American Idol Recap :: Tuesday January 19 :: Wednesday January 20

Courtesy of Fox

American Idol made its first stop in Chicago this week, but the judges were less than blown away by the windy city—they only awarded 13 tickets to Hollywood! Then it was over to Orlando, the birthplace of the Backstreet Boys.

The weirdo meter was off the charts even though the bar was set high with last week’s bizarre, Pants On The Ground performance. It’s not every episode that someone gets arrested! Our guest judges this week were Shania Twain on Tuesday and Kristin Chenoweth on Wednesday.

Chicago Stand-Outs

John Park, a shaggy-haired college student Shania was “very pleasantly surprised” and even started flirting a bit, twisting the ties on her shirt and telling John, “You have nice lips.”

Katelyn Epperly who got four yeses when she sang a unique version of Syrup and Honey by Duffy.

Amy Lang got axed—she pretended to faint before singing Doctor Feelgood by Aretha Franklin, but she was memorable if only for her “boob boxing.” You gotta see it to believe it.

Charity sang Summertime, and despite her “small voice,” she still snagged a ticket to Hollywood. Simon thinks she’d sound great on record, but maybe he meant she’d look great on an album cover—it’s doubtful she would’ve made it through without her good looks.

Angela Martin made it to Hollywood last time, made it to the top 50, but a traffic violation forced her to drop out of the competition. She rocked Just Fine by Mary J. Blige and the judges gushed over her talent and sent her to Hollywood for a second time.

Orlando Stand-Outs

Jared Norrell discovered that butchering Amazing Grace—Kara said he sounded like a lawnmower—is enough to get you arrested.

In keeping with last week’s pants theme, Cornelius Edwards busted a move—and ripped his pants right down the middle. A ticket to Hollywood is worth the price of a new pair of jeans.

Shelby Dressel (who was born with an undeveloped nerve on the right side of her face) forgot the last lyrics of Turn Me On by Norah Jones but what she did remember was enough to convince the judges of her potential.

Kris Allen Bio

American Idol 8 Casting Call