Canadian Idol Season 6: Auditions #1

Posted by: Ariana  •  June 4, 2008 @ 12:29am

Filed under: Recaps & Reviews

Welcome back, Show! I love you and I hate you and I can't tear my eyes off of you. I'm sure that if you're reading this, your own relationship with this show mirrors mine to some extent.

Our first audition episode of Season 6 is mercifully short on bad auditions, and the few there are I don't care to share with you because they're mostly mediocre-bad, not entertainingly bad-bad, so instead let me tell you which Toronto-bound contestants are introduced to us tonight.

We're in Toronto first, where we meet Taylor, 16, from Peterborough, just quirky enough in his interpretation of Queen's "Tie Your Mother Down" that his squeakiness doesn't put the judges off. Or maybe it's his rendition of the Juicy Fruit theme song that wins them over. Then Tetiana, 25, a pretty blonde from Toronto who's been trying to make it in L.A. with no success, sings "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse and makes me not hate it. It's hard to say at this point if she's too copycat to be believable. Omar, 29, from Scarborough, thinks he can bring emotion back into music. All music. There's an interview and footage of him in a recording studio and playing with his kid; I'm bored of him already. He sings something or other for the judges (Google tells me it's called "Knock Me Off My Feet"), and they like it well enough, so they send him through, though Zack seems about as impressed as I feel. You will see this is a recurring theme.

And then, we meet the Pigott brothers, and I officially have my big, fat crush for the season. They too get an interview segment, endearingly describing their musical family and how they grew up in Portugal, playing music in the bars there their whole lives (though evidently not learning how to speak with sexy Portuguese accents). Oliver, 27, sings a classic country song called "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," while accompanying himself on the guitar. He has a lovely, sexy tone and a super cool vibe, but is rather warbly and tic-y in that special Raine Maida way. Jake throws superlatives at him, but Zack wants to defer judgment until they've also heard his brother. Sebastian, 25, sings "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and also plays guitar; he sounds similar to Oliver, but breathier and with less warbling. However... Sebastian is so hot I cannot even. Stupid hat and all. (Although really, when it's topping blue eyes and curly hair like that, how can you not love it?) The judges send him back outside and confer before inviting both brothers in and lavishing them with praise, with Oliver getting props for his professionalism and skill, and Sebastian getting the hottie/style/charisma accolades. Time will tell whether their sweetness and humility is actually that or just an act, but I think it's safe to say that, barring any mental breakdowns during Toronto week, one or both of them will make Top 10.

Feel free to discuss their relative cuteness in the comments. Or, you know, if you hated them, come on down and show us your opinions. We like opinions here. You can also stalk the brothers on MySpace, if you're so inclined. Which I am not. Obviously. (Call me, Sebastian!)

Another 10 or so contestants we don't meet are sent to Toronto... from Toronto.

In Calgary (HI CALGARY!), Ben learns he should never dance, and we're introduced to Jesse Cottam, 23, who is cute but wears stupid scarves and has extremely bad hair on his head and face, a la David Cook pre-Dolly Parton week (pre/post). He does a passable if generic emo-rock version of "She Talks to Angels," and is generally dorky and non-threatening. Next, the likeable Theo, 22, is from Lethbridge, has exceptionally bad pit stains, and is singing "Collide" by Howie Day. The judges pay proper respect to the song's brilliance, and Theo does another passable if generic job of the song.

Up to Edmonton, another place I have lived, where Brianne, 17, from a little town in Saskatchewan, attempts "Barracuda" and does not do a passable job, but the judges want to offer her some life experience, I guess, so they send her through on a pity vote. Toronto is going to crush her. Good one, Judges. HEY IT'S MY FRIEND LINDSEY! Shoutout to Lindsey! Also, Earl, 23, who works at Bob's Backhoe in Lloydminster. You know he's going to be awesome because they spend a lot of time setting up how podunk he is. (Not to do him a disservice; he's also tall, dark and reasonably attractive.) He sings "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" with a ton of soul, but also a lot of spastic snapping (shades of Tyler Lewis?). Sass can't shut up about how much she loves him.

They flash through another 8 singers put through to Toronto from Edmonton. How come Calgary didn't get a montage of winners?

In summation: Ben Mulroney has somehow gotten a lot funnier; the judges on this show are still infinitely more entertaining than the judges on That Other Show south of the border (not to mention smarter and more coherent, especially since Sass has thankfully laid off the crack this season); and the contestants are sincere and short on crazy. The season's off to a great start – the editing was tight, there was a minimum of bad auditions with plenty of time devoted to those who will undoubtedly be frontrunners, and even the montages were genuinely entertaining. Also, Jully Black has joined the show as a mentor or something, and she's funny and tall and as you know, she can sang. So... thumbs up!

What are your thoughts? Did you appreciate the Carrie Underwood montage? Could you use more or less of Ben's argyle sweaters? And once again, how about those Pigott brothers, eh?

Tags: Canadian Idol, Ben Mulroney, Sebastian Pigott, Oliver Pigott, Jully Black

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Original Comments Posted (3)

craftnscrap says...

Ok so I knew you would love the Pigott brothers and you gave them their deserved one whole paragraph...thank you!

All I have to say to Theo is pantiliners my friend....pantiliners!

Jun 4, 2008 1:14am

Ariana says...

I could have waxed poetic on the brothers Pigott for many, many more paragraphs, I assure you.

I honestly thought Theo was kidding and had wet his shirt down in the bathroom just before singing. Apparently I was mistaken.

Jun 4, 2008 1:54am

sarahm says...

Probably Calgary didn't get a montage of winners because Edmonton is way better. Hahaha.

Is it Lindsey from Grant Mac? Did she get put through?

I got to see the Earl guy, he was cute, but needs to work on his dance moves.

I like the name Oliver.

Jun 4, 2008 6:25pm

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