The Almighty Back Story....oh, and Denver

Okay, before discussion of tonight's Denver auditions, I promised my thoughts on the back story. Per dictionary dot com, the back story is defined as " A narrative providing a history or background context, esp. for a character or situation in a literary work, film or dramatic series."

So American Idol provides a "history or background context" on some of it's contestants....and we certainly know Idol is a dramatic series....so...I'm going to try and get through this kinda quickly.

There are certain types of Idol back stories we are all familiar with.....first, and perhaps most compelling, are the personal health stories....like that of current Season 9 contestant Justin Williams for example. Interesting how the powers that be chose to highlight Justin's battle with cancer instead of his Hollywood Week stint last season and as a part of White Chocolate with Matt Giraud and Kris Allen. We've seen a wide array of other afflictions just this season including Tourettes Syndrome (Dave Pittman), asthma (Paige Dechausse), and facial paralysis (Shelby Dressel)....but let's remember the darling Elliot Yamin (diabetes) and Scott McIntyre (the first blind American Idol finalist).

Then we have the contestants with the dangerous or mundane occupations, like this season's dock worker Lloyd Thomas ("He, like, works on a dock!" says Kara, she's so smart), or the better known oil rigger finalist Micheal Sarver from Season 8. Or the contestants with what we'll call "family circumstances", like homeless singer Josiah Leming or the child of divorce this season, Maegan Wright (not sure about how dramatic that is, she's got good company, including yours truly). How about Angela Martin with her special needs child, Andrew Garcia who is trying to escape the gangs of his past, or curly-topped former foster kid Chris Golightly. And who could forgot the famous "country bumpkin" back story angle -- this season that spot is aptly filled by rural Tennessee bridge jumper Vanessa Wolfe, but we have watched Kelly "Calamari" Pickler and of course, the gal who put the country bumpkin-est place on Earth, Checotah, Oklahoma on the map, Carrie Underwood. (Incidentally, if you recall, none of these three ladies had ever been on an 'arrow-plane' before Idol!)

Personally, I enjoyed getting to know all of these contestants and my bottom line is that I didn't feel at all exploited, or manipulated as a viewer in hearing them. In all of these cases, I have enjoyed their stories. I think it connects me to them, and I have really enjoyed meeting these contestants in more depth, in many cases meeting family members.....seeing country in many respects, and counting my blessings along the way. And let's face it: we ALL have a back story of one sort or another....I must be the very viewer Fox is targeting.

HOWEVER, the main criticism of the back story is that those contestants with a little bit of talent AND something miraculous, funny, tragic or heartwarming are perhaps trotted out and featured at the expense of those contestants who are great singers, but lack anything dramatic....just regular folk....of whom I am afraid are many. How many talented, bright and potential Idol-worthy singers with nothing distinguishable in their present or past have been allowed to slip through the cracks of the producers? That is the crime in the back story, if there is one.....would love your comments!

On to Denver, the Mile High City, but was it of mile-long talent? Turns out, it was! A whopping 23 contestants made it through to Hollywood, and it was one of my favorite audition cities of this season. We only got to see a fraction of the golden ticket holders, so I'm thinking there are some surprises in store tomorrow night, or in Hollywood.

It's the year of the ladies, and I had two favorite ladies tonight. I just liked Danelle Hayes, who according to Simon needed "rescuing from corporate hell." Idol has often been criticized for "discovering" talent who have already been discovered, and in that vein Danelle was a breath of fresh air. Entering the audition room already in tears, she told of how she has been singing in a cover band and has seen her share of bars, casinos and corporate events. I agreed with Kara, who loved how Danelle wore her heart on her sleeve (despite auditioning in a tank top!). I might stand corrected if this gal has herself all over the Internet and a record deal to boot, but tonight she appeared as the real deal...someone talented looking for a break.

I also really liked preemie Haeley Vaugn who just might break into that Black Pop Country Mainstream music genre she strives to. Infectious smile, nice voice, possibly a new niche! Look at Darius Rucker's great success.....hope she cracks the Top 24 next week!

Best audition song I don't think I've ever heard: "Tempted" by Squeeze. Yay. Most awkward moment: when Kara and Posh made Bucky Covington 2.0 (I mean Casey James) actually undress during his audition so they could see what he looked like without a shirt. Sheesh. Serious low point. Funniest Simon comment: Victoria told Tori Kelly, the 16yo who sang "Gravity" that she liked her dress and thought she was "really sunny" to which Simon called her the Human Orange. He's in fine form!

It looks like we'll see more audition footage tomorrow night with some possible great singers, so will reserve my overall audition round comments until then, but please see my favorite Idol writer Micheal Slezak's ranking of the Power 20 going into tonight's show in the meantime....John Park! Number 1!