Simon shows ’em who’s boss in San Antonio

Success stories abound
Despite the judges’ crankiness, there were a lot of success stories in San Antonio. Twenty-two people advanced to Hollywood, and in a unique twist, several actually got airtime.

Anyone who doubts that Simon is the judge with the power need just cite the case of Ashlyn Carr. Carr, 18, had a unique voice that’s rough, but strong enough that she deserved a second look. The problem was with her facial expressions — she looked like she was trying to mime the song's action as she sang the lyrics. Randy and Paula voted no, and then as Carr was sniffling out the door, Simon said “I would have said yes.”

Well! That changes everything! He suggested that maybe the judges had made a mistake, and before Carr had the chance to call for a taxi ride home, she was back to sing another song. Lo and behold, this time all three judges agreed to send her to Hollywood, which shows beyond a doubt where that Simon holds all the power at this stage of the game.

Also advancing in less-traditional fashion was Akron Watson. First, he came with another family member, his cousin, who auditioned and was awful. Second, he sang his first song, got an “eh” from Simon, and then went right into a second song. Normally, that spells disaster. But his voice was good enough that he broke convention and made it.
[Update: Akron apparently was disinvited from the show after his audition.)

Jimmy McNeal reminded the judges of Ruben Studdard, the Season 2 winner. He got nothing but raves and advanced to Hollywood, possibly to the dismay of Clay Aiken fans, who are still upset that Studdard beat out Aiken for the title.

Good looks help
Of course, good-looking women who could sing a little fared the best among the auditioner demographics.

Twenty-four-year-old Haley Scarnato said she’d been singing in a wedding band since she was 15, then chose “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. Her band must play a lot of dour receptions with a repertoire like that. Her voice was solid if unspectacular, her backless dress caused Simon’s jaw to drop below the table, and she got a quick ticket to Hollywood.

Baylie Brown got a stronger endorsement. Brown is just 16 and from Krum, Texas, and yet pointed out that she’s aggressively uninterested in farming, yardwork or staying in that small town any longer than she has to. Her dad pointed out that wearing heels didn’t mesh well with farmwork, but it was obvious that she was going to make it because the editors made it sound charming, and not like Brown was a spoiled brat.

“I think you’re one of those girls who was born to be a pop star. Your voice isn’t great, not yet … but you are commercial with a capital ‘C’,” Simon said. The rest of the judges agreed, with Paula expressing surprise that Brown was so fashionable despite being from small-town Texas. Clearly, television and the Internet are reaching even the tiniest town in North Texas, much to Paula’s shock.

Brown advanced to Hollywood, will make the final 24 unless she gets lost on the way to the West Coast, and will try to become one of the few 16-year-olds in the show history to manage to make it through the competition without being so twisted in knots by the judges that they forget which way is up.

Craig Berman is a writer in Washington, D.C.

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