Auditions: The East -
June 1 We
start out where I'll start my vacation in about a
month's time from now.
ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Yes b'ye! We're gonna have some fun in the most
easterly city on da continent! And home of my failed
tryout from last year!
Rex Goudie of Burlington starts the audition parade
well, with a gold ticket. Tim Churchill of Portugal
Cove (hello, Nancy!) does a traditional jig, just like
Earl Noble. Once Christa Hedderson of Georgetown
starts, Zack is getting really tired of the songs, and
it gets him and Jake arguing.
Heather Thorne is shown in a kitchen party with all of
her family. She does sing a nice tune, but doesn't go
on. Danny Coombs does a disturbing version of Lady
Marmalade that cracks Sass up. Rob Arnott of
Conception Bay South (hello, Ocean Quest!). sings word
up but it's word down. Len Wheeler is asked if he tans
- and he does (Faking Bake). He starts, then stops,
because the judges are laughing. Steve Flynn confesses
that he's skipped class to be at the tryouts and
volunteers at a local radio station (most likely CHMR,
my old stomping grounds - hello!). His singing voice,
is, well, "unique". But he says his biggest dream IS
TO HOST A GAME SHOW!
He is, officially, MY NEW HERO.
Dana Parsons of Paradise (yes, it's called Paradise).
Her voice is definitely from there, as she's going to
Toronto. Jon Dore even takes it upon himself to go to
the hospital and deliver the great news to her mom.
We aren't told how many are going on, but I know
they'll be good!
CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Charlottetown is an advance city. But it doesn't
always mean an advancement in singers.
Thomas Price of Victoria isn't really right. Amelie
butchers "Angel". Chris Carson of Summerside tried to
"Stand by Me". Nope. Kimberly Cudmore asks "How do I
live". I say: not a singer! Meaghan Wilkie hits the
high notes and they're not pleasant. Stephanie
Vankampen is just bad. And then there's William
Matheson of Bedford NS - the producer sings along. and
that's it.
Apparently there actually were some good singers - 10
of them - it's just that we didn't see 'em!
SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA
... is the other eastern advance city. and we start
with a chorus of underground miners (as is the
tradition). And then we segue to the fact that Sydney
has a lot of youngins that are auditioning.
And we mat Kat Ouzounian of Halifax who probably gets
the most time of anyone before they actually sing.
Among her highlights: a Sharon, Lois and Bram special.
Her voice isn't that bad either. Dayna Hackett of
Lower Sackville tries RESPECT. Nicole Coombs loves
rock and roll. Trina Williams tries some Pat Benatar.
Lindsay Lathman tries Christina Aguilera but sounds
somewhat jumpy. Yolande Evong should just "Walk On
By".
10 lucky Cape Bretoners - including Kat Ouzounian, and
a guy from my residence at university! - advanced
across the Confederation Bridge to our next city.
MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK
There are two distinct styles of singing here in
Moncton: English and Acadian. Let's start.
Amy Fraser of Cape Breton NS tries "Proud Mary".
Rejean Leblanc from - wait for it - Kouchibouguac
(that's coup-ji-boo-kwak if you're keeping score)
belts out (and I do mean that) "Fallin". Joceyln Henri
tries to make the judges feel like "Natural Woman".
Sass compares her to lime jello. Isabelle Ouelette of
Campbelltown tries to "At Last" get the title of CI.
She probably won't. Or maybe she will. Zack and Sass
say yes, Jake says no. But she gets it anyway.
We then get to meet Dianelys Hernandez from Saint John
(NB) (yes, we have "Saint John and St. John's", deal
with it!). We first find out that she's originally
from Havana, and that she defected in 2000. She finds
the people are normal, easy going. She sings some kind
of jazz tune, everyone says she's ridiculously
talented, and we go on from there with her gold
ticket!
Philip Belanger tries "Mack the Knife" and gets cut.
Crystal Friars from Sussex looks like Ariel from the
little mermaid. Brad Leblanc is 16 and is from
Riverview. He owns five businesses. He's a
motivational speaker. He rattles off the business like
he's Sally Struthers. And then launches into "A whole
new world". A bit off key though. He's crying
afterwards, he's really disappointed.
Next is Casey Leblanc from Nackawic. She sings a
ballad. And gets a gold ticket. Laura Conrad from
Dartmouth NS tries to be "Some Kind of Wonderful". We
go into a series of judges disagreements. And back to
Laura. They're fighting. But they let her go anyway.
Then we get to Mark MacRae from Fredericton who sings
a big band song. And somehow gets a ticket!
Michelle Bahrynowski from Sydney (although billed as
St. Paul AB on the screen) belts out a wonderful blues
tune. Sass gives her a hug. And a ticket!
15 gold tickets move on!
Et, mais oui, c'est le temps pour.
MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC
We start with a huge conga line, given by Jon Dore.
Jenner Hughes of Ottawa looks like Elvis. Disturbingly
like Elvis. And he makes it through. It's called "Gothabilly"
I'm told.
Herold Constant is untillegible. It might be Georgian
on my mind. Nadia Mayer is looking for Respect, coming
from Rockland ON. But no. Rony Boeglin just butchers
"A Whole New World" and according to Ben, resembles
Grover. Jade Séguin-Richard seems to be flirting with
the judges singing something from "Chicago". But
apparently it works? She gets a ticket.
Katryne Leblanc is from St-Constant and hopes to
channel Pat Benatar. But then she is asked to sing her
opera tune (which is very impressive!). She may not be
on Star Academie but she's moving onto Toronto!
After the break, we see Ben Mulroney going back to the
gym where he first learned to work the trapeze. then
he goes back to CFCF 12 in Montreal where he did his
first internship. And then where he became a man. Jon
states that now he's officially uncool.
Suzy Krcivoj is dressed in a cheerleader's outfit and
sings an original ode to CI. Andrée-Anne from St-Jean-sur-Richeleu
tries for Hot Stuff but comes out cold. Karyne Lecault
from Laval is just shocking. And Tim Rabnett from
Toronto JUST SHOUTS THE WHOLE TIME. Zack begs him to
stop, and then he and Jake escort him out. Seriously!
It turns out that Tim's buddy is the guy that plays
Mr. Gross from CBC kids' cooking game show "Surprise,
it's incredible edible!" (which is a cross between
Just Like Mom, Double Dare and Ready Steady Cook if
you can believe that). Me thinks that they weren't in
it to win it.
Melissa Brown is profiled and says that she's
motivated. She goes for "Wind beneath my wings". Sass
says she's amazing. And she gets a gold ticket. Emily
Vinette of Ottawa sings something wonderful,
presumably from a musical. She's very impressive. And
she's moving on.
An even two dozen move on!
In the final segment, we have a nice collage of songs
that are not English or French. Especially nice was
Eden (originally from Sudan) - this was the first time
he was able to sing any song he wanted, and it didn't
have to be pro-government.
Folks, that's why I like Canadian Idol. It's not a
hateful show at all!
And now. in the next episode. central Canada!
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