I’m baaaaaaaaaaack. I have to admit, I didn’t get to see all of the auditions (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). This is going to sound real lame, but I actually missed the first audition because I didn’t set my TiVo to record it. You see, we switched TiVos since the last season ended. And when you don’t already have a show set to record, you have to wait for it to come up on the scheduler again (I’m anxiously awaiting the return of “Burn Notice” on USA). The scheduler only goes two weeks out so I totally forgot to add AI back to the priority list.
So, what’s new in the Ura household? Three words. Korean Soap Operas. Although I think the Koreans refer to them as “dramas” and not “soap operas.” So these things are huge in Hawaii. And they’ve made their way to California. My mother-in-law broke her foot last year and one of Kristin’s aunties sent some of the Korean Dramas to help her pass the time. Well, she got hooked. And so did my father-in-law. They watch until all hours of the night. My wife and sister-in-law thought they were crazy. Until winter break a few months ago. My sister-in-law got hooked. And so did my wife. If you’ve never seen a Korean Drama, they all loosely follow the same skeleton plot. Here are some of the basic “rules” for the dramas:
There is always a love triangle of some sort.
The rich guy always falls for the poor girl (or vice versa), to the disapproval of his/her mother.
There is usually some sort of serious illness that is never fully explained.
If you fall, you automatically get hospitalized.
Amnesia is a common theme.
There is usually a father who is a gambling drunk.
There is always an over the top guy who thinks he’s funny, but isn’t.
The music is very well done to fit the flow of the show, and the songs will stay in your head forever.
When one episode is done, you must continue watching another one. Even if it’s 3:00AM.
Whenever two people need to talk, they go to a restaurant and do it over tea.
Anyway, my wife limits herself to starting these shows on business trips because she’s an insomniac on the road and is up anyway. It takes over her life when she’s watching them. Usually these dramas take place over what we’d consider one season. Instead of shows continuing season after season like the popular ones do in the US, these shows last about 20 episodes. It’s nice closure for those watching the DVDs.
My in-laws have learned some basic Korean phrases now. And they know the actors and actresses by name now. Yes, it’s scary. I’d get hooked but every time I try to watch one, I fall asleep. We just got a new TV for our bedroom (because I felt bad that my wife had to read the subtitles on our old 20” set, circa 1995) so that my wife could read the subtitles better but when my head hits the pillow, it’s only a matter of time before I’m nodding off and missing things.
So that’s it for now. That and I’ve had a recent revelation about the people who drive certain cars. Have you noticed that probably 50-75% of the Lexus RX350s are Asian women? And I’m willing to bet that of that 50-75%, 90% of those also drove an Acura Integra in the ‘90s. Just an observation.
So, like always, if you’re not watching the show this season and want to taken off the distribution list, please let me know. No hard feelings.
Now, onto the final 24. I’ll put little blurbs about them. There was nothing really remarkable about the auditions, except for the fact that there some decent singers that they didn’t let through to Hollywood. But that happens every year.
The few that stood out that didn’t make it were that kid Josiah who dismissed the band and sang “Stand By Me” a cappella. I’m so glad he didn’t make it through. Honestly, how could he have gone on after treating the band that way? And the Abstinence girl Amy Flynn. Cute girl, but in her own little world. Kinda glad she didn’t make it through.
Alaina Whitaker (16) Tulsa, OK – don’t remember her. Cute girl though.
Alexandrea Lushington (16) Atlanta, GA – don’t remember her either.
Amanda Overmyer (23) Mulberry, IN – She’s the nurse/rocker chick. My she looks older than 23. Interesting voice, but I think she’s going to be limited in what she can sing. You really have to be a versatile singer to win this competition, which really isn’t that fair, but it’s how it’s set up.
Amy Jean Davis (25) Cedar Lake, IN – Don’t remember her.
Asia’h Epperson (19) Joplin, MO – This is not all that favorable, but she reminds me of Wanda Sykes, but better looking (which isn’t that hard to do).
Brooke White (24) Van Nuys, CA/Mesa, AZ – Very earthy girl. Beautiful blue eyes to contrast her pale skin. Interesting voice. She was a mess when they announced the top 24.
Carly Smithson (24) Dublin, Ireland – Wait a minute, can a foreigner win “American” Idol? She’s an interesting one. Would’ve gone to Hollywood a few years back but had Visa problems. Nice voice. Flat hair though.
Chikezie Eze (22) Inglewood, CA – Don’t remember him (do you see a common theme here?). Kinda looks like Marques Johnson.
Colton David Berry (17) Staunton, VA – He was the last one through and sat there with Kyle Ensley (the Chicken Little with a better voice guy). I actually liked Kyle. He was weird, but cool and true to himself. Did a decent job with the Josh Groban song. Colton reminds me of Billy Zabka, of Karate Kid/Cobra Kai fame. Zabka also played the bad guy in “Just One of the Guys,” that movie where the girl played a guy to prove a point about a journalism story. Joyce Hyser was her name and she really did nothing after that movie. Anyway, this guy kinda gives me the creeps. Don’t know why.
Danny Norriega (18) Azusa, CA – Or is it Dani? I actually thought he was a chick when I saw him in his Hollywood audition because he was wearing those tapered jeans. Nice voice though.
David Archuleta (17) Salt Lake City, UT – Wow this kid has an awesome voice. My family thinks he’s already the front runner to win it all. He’s young, but doesn’t have a boy band sound. And he seems like an unaffected, nice kid. I’m already pulling for him.
David Cook (25) Tulsa, OK – Another rocker dude. I like him. I think he’ll be this year’s Chris Sligh. The guy who doesn’t buy into the hype of the show. Knows it’s a competition and will be calculating in his song choices. My wife says he reminds her of Jack Black (I’m sure he’ll love that comparison!).
David Hernandez (24) Phoenix, AZ – I thought his first Hollywood song was great. Good looking guy. May contend for Mike Rico’s first Mexican-American Idol.
Garrett Haley (17) Elida, OH – Is this Leif Garrett’s son? Don’t remember him, but his look is unforgettable.
Jason Castro (20) Rowlett, TX – Don’t remember him singing. Love the dreads. Unless you’re close enough to get a whiff of them…
Jason Yeager (28) Grand Prairie, TX – Don’t remember him, other than he cried when he got through.
Joanne Borgella (25) Hoboken, NJ – She was the last girl through and sat with Cardin McKinney. My wife thinks Joanne had the stronger voice. Cardin looks like a young Zoe from Cashmere Mafia (Frances O’Connor, who not so famously played Brendan Fraser’s love interest in that forgettable movie “Bedazzled”).
Kady Malloy (18) Houston, TX – Very cute girl. Don’t remember her though.
Kristy Lee Cook (24) Selma, OR – Another cutie. Looks better with curly hair. When she had the straight hair, she looked like Mariel Hemingway.
Luke Menard (29) Crawfordsville, IN – No recollection.
Michael Johns (29) Los Angeles, CA – Isn’t he too, a foreigner (Australian)? Do I sound xenophobic? A foreigner can’t win OUR “American” Idol! I really like this guy’s voice, although he does look a bit like Ian Michael Black, from “Ed” and also all those Celebrity Poker Showdowns on Bravo.
Ramiele Malubay (20) Miramar, FL – The big voice in the tiny package. She might have rubbed some people the wrong way when she proclaimed that if Jasmine Trias can make it, so can she. Her full name is Ramiele Macrowon Malubay. Can you get any more Pinay? I like her though.
Robbie Carrico (26) Melbourne, FL – Another rocker dude. I liked his voice and his presentation.
Syesha Mercado (21) Miami, FL – If she keeps her head on straight (and keeps her voice), she’s a serious threat to win this thing too. She looks like a model with her hair and looks. Strong voice. She may be my favorite for the girls.
That’s it. I’ll try to bang these things out starting next week. I may miss a few weeks here and there but I’m sure Mike Rico will step up to pinch hit as he did last year. Thanks again, Mike.
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