From left: Steven Tyler, Ryan Seactrest, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson
It's night two of American Idol and Steven Tyler is running away the show.
He arrived at the New Orleans auditions wearing a little feathered hat and made a dirty little bleeped-out joke about it. I don't think Randy would do that.
Apparently the new judge will say anything. Whether that gives him real critical value, it's at least a legitimate (if minor) form of entertainment – sort of like waiting for malapropisms from political figures.
When local boy Randy was surprised by a visit from his old high-school football coach, Steven asked: "So, coach, did you ever paddle his [expletive]?" And when he saw a photo of a rather husky young Randy as a shot-putter, Steven asked: "Which is the shot put?"
Jennifer Lopez, with her immaculate hair, pearly glamour and general sweetness, also has her place: the benevolent goddess. In the night's softest moment, she was moved to tears when Paris Tasmin, 23-year-old mother of a special-needs child, sang Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home." Paris got a golden ticket.
I wonder if the producers should have gotten rid of Randy, actually.
Worthiest performance: Brett Loewenstern, who before his audition talked about being bullied, went on to Hollywood with a better-than-respectable "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Most surprising performance: Jacee Badeaux, 15, who looked at if he'd wandered in after choir practice, performed "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" in a startlingly mellifluous, buttery voice. He too was sent off to Hollywood.
Most bitterly ironic performance: Alex Attardo, who had attended Idol musical camp, was practically laughed offstage by Randy.
The show also started with a bizarre scene of despair: A young singer was filmed pounding on a piano and sobbing through a chorus of "Smile" after being rejected by the judges. It looked like lost documentary footage for a musical of The Blair Witch Project. (people)
