You watched the American Idol 12 auditions in Chicago last night. Here’s my recap. Now read what the rest of the blogosphere had to say about the show.
‘American Idol’ Season 12, Episode 2: Chicago Hope – But just when it seemed like Mariah and Nicki were about to brawl like a couple of scorned women on a particularly heated love-triangular episode of “The Jerry Springer Show,” a memorable, bow-tied contestant came along to turn the show around and remind viewers (and hopefully the judges) what “Idol” is supposed to be all about: giving kids a much-needed break and making talented people’s dreams come true. Yes, it was sappy and manipulative (cue violins here), but it was just the sort of sap and manipulation the show dearly needed. – Yahoo Music
‘American Idol’ Chicago Auditions Prove It’s All About Nicki And Mariah – Mariah and Nicki. Nicki and Mariah. Sure, Randy Jackson’s back on the panel, Keith Urban is hiding out somewhere too, and supposedly there are some contestants who are trying to make the show about them and their journeys. (Good luck.) Let’s face it, though: This season, “American Idol” is all about Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. The two divas were the centerpiece of this week’s two-night “Idol” premiere, which covered the show’s New York and Chicago auditions. And whether they were feuding or making nice, all eyes (and ears) were on them, and their sometimes-British accents. – Read more at MTV
‘American Idol’ Chicago: The recap – “Chicago was unbelievable.” Nicki Minaj says. “Remarkable.” Well, maybe not. But it was a big improvement over New York. The second night of American Idol’s 12th-season premiere started ramping things up, not only the talent but also the escalating tensions between judges Mariah Carey and Minaj. The feud, which apparently boils over in next week’s episodes, showed signs of building through the show, as both singers wearied of hearing the other speak. – Read more at Idol Chatter
American Idol Chicago Auditions Recap: The Windy (City) Project [Updated] – Indeed, 12 seasons in, the giant onion that is American Idol hasn’t lost an ounce of potency. Sit with it long enough — breathe in its swelling strings and its harrowing backstories and its humble notion that, with the right melody, the misfits and outsiders and scrappers of the world can make like Kelly Clarkson and have their very own “moment like this” — and eventually, you’ll be succumbing to the urge to ugly cry on your couch. – TV Line
‘American Idol’ recap: Sweet Hope in Chicago – Happy sigh! I went into “Auditions No. 2” bracing myself for an even worse display of Diva vs. Diva than Wednesday’s premiere — and don’t get me wrong, the Mariah-Nicki Get Up Out My Face 2013 feud is still annoying. But the Chicago auditions showcased so much talent — 16 featured golden ticketers! — that the warring egos simply didn’t weren’t awarded enough screen time to completely muck up the episode. Plus, the Adler Planetarium was the best possible venue from which to provide a sweeping backdrop of downtown Chicago –home of the meat wave, deep-dish pizza and during the ’80s and ’90s, me. Gotta love that lake effect! – Read more at Entertainment Weekly
‘American Idol’ Recap: Do You Hear the People Sing? – Of course, the passive-aggressive tension that began at the New York City auditions was bubbling under as well, as the insults and swipes between Nicki Minaj and Carey continued before (and during) the audition process. Take, for example, the atrocious audition of Austin Earles, a 19-year-old from Lakeview, Mich., as he proceeded to destroy one of Carey’s hits, “Emotion.” Carey wanted to cut it off, but Minaj seized the opportunity to stick it to her. “I would love to constantly hear that every day,” she said, as the bickering continued. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter
‘American Idol’ Recap: Keith Urban Flees Chicago – Welcome back to American Idol, where the auditions have moved to Chicago and eager contestants are patiently waiting for a chance to sing in front of Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson – you know, if he happens to be in the room. The second episode of Idol’s 12th season kicks off with someone in the graphics department showing off the Batman-style Pow! Boom! Bam! signs they brilliantly plastered over footage of Nicki and Mariah bickering. – Read more at Rolling Stone
‘American Idol’ Recap: Lazaro Arbos Inspires, Nicki Minaj Shines in Chicago – I realize that it’s currently an unpopular opinion, and certainly unheard of leading up to the premiere, but Minaj is doing exactly what she was hired to do: judge. And she’s pretty good at it, too. You can tell when she’s not feeling a singer, and frankly, most times, those singers either don’t get put through or are clearly the kind of contestant that we’ll never hear from again after the Hollywood portion of the competition. She’s doing that which Randy Jackson has done for years, but with more personality. The Nicki- Mariah Carey “feud” be damned. I’m enjoying having Nicki around for her blunt opinions and the fact that I agree with her probably 95 percent of the time, let alone all the great reaction faces she makes. I didn’t expect this. I may need a moment. – Read more at Billboard.com
American Idol Recap: Please, Sir, May I Have Some Less? – The producers of Idol can sympathize with anticlimactic entrances. The ratings are in, and oh, they are not good. Last night’s Idol premiere was the lowest-rated since season one, and while much ink will be wasted over the public’s distaste for Nicki Minaj, or our skepticism over her and Mariah’s feud, or of Keith Urban’s star power, I know the truth: These early episodes are long and enervating, and even the biggest Idol-boosters resent their time being wasted. Just because you can stretch these debut episodes to four hours a week doesn’t mean you should. You are holding us hostage, Idol. You are holding us by the ankles and shaking change out of our pockets, and we don’t like it. – Read more at Vulture
