Idol Goes Hollywood: Triumph, Despair and the Return of Bikini Girl

More than 100 make it through but 43 dreams are dashed at the beginning of Hollywood Week on American Idol

By Natalie Finn Feb 04, 2009 5:05 AMTags
American Idol, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Simon CowellMichael Becker / FOX

Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have been advised to bring their poles to the Kodak Theatre.

If that seems like strange advice, chalk it up to Katrina "Bikini Girl" Darrell being in town and ready to dance in a venue where the performers, ahem, utilize poles—according to Kara DioGuardi, that is.

Darrell may have worn a whole dress to Hollywood, but Kara and Paula Abdul still didn't think she had the pipes to compete. But Randy and Simon, images of Phoenix dancing in their heads, readily agreed to send her through, eyes a-googling, on Tuesday's episode of American Idol.

Despite that decision, which set the wrong example for young girls everywhere, 103 other hopefuls had a swell day in the L.A. sun, as well, including audition-round favorites such as Rose Flack, Emily Wynne-Hughes, Jackie Tohn, Danny Gokey, Jeremy Michael Sarver, Jasmine Murray and Nick Mitchell, aka the headband-and-shiny-shirt-wearing Norman Gentle, who everyone but Simon inexplicably loves.

On the other hand, we also saw 43 dreams go poof! tonight, including one belonging to Dennis Brigham, who informed the judges that they suck and then, to Simon, said, "For somebody to be so rich, your pants are very, very cheap."

So there.

Poll

American Idol, Slowly Getting Serious

Welcome to Hollywood, what's your dream?
For Bikini Girl to get her bottoms handed to her, preferably by Kara
63.8%
For Norman Gentle to have a tough time getting into the top 36
7%
For no contestant to decide at the last minute to sing "Excuse Me, Mister" instead of "I Put a Spell on You" ever again
8.8%
For Wednesday's group round to bring the drama that tonight's solos sorely lacked
20.5%

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