Getting ready to depart for American Idol auditions.
Wish me luck.
Good luck.
It's sort of surreal, because I've been waiting for it to happen,
For such a long time, and it's finally here.
It's an indescribable feeling.
I just can't wait to get in there.
I'm really anxious right now.
Okay, let's have it.
Take a deep breath.
This is our first trip to Oregon.
And with an eclectic crowd like this,
There's no telling who or what we may find.
This is Portland, and... This is American Idol.
We've finally come to Portland, Oregon.
A jewel of the Northwest.
Welcome to Portland!
And even though the city may, be known for its cloudy skies...
The thousands we met in line, were colorful and bright.
And our judges were definitely feeling the love.
Today's the day.
We're gonna find the one.
That remains to be seen.
But we are set to blaze a new trail,
Hopefully making Oregon History.
Seems nothing was going to stand in our way.
Portland, Oregon, come on.
Who's going to get the first Ticket?
Me!
Let's go.
Everyone in the crowd has a story.
Everyone in the crowd has a dream.
Whoo, doggie!
But it might not be about what you may think.
My name is Britney Zooka.
I'm 21 years old, and I'm from Portland, Oregon.
So, I had a dream.
I was on the stage with Sara Bareilles, who I love.
And, I was singing "Gravity" with her, and it was this amazing duet.
So I wake up, and I'm really bumped that it didn't happen,
It was just a dream.
I got two tickets to a sold-out Sara Bareilles concert,
My Mom somehow managed to get.
And I just had this epiphany,
This moment of thinking:
"Hey, this is going to happen for me."
And I hold up a cardboard sign.
That I ripped from a box, last-second, and it said:
"Will you sing gravity with me?"
She reads it, she winks at me,
She lets me up on stage and we sing.
From that moment on, I said:
"Okay, I'm going to go for it."
I'm going to take this as far as I can take it,
And nothing's going to stop me.
Whoa.
Oh, careful.
Did you fall for me?
God, I'm much too young to be this old.
What?
What's your name?
They call me, "Tripster the Hipster"...
"Tripster the hipster", okay.
Yes.
What are you going to sing for us today?
Today I'm going to be singing "The Story" by Brandi Carlile.
Wow.
It's a beautiful song.
♪ All of these lines across my, ♪
♪ Face tell you the story of, ♪
♪ Who I am, ♪
♪ So many stories of where, ♪
♪ I've been, ♪
♪ And how I got to where I am, ♪
♪ Oh but these stories don't, ♪
♪ Mean anything when you've, ♪
♪ Got no one to tell them to, ♪
♪ It's true that I was made, ♪
♪ For you, ♪
You're one of the prettiest voices we've heard.
Just the tone of it's so pretty.
Yeah, dude, I really like you, and what's crazy to me,
What I love...
You come in here, you look nothing like what you sound.
I should take off my glasses.
I'm not as nerdy as sometimes...
Okay, take off the hat too.
That's it.
Uh, okay, take the boots off!
No, I'm just kidding. I'm only kidding!
No, no, no, no, no.
Leave the hat and the glasses off, see the sass comes out now.
This, the edge comes out, I like it!
She gets wild with the hat and glasses off.
I loved the end of that, it was so good.
Thank you.
-Shall we take a little "votey"? -Yes.
Yes, yes, I'm gonna say yes.
-Yes, yes. -No way!
-Yes, please yes! -For real though?
Yes, for real.
Okay, this isn't like "Play a joke on the girl who trips.",
-You know, this is for real? -No, no, no, no, no.
Yeah! Okay, awesome.
See you in Hollywood.
Oh, My Gosh!
Britney Zooka.
Great voice, great voice.
She's funny, dude.
They need to be a little bit crazy.
Over the next hour...
Extreme talent is on parade in Portland.
The minute you opened your mouth, I was like, "Wow!".
Thank you.
You've got that gift.
This guy's great, he's great, he's fantastic.
But watch out...
There's a storm a'brewing.
"Randy, yes for you?" No.
What the [Bleep]?
I just feel like I'm never good enough.
Welcome back.
It's 10:00 A.M., and we're off, to a strong start here in Portland.
More than can be said for our last trip to the pacific Northwest a few seasons back.
Sounds real good.
But this is season 11.
And contestants know how to better prepare for this chance of a lifetime
Portland!
Right?
Your name, your age, and where you are from.
Okay, hold on.
Ugh, okay.
Oh, right now?
Hi, my name is Ben perdum, and
I'm 18, and I'm from Philadelphia.
I'm-I'm not feeling that great today.
I've been sick since like Tuesday pretty much.
My throat usually sounds a lot. more clear than this.
It's just a little, um, "cloggy" in the throat.
What do you do?
I-I sell-I sell cable TV on the street pretty much.
On the street?
Yeah, we just sit behind the.
Table and just yell at people, like, "sign up today!" And...
What's your pitch?
Like, "225 channels is $34.99 a month, get three free months of-", and all these channels.
And, you know, I don't want to say, like, the company names, obviously, because-advertising.
Yeah, well-no, I get the pitch.
But if your singing is as good as your pitch, anywhere near the pitch...
-Let's just get in there. -All right.
Good luck.
All right.
Straight ahead.
It's great.
Hey.
Hey, hey.
What's your name?
Uh, my name is Ben, and I'm from Philadelphia.
Hi, Ben.
Hey, I like that, Ben.
How old are you, how old are you, Ben?
Um, I'm 18 years old.
And how did you happen here, onto our little stage?
Uh, well, I went into work one day, and I sang for my co-workers,
And he's like, "I know talent when I see it, so I Want you to go audition."
-Really? -And so I did, yes.
Okay, well. What do you want to sing?
Um, I was gonna do "Born This Way", by Lady Gaga.
Okay.
♪ My mama told me when I, ♪
♪ Was young we were all born, ♪
♪ Superstars, ♪
Holy [Bleep].
♪ She rolled my hair put my, ♪
♪ Lipstick on in the glass of, ♪
♪ Her boudoir, ♪
♪ So hold your head up girl, ♪
♪ And you'll go far, listen to, ♪
♪ Me when I say, ♪
Ay yi yi.
I'll stop there.
"I'll stop there."
So-you're-because you knew, right?
I think I went up too high, there.
I can do-can I do a different song?
-Sure. -I think I went too high.
There, okay.
[Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass"]
♪ Can't you hear that boom, ♪
♪ Badoom boom boom badoom boom, ♪
♪ Bass, got that super bass, ♪
♪ Boom badoom boom boom badoom, ♪
♪ Boom bass, got that super, ♪
♪ Bass, ♪
♪ Boom boom boom bass, ba ba, ♪
♪ Ba boom bass ba ba ba ba, ♪
♪ Boom badoom boom boom badoom, ♪
♪ Boom bass got that super, ♪
♪ Bass boom badoom boom boom, ♪
♪ Badoom boom boom bass, ♪
♪ Got that super bass. ♪
In the craziest, weirdest way, that was actually better.
Yeah, it was.
Still was terrible, it was still terrible, but it was better terrible.
Take that rubber band off the bottom of your [Bleep] and lay up a little, will you?
I'm feeling a little stuffy today, so...
Yeah.
"You got to be kidding me."
You're cute.
Shall we vote?
Yeah.
Yeah, we should vote.
Oh, I'm feeling like it's "no," though.
Yeah.
No, well, you don't know.
You don't know yet.
Steven, yes?
Not your best audition.
No, it wasn't.
Jennifer, yes?
It's a "no" for me too, babe.
Wish I was feeling better.
Randy, yes? Definite "no."
I'm sorry, sweetie.
Wish I was feeling better. All right.
It was fun.
All right, have a good day.
-Okay. -You too.
Any regrets in there?
Um, just that I started too high, and that I wish I was not feeling so sick.
He's been a little sick.
Oh, have you?
Since Tuesday, yeah, I'm...
He's lost some of his upper range.
I mean, I'm sorry-yeah.
But I can't do falsetto right now.
As Ben departs, tragically,
We are left to wonder, if he had not been too sick,
What would that falsetto voice have sounded like?
♪ Boom badoom boom boom badoom, ♪
♪ bass, got that super bass, ♪
Yay, you made it, baby!
Coming up, Portland shows serious heart.
We still have life and we still have another chance to keep going.
Wow.
Plus, a showcase of talent that simply can't be beat.
♪ American Idol, yeah! ♪
Welcome to American Idol.
Judges were a little soft this morning....
The eggs in Portland weren't. treating them too well, but now,
We're here after lunch with a little bit more energy.
That's nice, I like the way you ad-libbed that.
Welcome back to American Idol.
Here in Portland.
Slow start to the morning here,
but after a nice healthy lunch,
it seems everybody's energy is back.
♪ I'm feeling good, ♪
And Jermaine Jones might be able to take the judges' spirits over the top.
My family is all music.
I began singing in church when I was young.
It's my life, I eat it, I breathe it, I sleep it, it's just me.
That's my mommy.
I'm a mama's boy, I guess.
The night that I delivered Jermaine, I did a whole church service and a concert.
So we were saying that he came out singing.
We don't know anything else.
That's what we were founded on.
-It's true. -It's very real.
It's not like somebody who just decided that they were going to try to be a singer.
We were born this way.
It's just amazing the gift that God has placed in him.
And, yes, the world needs to know it.
They need to know it.
It's time, I believe it's time.
It's my time, it's my turn.
And that's where my tears...
Like, they're tears of joy and excitement.
Mm-hm.
I am extremely proud of Jermaine.
He has the stature, the attitude, he has "It".
And he can do it.
He can do it.
He will do it.
I love you, mom.
How tall are you, dog?
6'8" and a 1/2", and don't take away my half.
6'8" and a 1/2"...
We won't, we won't.
Wow.
What are you going to sing?
I'm going to sing "Superstar" by Luther.
Awesome.
Whenever you're ready.
♪ Long ago, ♪
♪ And oh so far away, ♪
♪ I fell in love with you, ♪
♪ Before the second show, ♪
♪ Don't you remember you told, ♪
♪ Me you loved me, baby, ♪
♪ You said you'd be coming, ♪
♪ Back this way again, ♪
♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, ♪
♪ Baby, ♪
♪ I love you, ♪
♪ I really do! ♪
Mm, nice.
Mm.
When you show the dynamics with the low, with the power, with the softness, I love it.
-We haven't had someone... -You just don't hear it, it's,
A natural gift that you have...
Thank you so much.
In the way that you sing that you don't hear every day.
Really spiritual voice. Took me away.
Oh, thank you.
Um, I can see you're really nervous.
Mm-hm.
I actually heard the song through your nerves,
When that happens, that's the magic.
You've got that gift, you know?
And, man, when we hear that...
Thank you so much.
Definitely got something unique jumping off, vocally.
Yeah, for sure.
I say yes.
Just one more thing before I v ote: Loosen up a little bit.
I know you're super-nervous...
I mean, I'm...
You're sweating like a fool.
Up in here, dude. I can't-I mean, really bad.
Either way, I'm going to say, Yes.
Dude, I'm gonna say yes.
Welcome to Hollywood, Jermaine!
Yeah, you made it, baby!
The gentle giant goes to Hollywood.
Yes, thank you.
Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate it.
All right, man.
Oh!
I'm going.
I'll be there.
He's a big guy.
6'8...
Is that what he said, 6'8"?
Yeah.
He felt gentle-spirited, though, no?
Mm-hm, mm-hm.
A gentle giant.
Yeah.
Hello?
Guess what, mommy?
You're going to Hollywood?
I'm going to Hollywood.
Be quiet.
You're going to break the speaker!
All right, shut it down.
After the break...
What great naggers!
Oh!
The talent in Portland has everyone at attention.
Ah! I love that.
We are feeling you right now.
You're going to Hollywood!
Yes!
Ow!
It's another beautiful day here in the city of roses...
Portland rocks!
And our day two auditioners are geared up and ready to rock out for the judges.
Steven and Randy arrive, raring to go.
Ryan, what's up, man?
Randy's had his coffee this morning apparently.
Ryan's here!
What do I think of Portland?
God, I had a couple of Girlfriends from here.
But there was a little snag for Jennifer.
I'm waiting for a pair fo tights...
I'm missing my black tights, and I'm ready to kill somebody.
Oh, you know what?
I'm sorry, I meant to give them back.
That's all right, I swear.
We need to borrow your tights, Meghan.
She's getting the black tights!
Wardrobe malfunction averted,
the judges take their seats,
ready for a busy day.
Let's get it in, Portland.
All righty.
Let's go.
And a tight schedule is something our first contestant knows all about.
You've got a whole bunch of people here.
They're all with you?
Yup.
Is he with you?
All right, come over here.
That was a real mom tone.
"All right, come over here, come over here now."
So, you've got your hands full, right?
To say the least.
Why was this, personally, something that you wanted to do?
Um, I've been held back from a lot of people, and just told that I couldn't do it.
Do you think mommy can do it?
Is mommy a good singer?
Yeah.
Okay. We'll take your word for it.
My mommy's the next American Idol.
-Hi. -Hello.
Hi, how are you?
Hi, baby, what's your name?
I'm Britney Kellogg.
How old are you?
27.
So tell us, why are you here?
It might make me cry.
Mm.
Two beautiful little boys.
And I was married, and he held me back from doing what I wanted to do,
And this is what I want to do.
And he's a basketball player, and I pursued his dreams with him.
Then he decided to go and pursue other women instead of basketball, so...
Here I am.
Wow, that's, uh...
Sorry.
Well, you have your two little boys.
Yes, so...
And here you are.
And here I am.
So let's make it happen.
What are you going to sing?
I'm going to sing "You're No Good".
You think?
Wonder that, yeah, really.
Perfect, right?
Are you sure, are you sure?
You have a beautiful sense of humor.
Yeah, this is great.
Thank you.
Come on, mama.
Okay.
♪ Feeling better now that, ♪
♪ We're through, ♪
♪ Feeling better 'cause I'm, ♪
♪ Over you, ♪
♪ I learned my lesson it left, ♪
♪ A scar, ♪
♪ Now I can see who you really, ♪
♪ Are you're no good you're no, ♪
♪ Good you're no good baby, ♪
♪ You're no good, ♪
That's right.
♪ I'm gonna say it again, ♪
♪ You're no good you're no, ♪
♪ Good you're no good baby, ♪
♪ You're no good, ♪
All right.
Britney, I'm feeling you right now.
All right, yo, yo, I like the attitude, I like the vibe, I like you getting, "Ah!"
Yeah, all of it.
I love that.
The rasp, the tone...
Thank you.
Everything, love.
Yes.
And yes, so you're going to Hollywood.
Keep that passion, though,
about whatever you're singing, you know what I'm saying?
Put your heart in it.
Thank you.
Can I ask you a question?
Sure, baby.
How is it being a mom?
'Cause there's so many people that say, "you can't do this.
You're a mom, like, how can you. Leave your kids"?
No, you don't leave your kids, we never leave the kids.
Look, the kids are right here!
Oh, my God, the kids are right here!
See, your...
Hey, you guys.
Britney.
Your kids are right here, my kids are right out there.
Those are cute kids.
You have to be happy so they're happy.
Look at all the blessings that are here with you and those two special ones.
It takes a village to raise babies.
My mom's here with me too.
You make it happen.
When you have dreams, you make them happen.
And they're only better for it.
Thank you so much.
God bless you, mama.
Yeah, yeah.
God bless you.
Congratulations.
See you in Hollywood.
Woo!
Britney, Britney!
Bye.
Good-bye, boy
bye, you guys.
Thank you so much.
He blew me a kiss.
Aw.
Look at that, "my daughter's. The next American Idol."
Is that right?
By the way?
She just might be.
Mommy's going to Hollywood.
So day two starts off on a positive note.
And 21-year-old Sam Gershman...
Was hoping she could keep the party going.
Turn.
It seems she already has the support of the holding room.
Let's see how she does with the Judges.
Hello!
Holy [Bleep] Sticks.
How are you?
Hey, what's going on?
Wow.
Not much.
Who are you?
This is crazy.
I'm Sam... Gershman.
Sam Gershwin?
Gershman.
Oh, I was gonna go, "wow."
But wait, my dad's name is Ira.
All right, what are you singing, baby?
I'm going to sing, "I'm a Woman".
Okay.
♪ If you come to me sickly, ♪
♪ You know I'm gonna make you, ♪
♪ Well, ♪
♪ If you come to me hexed up, ♪
♪ You know I'm gonna break the, ♪
♪ Spell you know, ♪
♪ If you come to me hungry, ♪
♪ Well I'm gonna fill ya full, ♪
♪ Of grits, ♪
♪ But if it's love that you're, ♪
♪ Likin' I'll kiss you and, ♪
♪ Give you the shivering fits, ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm a woman, ♪
♪ W-o-m-a-n oh I'll say it, ♪
♪ Again-uh, ♪
"Again-uh."
♪ Oh woman ohh, ♪
♪ Yeah, ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, ♪
♪ Ow!, ♪
♪ A woman, ♪
Sam, the one-act show, I love the...
I'm nervous.
Could you have been any more perky?
I know, my voice gets high.
I'm a little nervous right now.
Wow.
You're going to make a good Easter Bunny.
Well, I'm jewish, so...
Oh, that's okay.
She's jewish.
It's a little too "Broadway" for what this Idol has been pulling out of people.
That's who you are, that's okay.
Your personality is so Bubbly, you obviously belong on a stage.
We're not saying, "don't do this," you know what I mean?
That's not what we're saying.
Go ahead, baby, you want to take your vote?
Uh, I'm going to say no. I don't think you're ready.
Steven?
I don't think you're ready either.
I think you should keep going, but I think you need to
Work on some things if you want to do this, specifically.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thank you.
Well, the party may have ended for Sam, but the one here,
In Portland is just getting started.
Coming up! Will this unique
Performance thrill the judges?
♪ Bah, ♪
Or leave them spechless?
And American Idol gives new hope to a liberian refugee.
Never thought we'd make it,
'cause I saw so many people just, like, perish.
So you sang for your life?
Yes, I do.
We're back in beautiful Portland.
With its lush landscapes and environmental consciousness,
Portland is one of the greenest cities in the country.
And the next contestant was hoping that Oregon green would,
Turn into gold.
Hi.
Hey, hey.
Hey.
What's your name, dude?
My name is David Weed.
David Weed, is "Weed" really your last name?
It is, I did not pick that name, no.
You're just lucky nobody gave you the first name of "Smokey", huh?
No, no, they weren't thinking ahead.
-I like that. -"Thinking ahead"?
-I like that. -Where are you from?
I'm from Mountain Home, Idaho.
And what do you do there?
I work in the fast food Industry.
So you're tired of asking people if they want fries with that, right?
Exactly.
Every time I say that, I die a little inside.
Mm.
Aw, come on.
Man, oh, man.
It's not that bad, it's not as bad as I'm making it sound.
"Paper or plastic," it could be.
So you work in fast food, but you want to be an American Idol, right?
I do.
What are you singing?
I'm singing "Tom Sawyer" by Rush.
Okay.
♪ Though his mind is not, ♪
♪ For rent, ♪
♪ Don't put him down as, ♪
♪ Arrogant, ♪
♪ His reserve a quiet defense, ♪
♪ Riding out the day's events, ♪
♪ The river, ♪
♪ What you say about his, ♪
♪ Company is what you say, ♪
♪ About society, ♪
♪ Catch the mystery catch the, ♪
♪ Myth catch the spirit catch, ♪
♪ The spit. ♪
In your mind, is that the way Geddy Lee, from the band, sounds to you, from Rush?
Aw, I'm hoping I don't sound exactly like him, but I mean...
No, he actually sounds really good.
What's the dream here, other than singing?
I don't know, I like stand-up Comedy, I guess.
Do you have a good joke you can tell us?
Not the richest family growing up, so we played a game called "earthquake," uh...
Okay.
It's when you take your glasses and you go, "earthquake."
That's your joke?
Yup, that's one of them.
Wow, okay.
All right, David.
All right, all right, David.
We're going to take a vote, okay, sweetie?
Okay.
I'm going to say not yet.
I'm going to say definitely. No.
Okay.
It's a no for today, baby.
It's a no?
Okay.
Nice to meet you, man.
Thank you, okay.
Thank you.
See you later.
Hey, David, empty-handed?
I am.
Where'd you misfire?
Oh, man, I was pretty nervous.
I mean, they just didn't seem to like it at all.
Sorry it didn't work out.
Oh, thanks, no problem.
All right, thanks.
Okay, buddy.
It's just so strange to...
Everyone for 22 years say that,
It's, you know, you've got a,
Phenomenal voice, and then walk up to these three people and,
They just say, "no, that's not even close."
Don't have the chops.
And while David may be feeling a little down, I'm up to no good.
What are you seeing?
Is Ryan bored?
Ryan must be bored.
Wow, man.
He must really be bored today.
That's insane. That...
That was great.
My attempt to turn the day around is working.
Let's see if our next contestant can continue the trend.
Come on, Portland.
Hi.
Hello.
How are you?
Good, how are you?
I'm good.
What's your name?
My name is Romeo Dionne.
I'm 22 years old.
I'm from Liberia.
Tell us your story, baby.
In 1990, there was a civil War in Liberia.
My father was an immigration Commander, and he heard about
The war, so he sent us to Ghana. And we lived in a refugee camp,
hoping there was a chance for us to come to the U.S for a better life.
Waited so long, and never thought we'd make it, 'cause I
Saw so many people just, like, perish.
And we finally got that chance to come here.
It was a great day.
That day, I got a chance to know what "better life" means...
On that day.
There is no pot of gold in America.
But if you have patience...
Then you make it.
[Bob Marley's "Is This Love"]
♪ I want to love you, ♪
♪ I want to love and treat you, ♪
♪ Love and treat you right, ♪
♪ I want to love you every day, ♪
♪ And every night, ♪
♪ We'll be together oh oh with, ♪
♪ A roof right over our heads, ♪
♪ Is this love is this love is, ♪
♪ This love is this love that, ♪
♪ I'm feeling ooh is this love, ♪
♪ Is this love is this love is, ♪
♪ This love that I'm feeling, ♪
He's in there doing his thing.
So, who are you?
I'm Ryan.
Junior.
Junior, I would've guessed that.
I know.
I love that you sing in your heart, you know?
And how long were you in the Camp for?
Um, from 5 years old all the way to 2001.
Oof.
Wow.
So you sang for your life.
Yes, I do.
Wow, I hear it in your voice.
Thank you.
Jennifer, what do you think?
Man, I love your vibe, and your flavor.
I'm a little bit worried about,
Where you're going to go in the,
Competition, and the songs,
You're going to have to sing and stuff
Let's take a vote, let's see. Steven, yes or no?
I'm going to say yes.
Jennifer?
I'm going to say little tiny Yes.
Aha.
I'm going to say yes too.
Guess what, baby.
Going to Hollywood.
Going to Hollywood!
America, I'm coming, I'm. Coming.
Different vibe than anybody else we've seen yet.
It's a completely different vibe.
And probably won't have anybody else like that.
And, dude, refugee camp?
Oh, my God, dude, I don't know, man.
I feel so good, I feel so alive, I feel so nice.
Coming up...
The Ryan Seacrest donut.
Steven and I get a sugary treat.
I would really love to sing one of your songs, Steven.
Nice.
And is this the sweetest face in Orego?
Everybody loves [Bleep], okay?
Stick around for a Lip-smacking good time.
It's just after 2:00 here in Portland.
I'm the next American Idol.
Everyone is searching for the recipe of that golden ticket.
There you have it, the Ryan Seacrest donut.
Too short!
And now 22-year-old Naomi Gillies has a treat for Steven.
What are you singing today?
Um, if it's okay with you, I would really love to sing one of your songs, Steven.
If that's all right.
Which one?
"Cryin'".
Oh, nice.
♪ There was a time, ♪
♪ When I was so broken-hearted, ♪
♪ Love wasn't much, ♪
♪ Of a friend of mine no, no, ♪
♪ But the tables have turned, ♪
♪ Yeah, me and them ways, ♪
♪ Have parted, ♪
♪ That kind of love, ♪
♪ It was the killing kind, ♪
♪ I was cryin' when I met you, ♪
♪ Now I'm trying to forget you, ♪
♪ Your love is sweet misery, ♪
♪ Yeah I was crying, ♪
♪ Just to get you, ♪
♪ Now I'm dyin' to let you, ♪
♪ Do-, ♪
Nice.
Ah, nice, very interesting.
Different, good, yeah.
You belted it out, we've been missing that all morning.
Yeah, big, nice tone.
Love your voice too.
Nice, round tone.
The minute you opened your mouth, I was like, "wow!".
Very, very nice.
If you got it, you got it,
you got it.
See, that's how you do it.
Yes.
And I'm going to say yes,
because you're going to Hollywood.
Yes, baby.
Naomi keeps Portland's hopes alive with her ticket to Hollywood.
But for the next two hours, the dreams
Of so many others were laid to rest.
Not yet, no.
Listen, dog, didn't quite do it for me.
Yeah, I think you need some work, okay?
No, no, no, no.
I didn't make it.
A lot of broken hearts, man.
[Bleep] Off.
You're going to make me go Naomi Campbell all over you.
Get out of my way, move!
Really?
[Bleep] Serious!
Would've meant a whole lot to me.
Just feel like I'm never good enough.
Hold on, hold on. I'm watching this thinking,
This is getting way too depressing.
There's got to be someone who can make us smile.
Rock 'n roll, ow!
Eh, maybe not that much.
I'm Ben Harrison, I'm 28 years old, I'm from Eugene, Oregon, and I'm adorable.
I'm adorable.
It's my time to shine.
I'm going to have a ball.
Oh, yeah, everybody loves [bleep], okay?
American Idol 12 rock 'n...
Or it's 11.
American Idol 11, rock 'n roll.
Rock 'n roll.
Wah-ow!
That last beat definitely Rock'n Rolled.
All right, we're good.
-All right, so we're out? -Yeah, we're out.
This next one, if they're boring...
That's what they're getting.
Ah, yeah.
Here he is.
Hi.
Finally, finally.
Finally I have arrived.
Okay, so now that we've met already, what's your name?
I'm Ben.
Ben.
Ben Harrison, I'm 28 years old from Eugene, Oregon.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
Says here you played in rock bands with a lot of old dudes, man.
Like, what do you mean by that?
I don't think they dig the Baby face.
Oh.
So they, uh, keep me for two weeks and then say, "We want
Someone with more experience."
You think they don't kick you Out because you're not good or...?
I rock it, man.
Oh, yeah, man.
That's not the reason. They're jealous.
This guy's going to lay it down, watch this.
What are you going to sing?
I'm going to sing.
"Somebody To Love" by Queen.
Okay.
♪ I get down on my knees, ♪
♪ And I start to pray, ♪
♪ Till the tears roll down, ♪
♪ From my eyes, Lord, ♪
♪ Can't anybody find me, ♪
♪ Somebody to-o-o-o-o-o-o, ♪
♪ Love, ♪
Oh, wow.
Okay, that did it.
Well, uh...
No ticket?
Didn't make it.
Why? Why? Why? Why?
What happened, man?
Uh...
Come on.
Come on, let's get some love.
Come on, come on.
So glad my family was here to support me.
We're going to have some pizza.
What was that audition?
What was that?
I didn't puke or pee my pants.
Or any of the stuff that I was scared about, so it wasn't that bad.
No one has more fun than me.
Take it easy, man.
When we return, one more audition that leaves the judges stunned.
When he did wake up, he didn't know who I was.
Wow.
The sun is setting on our Portland auditions.
For many, the journey to create a better life has unfortunately come to an end.
I'm going to say not yet.
No for me too.
It's a no for me. Not yet.
I'm sorry, baby.
Aww.
We love you, Nicky.
It's very emotional.
I'm just glad I did it.
But for Jessica Philips,
this is more than a single fream.
It's another step towards a miracle.
Hello.
Hey, hey.
How are you guys today?
Great.
Good.
What's your name?
My name is Jessica.
Jessica, where you from?
I'm from Brooklyn, New York.
Tell me about your boyfriend.
Well, his name is Angelo and we've been together five years.
We fell in love, it was like we were meant to be together.
But last Easter Sunday, he actually had a stroke, a massive stroke.
We were out, celebrating a Friend's birthday.
And I turned around and his entire face was just washed.
I shook him and he didn't respond to me.
He stayed in the hospital for about a month and a half.
When he did wake up, he didn't know who I was.
The entire relationship itself has changed.
Now, I'm really a caretaker.
And there's a different type of love that I feel now and,
A different type of responsibility that I have now to him and just,
To life in general.
Let's start with these words.
Speech therapy is an everyday thing for us.
Every day is just a struggle, but every day is also a blessing.
Because we still have life and we still have another chance to keep going.
It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, still going through it.
And I just pray every day that I'll be able to continue.
I love you, I do.
I love you too.
I know, I know.
Wow.
So this is the dream right, now?
You're going to be good, I feel.
-I hope you like it. -Well, let's see.
-What are you singing? -We got our fingers crossed.
Come on, mama, what you gonna sing?
"Again" by Faith Evans.
♪ Now I done felt, ♪
♪ A lot of pain, ♪
♪ I done seen a lot of things, ♪
♪ From struggling, ♪
♪ And broken hearts, ♪
♪ To fancy cars, oh yeah, ♪
♪ And even though, ♪
♪ My money change, ♪
♪ I tried my best, ♪
♪ To stay the same, ♪
♪ But you know with more money, ♪
♪ More problems came, ♪
♪ But if I had to do it, ♪
♪ All again, ♪
♪ I wouldn't take away, ♪
♪ The rain, ♪
♪ 'Cuz I know it made me, ♪
♪ Who I am, ♪
♪ If I had to do it all again, ♪
♪ I've learned so much, ♪
♪ From my mistakes, ♪
♪ That's how I know, ♪
♪ He's watching me. ♪
Wow.
Nice, I like you, man.
You did that really well.
I know you ran out of breath a little bit at the end there.
-But... -I love it.
Shall we vote?
Yeah.
Go ahead, baby.
I'm going to say yes.
I'm going to say yes too.
You're through to Hollywood, baby, yes!
Thank you, guys.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
American Idol will change my life in that I'll be able to get back into music.
That's how we met, doing music.
And with all the health things that have been going on,
We haven't been able to do anything really.
So this will really kick the music back into gear for us.
You all right?
Yeah.
I love you.
I love you too.
With the Portland additions oficially coming to a close...
That talent in the city of roses definitely delivered.
Yes!
As 45 contestants seized their opportunity and earned
Their golden tickets to Hollywood.
I had all three yeses.
Oh, my Gosh!
This poor young boy.
Yes, you're going to Hollywood!
Yes!
I can't believe this is happening.
I'm going to Hollywood, baby. What!
Portland redeemed itself.
They really like me.
It was so, so good.
A nice ending.
I'm telling you something, there's some hot talent here.
Portland, all right.
Woo! Yes!
I got on!
Whoo!
Tomorrow night!
Hey, everybody, come on, let me hear you.
Our auditions finish at the gateway to the west.
Where are we?
St. Louis!
Where we find the loud...
The strong...
Want to taste your dream? You chase it!
And the next big thing!
You know you're gonna be a star, right?
So meet us in St. Louis!
For the best of the midwest!
Well, mostly.
Out of my face!
-Don't quit your day job! -You're awful!
Sorry I was a little off.