American Idol contestants have finally gotten through the weird auditions and the banter between the judges and they are now ready for Hollywood week — or are they?
Hollywood week is probably the hardest week of these competitor’s lives in the show, because it’s where they are tested to their core. They have to work with people they’ve never worked with and personalities clash. It’s stressful and it can break down even the most seasoned singers.
First, one by one they will sing again and some will get sent home. You get sent out to sing one more song and you could be turning right around again. The more 16-year-old Layla Spring talks the more she reminds me of Kelly Pickler. Katy seemed to like it and screamed, “That’s how you start it off!” Singing “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Alyssa Raghu (remember her dad?) is really doing a good job. Time will tell to see if she’s through. Goat farmer Trevor McBane (remember his Nan?) is up and so far everyone seems to be doing okay — all three of them. But we know that Hollywood week is nothing without its problems. Caleb Lee Hutchinson who did a mean impersonation of Luke Bryan is up next with Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and he has that Garth vibe about him. What a great voice he has or maybe it’s because I love Garth.
Time to let some go already. Trevor, Alyssa, Layla and Caleb are going on to the next American Idol round! Awww, Nan is shaking and crying as Trevor gives her the news.
Noah Davis (remember “wig”) is up next and this boy lets it loose. The Sposato brothers who played instruments and then sang are up next. Milo’s first and I think he’s pushing a little too much, but will see. His brother, Julian, is up next and compared to some of the others I don’t think they are as strong as during auditions. Again, the judges before we even see who they are competing against. Tippy, Noah, Milo, Juliana — oh not his twin! — all make it through, but the brothers have been split up. He’s handling it well though.
The next American Idol montage shows Kenedee Rittenhouse, Joshua Ward, and Kristyn Harris. Unfortunately, round one didn’t do well for them and they were eliminated.
The super bubbly hugger Catie Turner is so over-the-top I think she needs her own show. She likes Zach, the Frank Sinatra singer! She admitted that she’s nervous and gassy. How funny! She sings The Beatles “Come Together” and gets a huge ovation. Zach D’Onofrio is up next and is singing “Cry Me a River.” Remember that many of these singers haven’t heard the others. I think Zach is great, but for the theater. In this round, Catie gets through, but Zach doesn’t.
In the next segment, Maddie Poppe is up and she’s nailing it.
.@MaddiePoppe has a dream and she’s going to make it happen! 🌟 #HollywoodWeek #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/YMNawISPEn
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) March 27, 2018
Cade Foehner is also in her group. Cade and Maddie make it through with several others, of course. It’s hard to see everyone who got through. We’ll know more when they do the group rounds and narrow it down from there.
Jonny whose parents didn’t know he was auditioning is up next and his family is here, except his dad (tear-jerker). Luke already has a smile on his face. This kid is good, but needs to stop making funny faces. It’s amazing that his family said that they didn’t know he could do that. Get to know your kid! He’s through to the next round. Oh boy, next round is Jurnee, whose wife is in the military and Dennis Lorenzo, who took his baby to the auditions. Dennis and Jurnee are going through to the next round.
Trevor Holmes, who Katie seemed to think he was so hot, is up next. He’s going on to the next round. David Francisco, who was hit by a car and paralyzed from the waist down and is now walking, comes on to the stage and throws his crutches. Yeah man! Unfortunately, he didn’t make it through.
It’s the end of @_davidfrancisco’s #HollywoodWeek road, but it definitely isn’t the end of his journey! ❤ #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/I7RgHV9oUK
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) March 27, 2018
Some of our favorites were sent home while some went on to group round — oh no, group round! Here we go!
God’s Diversity is up as the first group and includes Michael J. Woodard, Thaddeus Johnson, Shannon O’Hara, Kourtney Smith — who takes everyone to church. Great job. Unfortunately one of the girls didn’t get through. Here goes the drama with one of the groups that can’t remember their lyrics. Marcio Donaldson, Cesley Parrish, Samuel James, Maddie Zahm looks scared to death but is still going. Unfortunately, Samuel didn’t make it through, but the others did.
In the next round, TACO! I would’ve called them The Bubbles. Catie Turner, Kyah Robinson, — is Catie beat boxing?!, Alyssa Raghu. Victoria, but unfortunately Kyah is going home.
Exhaustion is setting in and affecting voices. Johnny White is struggling and Rissa Watson and Samuel Swanson are all going home (he has two vocal cysts). They all go home. In the next group, Milo Sposato’s mom is butting in where she doesn’t belong. Milo wants to make changes that his group isn’t for and he keeps making changes. In his group are Aname Rose, Deonte Baker, Dennis Lorenzo, William Casanova. It goes over well, but Katy says they are better separately than they are together. All of them go through.
Another beatboxer in the group is Ada Vox, as well as Kay Kay, and others in the group. Another group of Gabby Barrett, Christina Jones, and others. Jurnee is up again with her group of guys including Dominique and all four go through to the next round. Gabby and Christina go through to the next round in their group. Luke Bryan pulls a psych on the group and makes Ada believe that she’s not going through.
In the final segment Laine Hardy, who is struggling with his group because they chose Justin Bieber. Get over it kid — in his group is also Kaitlinn Runnels, Mia Desaris, Juliana Madrid. He pulls it together. Laine and Kaitlinn go through to the next round — amazing how it works out.
Last it’s Don’t Touch is going on, but one of the newbies, Crystal Alicea, is struggling with harmonizing and they were up practically all night. Crystal’s lack of confidence is showing through. On stage now is Britney Holmes, Lee Vasi, Gabbii Jones. Wow, Crystal left it all backstage and brought it. Katy tells them that one must volunteer not to go through because there are only three spots left. Punk’d! Wow Katy — these kids have been through so much.
That’s it. Until next episode!
