Hooray for Hollywood!

If you read my column in the H-D today, or you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that I love Hollywood Week. Now is the time when I finally get excited about the season.

And tonight’s episode did not disappoint. I think it might have been one of the best Hollywood Week episodes ever. The show really is following through on its promise to help us get to know the contestants better.

That having been said, it would be nice if the show would provide some graphics to remind us who some of the faces we saw tonight were. I’m afraid my memory’s just not good enough to remember…

Before we dive into what happened on tonight’s episode, let’s get right to the big question. How did Ellen do? So far, so good. I liked it when she sat right down and told Simon, “I come on, you leave.” At one point she had fun teasing the contestants about who should step up and step back. Several times she got downright blunt and once we heard her say that someone would “get annoying.” Would’ve loved to have known who she was talking about then.

Now to tonight’s action…

First we saw Katie Stevens, who we met along with her Alzheimer’s stricken grandmother. She gave a way too effortless performance of “For Once In My Life.” Then it was Skiiboski with “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Katie went through, but Skiiboski did not…

Andrew Garcia did a BRILLIANT rendition of “Straight Up” that I really wish Paula had been there to see. But Kara almost ruined it by saying that he reminded her of how Adam “flipped” songs. Um, Kara, Adam didn’t do any original flips. That was Kris. Andrew went through…

Vanessa Wolfe got to eat peanuts on an aeroplane, but she choked in Hollywood with her version of “No Rain” and didn’t go through.

Tasha, the pastor, did get through…

Pants splitter Cornelius Edwards proved that every year there’s a novelty act that had no business going through. Maegan Wright, whose little brother helped her get through, was also out as was Italian family man Amedeo DiRocco. Also out was Bosso who was from Ohio who butchered a song at the keyboard…

Janell Wheeler did a good version of “American Boy” with her guitar and made it to the next round…

Haeley Vaughn brought out her guitar for her song (something about Hallelujah and Revolution). Mary Powers, whose daughter loved Simon, went gutsy with “Sober” (a Kara co-write). Both of them went through.

Also through were Todrick Hall, Charity Vance and Ashley Rodriguez…

Day two began with Simon’s dreaded “Don’t forget the words” speech. I was sure that would mean someone would forget them, but it didn’t happen—at least that we saw…

It was clear that beat boxer Jay Stone—who I really liked—was not taking this thing seriously as he did a ridiculous version of “If I Ever Fall In Love Again,” or at least that’s what I think that was. He was out…

Lilly Scott did a scorching rendition of the Ella Fitzgerald song, “Lullaby of Birdland.” She went through easily…

Michael Lynche, aka Big Mike, managed to overcome the distraction of his wife being in labor to do a great rendition of “Waiting On the World to Change” to get him through…

Tim Urban missed quite a few notes of “Come Back to Me” and he knew it, but he still got through because he has a good voice. And apparently Kara was listening to a different song because she said the chorus was shaky and the rest was good (It was actually the other way around.). Justin Williams, the cancer survivor, did a somewhat strange song I didn’t recognize. Clearly it was the wrong choice because he didn’t get through…

Also not getting through were Paige, Erica Rhodes and sisters Amanda and Bernadette…

Next up was Maddy Curtis, whose brothers have Down’s Syndrome. I didn’t recognize her song, but it was clear from the beginning it wasn’t the right choice. A little too old fashioned I think. She didn’t make it…

Casey James, who took his shirt off for Kara and Victoria at his audition, brought out his guitar and did a scorching rendition of a blues number. He got in easily…

Didi Benami, who couldn’t contain her emotions at her audition, managed to hold it in and do an appropriate Kara song called “Terrified.” It was a great performance and a really good song. I’ve always said Kara can write. She just can’t judge. Didi went through…

Crystal Bowersox from Elliston, Ohio, absolutely nailed “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.” She was in as well…

In total, 96 went through to the next round, including—I think—my guy Tyler. I think that was him doing all that cursing at the end of the episode…

Tomorrow night it’s GROUP DAY!!! WOO-HOO! And you guys know how much I love that…

And during Group Day I’ll be watching for Tyler, Andrew, Lilly, Didi and Crystal. Because even the best singers can be brought down by all of the drama.

And that’s why I love it…

Remember that tomorrow’s episode airs at 9 p.m. on FOX…

And be sure to share your thoughts on the outstanding performers from Hollywood by posting a comment…