American Idol - Hollywood: Night One!

First night in Hollywood on Idol tonight! This is one of my favorite parts of the process. It's the first time we really get to see the contestants' abilities to perform.

They changed the way Hollywood week works this year. There are four rounds. Tonight we saw the first three. Round 1: The contestants sing a song by themselves. They can use an instrument if they choose. If they get a majority of "Yes-es" from the judges, they bypass Round 2, and they are automatically in Round 3. Round 2: The contestants who got a majority of "No's" from the judges had to line up in groups of 10 and sing a song a capella. They were then either cut or they moved on. Right then. Round 3: The contestants sang a song with the band and three backup singers. They were then told right then whether or not they'd move on to Round 4 (The Top 50). Round 4: The judges narrow the Top 50 down to the Top 24, 12 boys and 12 girls. Round 4 is tomorrow night.

Here's a Talky followed by my notes.

Hollywood: Night One -
*Bold = got pass to Round Three*
Round One:
Brooke White - Original thoughts: "Very good. She's going to do well. I liked her a lot." Tonight: Played piano, I like her a lot.
Lorena Pinot - I don't know if we saw her originally, I missed the first 10 minutes of the Miami auditions. Not very good though.
Amy Flynn - Original thoughts: "Abstinence girl. Kinda sketchy vocally." Tonight: Cracked.
Leo Marlowe - Original thoughts: "Great voice." Tonight: Nope, forgettable.
Alisha Dixon - Angry. Not great.
Michael Sanfillipo - Original thoughts: "Very nice. Watch out." Tonight: A little sharp.
Alyssa Coco - No.
Shaun Barrowes - Yuck.
Jake Mellema - Not bad. I like the song.
David Hernandez - I like his initial audition (we didn't see it before). Very nice. Love it. He'll go far.
Amanda Overmyer - Original thoughts: "Janis Joplin. Good. Watch for her." Tonight: Rocker. Not so good. I don't like. Kinda funky.
Buck Smith - Forgot words. High?
Natashia Blach - Forgot words. Weird voice.
Ghaleb Emachah - Original thoughts: "Not good. Very bad. Yuck. I don't know why they put him through. Oh, yeah, Paula's high again." Tonight: So bad. Why is he here? Flat.
Josiah Leming - Original thoughts: "Lives in car. Something about him is intriguing. Sounds nasally and warbly." Tonight: MIKA! So impressed! Favorite so far.
Carly Smithson - Original thoughts: "Not fabulous, but pretty good." Tonight: Good. Little sharp.
Michael Johns - Original thoughts: "Australian. Kinda rockish. I like him. 'White soul singer' - Simon." Tonight: Like him. Good.
David Cook - Original thoughts: "Reminiscent of Chris Daughtry." Tonight: A little strained. Good voice though. I like him.
Robbie Carrico - Original thoughts: "Former boy-bander. Turned to rock. Nice voice. I like him." Tonight: Nice voice.
Jessica Brown - Original thoughts: "Recovering drug addict; two kids. Very good singer." Tonight: Good voice.
Perrie Cataldo - Original thoughts: "Single father from Arizona. Very nice voice." Tonight: Not the best.
Syesha Mercado - Not great.
Colton Barry - Good.
Kyle Ensley - Original thoughts: "Interesting... Bad song choice. Politics guy. I don't know about this." Tonight: Not so great. Corny.

Round Two:
Suzanne Toon - Summertime. Good. (Cut)
Perrie Cataldo - Better now. (Cut)
Amy Flynn - Good voice. Weird notes. Pretty. (Cut)
Angela Martin - So sad. I like her. (Cut)
Jeffrey and Michelle Lampkins - He's through, she's cut.
Kristy Lee Cook - Watch her.

Round Three:
*Bold = moved on to Round 4*
David Archuleta - Original thoughts: "Possible conflict with Star Search. Really good. Loved him... Watch for him."
Kyle Ensley - Better now. He could go on.
Jeffrey Lampkin - Very bad.
Joey Catalano - Original thoughts: "Good. Will get to sing live, won't make it far after that." Tonight: I was wrong. Not so great.
Syesha Mercado - Wow. Good. Strong.
Michael Johns - Song is too high. Not awful though.
Carly Smithson - Good. Bland. Bring some personality.
Asia'h Epperson - Original thoughts: "Amazing song. Not the right choice, good voice. She'll go far." Tonight: Good.
Brooke Helvie - Original thoughts: "Powerful voice. Better than I expected." Tonight: Too much. Good voice. Way too high note.
Josiah Leming - Making stuff up. Still love him.

Some of the folks I expect to see in the Top 24 are: Asia'h Epperson, David Archuleta and Kristy Lee Cook. Josiah Leming might make it in, but I'm not sure. I can't wait until tomorrow night to find out!!!