It's Hollywood Week on "American Idol" -- and you know what that means! It's do or die audition time as the 309 "Idol" hopefuls got whittled (okay, maybe slashed is a better word) down to 241 on the first day -- with more cuts to come!
But Hollywood Week is notoriously grueling -- for the contestants and the viewers. Check out this season's Hollywood highs and lows:
The Highs:
* David Leathers Jr. Can you say baby face? This kid may look like a tween, but 17 year old David Leathers Jr. was the man when he sang Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me."
* With a moniker like Phillip Phillips, he's hard to forget. The 21-year-old pawn shop worker sang "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and is already being touted as the contestant to keep an eye on this season.
* Wedding singer Erika Van Pelt delivered a sparkling rendition of Pink's "Glitter in the Air" -- and what wasn't to love about Creighton Fraker's version of Queen's "Somebody to Love?" The 28 year old self-described "starving artist" made the judges hungry for more.
* And talk about a song choice! 26-year-old Reed Grimm took a big chance, but it paid off. He sang a tongue in cheek version of "I Got a Golden Ticket" from the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" - and the judges found it to be scrumdiddlyumptious!
The Lows:
* Oh Jane Carrey, we had such high hopes for you! The 24-year old daughter of actor Jim Carrey choked during her rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lookin' Out My Back Door." And while she was rumored to have received preferential treatment during her initial audition in San Diego (according to RadarOnline, Carrey was given an audition "appointment" and didn't have to camp outside for hours), this time she was shown the door fair and square. Better luck next year.
* His rendition of "Amazing Grace" in Galveston was amazing, but Ramiro Garcia didn't make the cut in Hollywood. The 28 year old, who was born without ears, is out of luck when it comes to future "Idol" dreams; he has reached the age limit.
* History repeated itself for Travis Orlando, the homeless, high school dropout from the Bronx. His version of Stevie Wonder's "All I Do" didn't do it for the judges. Of his Hollywood elimination -- which is the same point at which he got cut last year -- 17-year old Orlando said, "I have to go back to nothing, nothing at all. It's kind of hard to face it now."
* And it's cliffhanger time! 16-year old Symone Black sang "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay," but perhaps it should have been "Fallin' Off the Dock of the Bay." After her really good audition, Black became visibly woozy and tumbled off the stage, to the horror of judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez . Did she make it? You'll have to tune in tonight!
You can catch "American Idol" on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8/7c on FOX.
More From This Contributor:
Steven Tyler Update: Dude Looks Like a Ragdoll
Celeb Dads Who Wrote Songs For Their Babies
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