American Idol Milwaukee Auditions - Recap

There were a lot of good singers on the American Idol auditions in Milwaukee! Already some of my favorites emerged: Country singer Scott McCreery and "Rastafarian" Naima Adedapo.

We also got treated to Vernika Patterson who complained that American Idol discriminates against "fat singers". (Randy then defended by citing Ruben, Kelly and Jordin as examples which was LOL.)

However, the biggest story (and controversy) came in the end with Chris Medina, who many argue exploited his fiancee's tragedy to further himself in the competition. It's a mix of very strong emotions, as I myself can't help but cry and then get angry at the same time. The critics have started raging, but Chris' defenders have come out of the woodwork as well defending him as an honorable man.

This of course is the kind of American Idol season we know and love. (Thank you Nigel!)

Recaps from the Internet:

Milwaukee Auditions: Exploit, Exploit, Exploit! (Vote for the Worst) - Dave Della Terza: "The show built up to the most disgusting American Idol audition in the contest’s history slowly but surely."

Episode 3: 'American Idol' Auditions In The Land Of Cheese (Reality Rocks) - Lyndsey Parker: "Even in a season already packed with sob stories, this one was a doozy--maybe even the sobbiest sob story in "Idol" history."

American Idol Milwaukee Auditions: What Did You Think? (TV Line) - Michael Slezak: "... the guy with the heartbreaking back story that was inelegantly extracted by our otherwise quite excellent judges."

Idol: Interns and Exploitation (Tubular) - Joey Guerra: "I'm not sure what one has to do with the other, but the whole thing just feels wrong. Exploitive. The music, the photos, the way she's paraded into the room in her wheelchair and fawned over by the judges. It's uncomfortable to watch."

'American Idol' Top 5 Milwaukee Auditions, from Chris Medina to Scott Dangerfield (Billboard) - "Chris' sad tale has provoked mixed emotions, but he showed enough potential to warrant a trip to the next round, no matter if you found his story heartwarming or exploitative."

American Idol: Notes on Pity (NY Times) - Jon Carmanica: "But was it pity? After his audition, the judges asked Medina to bring his fiancé in the room – an act of emotionally manipulative television, but not dishonest. They each greeted her warmly, told her that Medina had been great and performed gestures of concern and warmth. It wasn’t pity on display, it was compassion."

American Idol 10’s Milwaukee Auditions: “We just like our cheese and beer” (Joe's Place Blog) - Mila: "My job now is to literally just quote Steven Tyler and then make fun of the crazy bat@#$% things he has to say to these contestants. So, in essence, these are the easiest articles to write in years."