Is off and running, with the auditions this past week held in Boston and Atlanta.

Guest judges are new this year through Feb 9th , when Ellen DeGeneres joins the panel, and last week we had Victoria Beckham (who’s so damn skinny she looks anorexic!) in Boston and Mary J Blige in Atlanta.

Aside from all the ‘looney tuners’ on these city-touring auditions, I always like to concentrate on finding the ‘real talent’ the show has, and who just might make it into the Top 24 and make a run at being this season’s American Idol!

Granted, all the people ‘golden-ticketed’ for Hollywood aren’t all shown, but of the ones that were…..here we go! Let’s start in Boston……

· Maddy Curtis-16 years old, from VA. Sang Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’. How can you not love this girl, who draws inspiration from her three brothers, all with Down’s Syndrome. She’s sincere and authentic…..she’ll find a spot in the Top 24.

· Jennifer Hirsh—Broadway girl from Manhattan, did ‘Ding Dog The Witch Is Dead’…..odd….only 15 seconds of fame, but doubt she gets past Hollywood.

· Claire Fuller- Local Philly, PA girl, with a raspy voice and the look to go far. · Jesse Wolfe- 24 year old booking agent from Brooklyn, NY. Only saw for a few seconds, too little and too early to tell.

· Amadeo Diricco-28 year old Italian guy who treated us to his family and home, with all the foods Italians love. Sang Muddy Waters ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, surprisingly sounded pretty good. Hollywood will be his undoing….he’s too over the top and will not make it past Hollywood tryouts and Group Singing Sessions.

· Luke Shaffer- NY City boy, good voice and good range, looks like a keeper.

· Ben Bright- Rome, NY guy who sang an odd but interesting version of the Beatles ‘All My Loving’….he’s on to Hollywood buy my bet that’s as far as he goes!

· Ashley Rodriguez—Final contestant from Day #1 in Boston. Berkley School of Music grad who has ‘IT’! Sultry beauty who dazzled Kara and Simon, BEST of Day #1 auditions. San a tough Alicia Keys song ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ and did it well. She’s a lock for the Top 24……book it!

· Tyler Grady- 19 year old from Nazareth, PA (another local boy) who fell out of a tree and broke both his wrists. He’s a drummer in a band, and has talent! Has the Jim Morrison look and voice to go far. I’ll say Top 24 for this kid.

· Mike Davis—18 year old actor on a boat called ‘Codzilla’ in Boston. Sang Beatles song ‘Yesterday’. Nice tone, good pitch and well done. Not past Hollywood though.· Katie Stevens- Idol hyped this 16 year old from Middlebury, CT all night long, and she didn’t disappoint. Inspired by her Grandma who has Alzheimer’s and only speaks to her in Portuguese. She sang ‘ At Last, and aside from a little pitchiness, did well. Think she’ll make it into the Top 24.

· Joshua Blaylock- 28 year old from NY who is a nice kid, but just not enough assertiveness and confidence to go very far in the competition. Was asked to tell Simon to ‘Shut Up’….he did, and was ticketed through to Hollywood.

· Justin Williams- Good looking, 27 year old vocal coach who had cancer and is now cancer free. Sang ‘Feelin Good’ and is totally a crooner like Michaels Buble’! Book his spot in the Top 24 now!

· Leah Laurenti- Last contestant of day #2 in Boston. 22 –year old from Bedford, NY who sang ‘Blue Skies’ and sounded great. Lacks some confidence, but has the jazzy voice, good looks and sexiness to make an impact. EZ pick for the Top 24!

After two days of auditions, Boston had 31 folks ticketed to Hollywood, of which only 15 had face and air time during the two-hour premiere. So bottom line is we only got to see 50% of those given the ‘golden parachute’ to Hollywood….that’s unfortunate that we don’t see way more of these talented folks, so here’s hoping we saw the BEST.

Night #2 of Idol week #1 was the auditions in Atlanta, a city it has visited more than any others to see what the talent in the South looks like this year. Atlanta is the birthplace of Ryan Seacrest, and has given us past AI Superstars Reuben Studdard, Fantasia, Clay Aiken and Jennifer Harris. Mary J Blige served as the guest judge, and she was basically not very opinionated or helpful with her critique and comments at all. Here’s the best from HotLanta…..

· Keia Johnson-Cute 26 year old Miss America contestant from Memphis, TN. Sang the ‘Titanic’ song, but thought she screamed it. Don’t think she will go far at all. · Miriam Lemnouni- 25 year old equestrian trainer, big girl, with a voice that has potential, but her time was short, so not much to go on at this point.

· Noel Reese- 16 year old from NC, belted a Whitney Houston song with her fantastic voice in her 15 seconds of fame. Possible Top 24.

· Tisha Holland- 18 year old soul singer with a really good voice! Short air time, but made the most of it. Possible Top 24 finalist here.

· Jermaine Sellers- 26 year old Church Singer who sang ‘What If God Is One of Us’. Randy Jackson loved this kid, said it was the BEST audition so far in all the cities, and Cousin Greg (who had more to say than Mary J Blige!) said that this kid could go far. I agree…Top 24 for sure!

· Vanessa Wolfe-19 year old ‘bridge-jumping’ girl from very rural Vonore,TN. Last contestant of Day #1 in Atlanta. This girl is a country singer and more than likely ‘country only’. She does play guitar which could help her in Hollywood. She needs to be coached before going to Hollywood though or she’ll be eaten up. Her sincerity was quite emotional! I wish her well and hope she makes the Top 24.

· Holly Harden- 20 year old Guitar Girl who sang a Loretta Lynn song and did quite well with it. Needs to get way more serious though if she wants to make it past Hollywood. Won’t go far at all.

· Malorie Haley—Stunning 19 year old girl from Winner, SD (love the name of the town she’s from) who sang a Janis Joplin song and took a piece of everyone’s heart. Has the ‘look’ but not sure as much the voice to go very far, but I do think she’ll make the Top 24.

· Antonio ‘Skii Bo Ski’ Wheeler- Entertaining contestant who was WAY over the top! Going to Hollywood, but that’s where the trip ends for ‘Bo Ski’ boy!

· Carmen Turner— BFFs Lauren Sanders and Carmen Turner came as a pair to audition, two adorable southern girls who have been best friends since third grade. Lauren sang in a sweet soprano; Carmen sang with much more power and beauty. Simon and others found Carmen to be much more talented. Randy, Kara and Mary gave the “yes” vote to Carmen but not Lauren. Simon offered the “consolation” that he would have said no to both, and predicted that they won’t be far apart for long. I’d have to agree!

· Bryan Walker-25 year old singing police officer who sang ‘Superstar’ by Reuben Studdard. Not a bad voice, but not great. He was ticketed to Hollywood, but will get a round trip ticket as he’ll be heading home fairly quickly! Simon sat out the singing Police Officer’s audition and some others with a migraine headache, and grow increasingly annoyed, returning at the end for the BEST that Atlanta had to offer!

General Larry Platt, 62 years young, came in last on Day #2 to sing “Pants on the Ground.” A supposedly original song, the tune was something which entreated young folks to ‘pull up their pants’. Platt even had a few twists & turns and break dancing moves to go with his number. It was an INSTANT HIT! People have been talking about it for days, and I can GUARANTEE that Mr. Platt will be part of the AI Finale in March, maybe with a well known rapper doing the song with him….book it now! This is one that will not be forgotten.

For the final tally, Atlanta auditions handed out 25 more golden tickets to Hollywood, of which we only watched 11 of the 25 folks heading west get any air time.All-in-all, a solid opening week for AI Season 9, but it disturbs me why more talented folks are not shown and less freaks get the air time….but I’m still looking forward to see what Chicago (w/Shania Twain as Guest Judge) and Orlando have in store this week! Until Tuesday and Wednesday night’s shows …..Eddie Idol….OUT!