Is Atlanta Hot, or Not?

Sorry for the delay in this post but every now and then, you're stuck at the job that pays the bills. If only I could actually find a way to make money at this blogging thing. After all, I have three of 'em. Pathetic, I know.

Speaking of pathetic, I was really looking forward to American Idol's return visit to Atlanta. I wasn't born there but at the tender age of 7, my parents packed up their family of four brats and dislocated us to the deep south. Fulton County and College Park with the zip code of 30349 was our new home and the Atlanta airport was basically in our backyard. Five years later, during white flight (although the move was for business purposes ... just so happened we were white and still are) we wound up in Fayette County - just one down from Fulton. So, for all intents ad purposes, I consider Atlanta and its surrounding areas my "hometown." Howdy to McIntosh High School's Class of '87!

Back to pathetic. Everything I had hoped for out of Hotlanta seemed to cease and desist and before I realized it, I had lost an hour of my life. I just wasn't that impressed by last night's contestants. Here are a few of the highlights though ...

The first kid up is Josh Jones who puts his chops to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now." Since I was writing rather than typing in front of the tube last night, I didn't notice something that seemed to rather bother Simon. Apparently, Josh was doing something distracting, maybe even "demonic" with his eyes. Always keeping it fresh, Simon asked Josh to sing with his back to the judges, that way he wouldn't have to look at his weird eye movements. That still didn't help Simon but Randy and Paula liked it enough that they sent Josh through to Hollywood. To bad Josh doesn't have a more attractive derriere.

Sob story of the night truly brought tears to my eyes and sent Paula off set to compose herself. Eighteen-year-old Asia'h Epperson called her dad a few days before to let him know she was auditioning for American Idol. Thirty minutes after their conversation, Asia'h's brother calls to let her know that their dad had just died in a car wreck. Somehow, she's managed to pull it all together to fulfill dreams her dad had for her and she performs "How Do I Live?" It's a bit pitchy but there's a voice in there under all that sorrow. Some think it was a sypathy vote but I think the judges did the right thing in sending her through to Hollywood.

Up next is a girl who is, like, sooo annoying. First off, Brooke Helvie is a Florida Gator and believe me, us Georgia Bulldogs do not like the "F" word. To make matters worse, this perky pest is a pageant princess who hopefully couldn't be more obnoxious if she tried. Like Simon, I was really hoping this girl couldn't sing. Unfortunately, she could and that means we'll be seeing more of her. Ugh.

Time now for a musical montage that is so bad, I didn't even realize it was Fergie's "Glamorous." Probably wouldn't matter though as I don't care for that particular song.

Who else makes it through to Hollywood? Alex Lushington of Douglasville, Georgia - one of my favorite places to shop because it's where I first discovered Bed, Bath & Beyond if memory serves me correctly. Will Alex be one of my favorites too? Doubtful. Her voice isn't my "thing" but the judges like her so yay for her.

I'm not immediately liking Amanda Overmyer because they have several clips of her on the back of her motorcycle, helmet-free. Ever know anyone who'd still be alive today if they would have worn their helmet? Yeah, me too. Then she announces she'll sing Janis Joplin and I'm like, "NOOOOOOO!!!!!" But actually, I like her. The judges ask her to sing something else and she rips into some rather impressive Elvis. I've got a feeling we'll be seeing much more of Amanda and I think the judges do too with all three voting her through to Hollywood. She has attitude, personality and this nurse is just plain refreshing.

Enough about Amanda, it's past time to wrap this blog up. The night closes out with Josiah Leming. Originally from Morristown, Tenn., Leming has lived in his car for the last year, pursuing his musical impulses. It pays off, too, in a weird way. Being as he was from Tennessee, I couldn't understand why his voice was flirting with a British accent. Somehow it works for him and the judges like him a lot.

So that does it from Atlanta with 20 hopefulls through to Hollywood. Tonight's show is being tauted as "Best of the Rest." Do they mean that in a good way, or a bad way?