I really don’t like the audition stage of American Idol… I only care about the singers who can actually sing, and there are so few of them over the two wretched hours of each audition episode.

However, I’ve been in an American Idol pool for a few seasons, where we draft our faves from the Top 24 and the pot is split between the person who drafted the winner and the person who accrued the most points — one point per contestant per episode (this pot is theoretical, of course… just filled with friendship and love).  Since any information about the potential Top 24 before the draft is minimal, I’m forced to watch these early episodes to try and glean any evidence of potential.

I’m really not a fan of the “bad” auditions: I have no pity for or interest in deluded contestants, I’m super annoyed with the contestants who are just trying to get on TV, and the worst aspect of the show is piling on society’s outcasts who are troubled, desperate, or both.

I also hate Ryan Seacrest and dislike all of the judges (although I’ve always liked Ellen and I’m curious to see how she does).

So with all of that in mind, some quick thoughts about the Boston auditions:

I liked Maddy (the 16 year old with the brothers with down syndrome), but didn’t like her voice that much.

Amadeo (big Italian family) was fun, and he definitely fits a quota (think Michael Sarver/Matt Breitzke), but I don’t see him going super far.  My partner astutely remarked last night that Ryan Seacrest was surely loving it when Amadeo’s crew gang tackled him after he received the golden ticket.

Ashley Rodriguez (Berklee student) has a good thing going, but I’m not sure her voice can carry her to the end.  Definitely a contender for the Top 24, though.

Loved Katie Stevens’ (some grandma story I forwarded through) voice, but don’t think she has the personality to make it super far.  Ditto Leah Laurenti (wasn’t allowed to sing non-church music as a kid).

Liked Bosa Mora (Nigerian dude) a lot, but I agreed with Simon that he’s boring.  His voice didn’t seem good enough to overcome his lack of stage presence.  Definitely deserved to go to Hollywood, though.

The manufactured drama of Andrew Fenton (pictured at the top) is a good example of why I hate these early episodes.  He was mildly petulant, his voice wasn’t terrible, and it was all about the judges’ “righteous indignation.”  They wasted so much time on him that they could’ve used to show someone who had more talent.  Frustrating.

Everyone else was meh.