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By Rose Wade

Hollywood week begins with new judge, Ellen DeGeneres, trying to put the contestants at ease by telling them she understands what it's like trying to please a big crowd. It was uninspired and didn't seem to help too many of the singers with their nerves. Her banter with Simon about her coming on the show and him leaving was just not Ellen's best comedy, and I'm a fan. Maybe she was just that nervous. Here is hoping she gets more interesting as the auditions continue.

(Photo: Andrew Garcia's acoustic rendition of Paula Abdul's 'Straight Up' was one of the highlights of this episode of American Idol. Click here to listen for yourself.)

Katie Stevens lead what turned out to be a very long day of auditions, as she did justice to Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life". I was surprised by how calm and collected she appeared to be. The judges were impressed, and Katie moves through to the dreaded group auditions next.

In direct contrast, 'Skiiboski', shown as the second audition, promptly got the boot. That was not much of a surprise to the audience, but he seemed shocked that he didn't slide through on his cool nickname alone. Since I was not a fan from the start, it pains me to know we haven't seen the last of him on our televisions yet.

Something has to be said for the sound quality in the Kodak Theatre. What an incredible audible difference from the various venues where the contestants first auditioned.

Andrew Garcia came out with guitar in hand, and made Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" his very own smash hit. Judge Kara DioGuardi said something about Paula jumping and screaming with happiness if she heard his rendition, and although it's not a stretch to imagine her doing that with alot of singers and songs, I believe she would have. There was no question that Andrew was moving on in the competition after that performance though.

Unfortunately, Vanessa Wolfe let her nerves get the better of her, she didn't seem to breathe at all. She sang from the throat, and the judges just couldn't give her a pass. I would have liked to see her get a little further along in the competition, but at least she got to ride in an airplane. She handled her exit interview very well, and she should certainly walk off the airplane in Tennessee with her head held high.

Teenager Haeley Vaughn made it through, along with rocker chick Mary Powers and Crystal Bowersox. Didi Benami sang a song that Kara DioGuardi had written, and although I'd never heard the song before, she must have sang it flawlessly because it was beautiful. Even the usually impatient Simon let her sing on and on, telling her it was "terrific" when she was done. Lilly Scott, who I didn't remember at all from the auditions, knocked my socks off with 'Lullaby of Birdland'. There is something old-soul about her style of singing, but the rest of her, right down to her platinum hair, is very today. It seems that her flexible style will do well for her as she continues in Season 9.

Simon's prediction of this being a female-lead season may come true yet. We can't discount Casey James, who didn't have to take off a single article of clothing to make it through this latest audition and Michael Lynch, who's wife went into the hospital in labour just before he was scheduled to go on stage --- or so the editing made it seem.

So, it was all about confidence and song choices during tonight's episode. 96 of the 180 contestants that have made it through to the always-entertaining group auditions will battle lazy group members, their own jetlag and nerves, and we will see the claws come out tomorrow night.

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