Hollywood 02/04/09
Hollywood Week quickly separates the Idol wheat from the chaff. Lining the 147 contestants up in rows of eight (and, I'm guessing, either one row of five or three rows of seven) and making them sing a cappella, the judges send 43 packing in just two days. Among them: Jesus Valenzuela and Dennis Brigham, two contestants who talked, not sang, their way to Hollywood. The judges give Lil Round a standing ovation for her I Will Always Love You. Danny Gokey shows more chops than he did in his audition when he sings Seal's Kiss From a Rose. The audience also get its first look at Stephen Fowler, who immediately rises to the front ranks of contenders with his performance of a particularly difficult Stevie Wonder song. Bikini Girl Katrina Darrell and Nick Mitchell, aka Norman Gentle, also survive -- but I suspect the judges may be just toying with them.
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