........

[Ian]

Do you mean the chick that sang "Put the Records on?"

Nope ... I looked her up. Her name was Deanna Brown and she did, in fact, sing Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay.

[jennbunn]

i am kind of on the fence about this season. so far i do not care for the new judge. and from what i saw that went through to hollywood not one really was a standout. hopefully tonights show will be better.

[IamBelle]

The premiere was pretty good, I thought there was a good balance of good and awful singers. The last guy was very good.
Did you see the guy with the really low voice? I couldn't believe that was real!!

[Ian]

I fell asleep before the end last night, but early on there were a couple of gems.

There were two girls that I thought had a shot to make the top 10 and one guy I thought was really good, too.

[Melanie]

Hmmm, so night 2, and I'm still a little underwhelmed. I'll be interested to see how far Jason Castro's brother goes. The 'lalalala' attitude, just like Jason, may wear on my nerves again if he makes it through the Hollywood round. Otherwise, there were a few that got through which really surprised me. I really liked the guy who just lost his wife though.

[Jeff]

I really liked the guy who just lost his wife though.

I liked this guy too.
I thought the tall band director guy was good too.

[Ian]

Yeah, the guy who lost his wife was really good, too.

I think the guy I was thinking of was the band director, though.

[Ian]

Wow. Talk about lack of interest.

Two new episodes and no new posts. Not a good sign for Fox! Not to mention Disney.

[SBETigg]

It's hard to rate at this point, I think. We've seen some good, some really good, and some bad and I think they all blend together. I've been surprised at some of the people they're putting through to Hollywood. Kara is wearing on me now. She's new yet apparently she thinks she knows how the show should work over Simon. She doesn't get any points for needling him, in my opinion. Maybe she was just having an off day in Louisville.

[Ian]

Did anyone feel like that scene with her and the girl who "was voted funniest in high school" felt really staged.

I don't know why, but I did not buy that as genuine at all. Kara isn't a very good actress and it just came across as being completely staged.