Best Picture: The Artist

Best Actor: Jean DuJardin, The Artist

Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Best Documentary Short Subject: Saving Face

Best Live-Action Short Feature: The Shore

Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash,The Descendants

Best Original Song: “Man or Muppet” by Bret McKenzie, The Muppets

Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist

Best Visual Effects: Robert Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman andAlex Henning, Hugo

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Best Foreign Language Film: Asghar Farhadi, A Separation (Iran)

Best Make-Up: Mark Coullier and J. Roy Helland, The Iron Lady

Best Costume Design: Mark Bridges, The Artist

Best Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schalvo, Hugo

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, Hugo

Best Film Editing: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, Hugo

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Best Documentary Feature: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin and Rich Middlemas, Undefeated

Adele was the big winner and deservedly so! She was so genuinely happy every time she took to the stage to accept an award! She knocked it out of the park with her performance of Rolling In The Deep! She’s back.

Finally – the simply stunning version of I Will Always Love You as sung by Jennifer Hudson was a wonderful tribute to Whitney Houston.

Below is a list of Grammy winners in selected major categories:

Album of the Year: “21,” Adele

Record of the Year: “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele

Song of the Year: “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth

New Artist: Bon Iver

Pop Solo Performance: “Someone Like You,” Adele

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: “Body and Soul,” Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Pop Vocal Album: “21,” Adele

Alternative Album: “Bon Iver,” Bon Iver

Rock Song: “Walk,” Foo Fighters

Rock Album: “Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters

Rock Performance: “Walk,” Foo Fighters

Hard Rock/Metal Performance: “White Limo,” Foo Fighters

R&B Album: “F.A.M.E.,” Chris Brown

R&B Song: “Fool For You,” Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash

R&B Performance: “Is This Love,” Corrine Bailey Rae

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: “Fool For You,” Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Rap Album: “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West

Rap Performance: “Otis,” Jay-Z and Kanye West

Rap Song: “All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West

Rap/Sung Collaboration: “All of the Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Dance Recording: “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” Skrillex

Dance/Electronica Album: “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” Skrillex

Musical Theater Album: “The Book of Mormon,” Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone

World Music Album: “Tassili,” Tinariwen

Latin Pop Rock, Rock or Urban Album: “Drama y Luz,” Mana

Tropical Latin Album: “Last Mambo,” Cachao

Banda or Norteno Album: “Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends,” Los Tigres Del Norte

Regional Mexican or Tejano Album: “Bicentenario,” Pepe Aguilar

Country Solo Performance: “Mean,” Taylor Swift

Country Album: “Own the Night,” Lady Antebellum

Country Performance by a Duo or Group: “Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars

Country Song: “Mean,” Taylor Swift

Jazz Vocal Album: “The Mosaic Project,” Terri Lyne Carrington & various artists

Jazz Instrumental Album: “Forever,” Corea, Clark & White

Improvised Jazz Solo: “500 Miles High,” Chick Corea

Large Ensemble Jazz Album: “The Good Feeling,” Christian McBride Big Band

Blues Album: “Revelator,” Tedeschi Trucks Band

Folk Album: “Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars

Pop Instrumental Album: “The Road From Memphis,” Booker T. Jones

Bluegrass Album: “Paper Airplane,” Alison Krauss & Union Station

Americana Album: “Ramble at the Ryman,” Levon Helm

Reggae Album: “Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life,” Stephen Marley

New Age Album: “What’s It All About,” Pat Metheny

Children’s Album: “All About Bullies… Big and Small,” various artists

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Paul Epworth

Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: “Cinema (Skrillex remix),” Sonny Moore

Gospel Song: “Hello Fear,” Kirk Franklin

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Performance: “Jesus,” L’Andria Johnson

Gospel Album: “Hello Fear,” Kirk Franklin

Choral Performance: “Light & Gold,” Eric Whitacre

Classical Contemporary Composition: “Elmer Gantry,” Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein

Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman

Orchestral Performance: “Brahms: Symphony No. 4,” Gustavo Dudamel

Opera Recording: “Adams: Doctor Atomic,” Alan Gilbert, conductor

Spoken Word Album: “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t),” Betty White

Comedy Album: “Hilarious,” Louis C.K.

Compilation Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: “Boardwalk Empire,” various artists

Score Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: “The King’s Speech,” Alexandre Desplat

Song Written For Visual Media: “I See the Light,” Alan Menken & Glenn Slater

Historical Album: “Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition),” Paul McCartney

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists: “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me),” Jorge Calandrelli

What did you think of the ceremony and the performances?

AMERICAN IDOL: Hollywood: Over 300 conetstants made it to Hollywood and only 70 will survive. The Hollywood round begins Wednesday, Feb, 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET PT ) and Thursday, Feb. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured: Ryan Seacrest with the Hollywood contestants. CR: Michael Becker / FOX.

If you define a few as approximately 300 people, well – I guess a few people made it to Hollywood Week!! I’m ready to see what happens…the ads being run say it’s the most intense Hollywood Week EVER. We’ll see.

Steven Tyler quoting the Cowardly Lion’s speech from The Wizard of Oz is fairly inspiring. Half of the contestants take the stage tonight.  Ryan explains the rules…they will come out in groups of 10 and sing an acapella song of their choice and they will receive no feedback from the judges. Half of them will go home tonight.

Johnny Keyser - Dreamin’ (Amos Lee) – he was amazing and though there was supposed to be no feedback, the judges whooped in joy after his performance.

Hee Jun Han – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You (Michael Bolton) – he got the very nervous guy portrayal before he sang, but he knocked a really tired song out of the park.

They should both make it through to the next round and they both do. Elise Testone, Hallie Day and returning auditioner Baylie Brown all go on to the next round as well.

Jen Hirsh - Up to the Mountain (Patty Griffin) – she is singing the song that won Crystal Bowersox (Season 9) a spot on the live shows. It is a great song for her voice and I am sure the judges are going to put her through. She is followed by Lauren Gray who gets so into her song that she does not notice Randy flagging her down to stop. It’s all good though – they are both through to the next round.

Phillip Phillips - Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (James Brown) – he does not have his guitar in this round and he sings this song nicely, but the musicality was off for me. Reed Grimm – I’ve Got A Golden Ticket (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory). This was a scat-filled performance and it was almost too much for me, but he is a personality and sometimes that is all that is needed. Travis Orlando has been here before and if he does not make it through to the next round he’ll go home to a rather sad situation. It took me a few seconds to realize he was singing Stevie Wonder’s All I Do (Is Think About You) but I like his gruffness. Hoping he makes it. Phillip and Reed make it but Travis is sent home in tears! So sad. Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer, took to Twitter tonight (@dizzyfeet) and said he disagreed with the judges in reference to sending Travis home. Unfortunately, Travis and 67 others (68 total) get cut on day one.

Day two singers look much more nervous than the others did. I have to guess it is because they know that 68 of their former competitors got the boot. Adam Brock is calm, cool and collected and waiting to let the “large black woman trapped inside his body” out. Jennifer suggested that he sing Walking In Memphis (Marc Cohn) and it is was a great choice, I think. He does have a very soulful voice. Jane Carrey is up next and she talks about trying to make her own way even though she is under the huge shadow of her dad, Jim. She sings a pretty mundane version of Lookin’ Out My Back Door (CCR) – I will be quite shocked if she makes it past this round.

Jane does not make it, but Adam Brock does.

Why do these singers beg and plead after they have been cut? What they not seen this show before? Ugh – take your lumps and go home. If you really want it – try again next year.

David Leathers, Jr. (17) sings one of my least favorite songs of ALL time. He is working out Celine’s Because You Loved Me and he knocks it out the park. He is in the same group as Shannon Magrane who sings a good version of Fallin’ (Alicia Keys). I would be shocked if either of them gets cut. Jessica Phillips sings You Fill Me Up (Whitney Houston) – her boyfriend had a stroke and she sings with such amazing emotion that she makes me like a Whitney song again! All three of these singers make it through to the next round.

Pittsburgh is in the house, Erika Van Pelt, Creighton Fraker and Aaron Marcellus all show what they got and what they got is a whole bunch of talent! All three are moving on.

Going home are Lauren Mink and Jeremy Rosado who both turn in rather underwhelming performances. And now we move on to the story that has captured the Twitter-verse. Symone Zaire Black (16) is getting into her groove singing (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay she does a great job and has the judges and her dad smiling. When she is talking to the judges, she gets too close to the edge of the stage and she falls off, hitting her head! The credits roll as the medics appear…a cliffhanger.

Hollywood Week starts out with a bang for sure and I was happy to see many talented people move through to the next round, although I think the judges made a mistake by passing on Travis Orlando.

The episode opens with the boys from New Directions performing a version of La Cucaracha! It was a bit of a mess. Will’s abilities as a Spanish teacher are called into question, he goes to night school for a refresher course. There is an open tenured position and Figgins implies that Will might be in the running – but he needs to actually learn to teach and speak Spanish.

In the “B” story – Sue determines that she wants to have a child and in a wholly inappropriate scene – Sue talks to the boys of New Directions about donating their sperm…UGH!! She also tells Will that she will also need some of his “baby gravy” so that her baby can have a full head of hair! Ugh!

David (Ricky Martin) explains that you need to sing with duende (loosely translated it means soul)…his blended Spanish/English version of Sexy and I Know It (LMFAO) was great. The whole glee club was there…except Mercedes and Sam. Will is being given a run for his money!

Sam and Mercedes appear in Emma’s office. Mercedes is guilty about kissing Sam and she doesn’t know what to do about her relationship with Shane or with her feelings about Sam. Emma suggests that they don’t speak (text or email) one another for a week…this after giving them pamphlets – for Mercedes (So You Are A Two-Timing  Ho) and for Sam (So You Are Dating A Two-Timing Ho)! Pretty funny!

Coach Roz Washington (Nene Leakes is back) has taken over the Cheerios and they are getting pretty hood with it. Of course Sue comes in with some attitude and in one of the best scenes of this entire season – they go at each other! Sue: “I am having a baby”. Roz: “With who’s vagina”? Roz wants the job as Cheerios coach and she made Sue flinch a little bit.

Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes are having a sleepover when Rachel spills the news that Finn has asked her to marry him. Next scene has Mercedes singing Don’t Want to Lose You - bilingually. Sam sits far away from her and basically ignores her (based on the rules Emma gave them) but she walks up to him and sings directly to him. Has she made a decision or is she saying goodbye? Who knows?

GLEE: The glee club boys perform a Spanish song in "The Spanish Teacher" episode of GLEE airing Tuesday, Feb. 7 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Chris Colfer, Chord Overstreet and Harry Shum Jr. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Adam Rose/FOX

The boys bring their own Spanish swagger with weird shoes and a great mash-up of Bamboleo/Hero. Finn explains that the boots are what the hipster Spanish kids are wearing these days, Mr. Martinez told them that. Santana can’t wait to see what Shu brings to defend his Spanish-teaching honor.

Emma confronts Sue with a pamphlet called “Please Don’t Hog My Fiance’s Nog”. She wants to know why Sue wants Shu to be the father of her baby…Sue says that although she can’t stand him – she likes the fact that he is a genuinely good person and if that is a trait that can be passed genetically, she wants her child to have that trait. It was a fairly poignant scene.

Kurt confronts Finn about not sharing his marriage news. He says that he knows that Finn has something special and he wonders why he would give up on himself by asking Rachel to marry him. It was a nice brotherly moment. Looks like this engagement may end sooner than later.

In the Spanish teacher dance/sing off (manipulated by Santana) – Mr. Martinez and Santana perform a samba-esque dance routine while singing La Isla Bonita. So much Madonna this week. Shu counters (in full matador garb) with Elvis’ A Little Less Conversation sung in Spanish and English as all of the songs in this episode have been performed. Nice addition of Mike Chang and Brittany appearing as dancing bulls. Santana calls him on his crap, making him admit that the only reason he took a Spanish teaching position was because it was the only position available at the time. Santana forces his to realize he needs to focus on his passion, glee club.

Emma gets through to the football team impressing on them the importance of cleaning their “kibbles and bits” with a pamphlet. Shu realizes that she has a gift! And in another good turn – Shu offers the full-time job of Spanish teacher to Mr. Martinez. Shu is going to teach History. Emma gets the tenure position!

Mercedes and Sam walk toward each other at the end of their week of silence and just when it as if they are going to kiss or speak – Shane shows up and Mercedes walks off with him. Uh oh…

Best Quotes

Roz: “What you need to do is start praying that you have a child that likes to eat sand because that is all that is coming out of those old wrinkly boobs”.

Kurt: “Why are you being so weird and serious? Our periods don’t come ’til the end of the month”.

Coach Beiste: In regards to the boys keeping their “junk” clean. “Come on guys, just last week three Fort Wayne gymnasts  had to have their junk amputated.”

Featured Songs

“La Cucaracha” (Spanish folk song)
“Sexy and I Know It” (LMFAO)
“Don’t Wanna Lose You” (Gloria Estefan)
“Bamboleo / Hero” (Gipsy Kings/Enrique Iglesias)
“La Isla Bonita” (Madonna)
“A Little Less Conversation” (Elvis Presley)

This was not the best episode ever, but it was fun.

Johnny Keyser (22) – he was raised in a single dad home and he likes to water ski…can he sing? Why yes, he can. His falsetto is pristine on  A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke). Boy is really, really good and he is very attractive. We are going to see a lot of this young man. The judges are enamored!

Ugh – a recap of some of the “best” worst auditions ever…make it stop.

Rachelle Lamb (26) – she is going through a divorce and she has a young child who she is competing for. Find Somebody New (Faith Hill) is a song that her ex hated so she sings it with her daughter in tow. Her daughter’s cute dancing enhanced Rachelle’s nice country vocal. She’s going to Hollywood.

More bad singers!! Ugh…

Reis Kloeckener (20) – he was bullied in school but had a champion in a choir teacher who heard him singing in the hall and talked him into auditioning. He has a pretty voice, but you can tell that he is a bit shy. He closes his eyes when he sings – so he will have to work on connection, but he is good. Going to Hollywood!

Ethan Jones (22) – Ethan dropped out of school to join a band with his dad. He is no longer in that band because his dad had to go to rehab. He sings I’ll Be (Edwin McCain) – this tends to be a go to song for auditions, but he sings this better than I have heard it in some time. Apparently he is a country artist – it was cool to see him sing something not from that genre.

*I really liked the Madonna sneak peek. It had a bit of her old vibe mixed with some new. We were not able to hear what Nicki Minaj or M.I.A. had to offer but I am sure she will debut this at the Super Bowl on Sunday.*

Mark Ingram works at the hotel and all of his co-workers are there for his audition…that is unfortunate – because he was not a good singer.

AMERICAN IDOL: St. Louis contestant Lauren Gray performs in front of the judges on AMERICAN IDOL airing Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Michael Becker / FOX.

Lauren Gray (22) is from a small town in Arkansas where her family runs a one stop wedding shop and her daddy is in a southern rock band. She opts out of following in his footsteps and chooses to sing an Adele song (One and Only). This girl is BRILLIANT and St. Louis is proving once again to be THE place to audition.

St. Louis produced some game changers. Next week they go to Hollywood and apparently it is going to be brutal! I suspect that a few of the singers from the Lou will be in the top 24 or beyond! 46 hopefuls received Golden Tickets. How was St. Louis for you?

The B-plot this week is the highly anticipated yes or no from Rachel to Finn. Is she going to marry him? When she begins to give him her answer and it sounds as if it might be a no…he asks her to take her time in making the decision.

The New Directions are talking about doing Michael song for Regionals when sneaky snake Sebastian (new Warblers leader) states that after speaking to Blaine, he decided that The Warblers are also going to sing MJ songs and since they will perform first , New Directions will look like copycats. When asked the question, “WWMJD”, the kids decide to take it to the streets and have a Bad sing-off! It ends nastily when Sebastian throws a Slushie in Blaine’s face.

It is discovered that Blaine’s right cornea was damaged and he will have to have surgery. This is the set-up for Darren Criss’ two episode hiatus while he was performing “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” on Broadway. Mr. Shu tells the kids that they need to calm down when they accuse The Warblers of adding rocks or something to the Slushie. Artie gets so upset that he “stands up” and slips into a montage with Mike Chang where they perform an AMAZING rendition of Scream. It is an almost shot for shot replica of MJ and Janet’s video and it was great.

In a moment of panic – Rachel approaches Quinn with the news that Finn popped the question. Quinn lets her know that she was accepted to Yale and that Rachel should probably say no to Finn because they are going to be heading off to college and they will be making new memories and meeting new people. Quinn’s version of Never Can Say Goodbye was sweet.

Santana and Kurt get together and decide what to do with the Sebastian situation. They decide to take the high road. Sam decides to woo Mercedes by putting her name in lights and singing Human Nature with her. He says that she can go back to Shane after they finish the duet. The song ends with a nice kiss.

Burt comes to McKinley to hand Kurt a letter from NYATA…Kurt is a finalist! It appears that Rachel didn’t get a letter and she has a bit of a breakdown in the hallway when Kurt delivers his news. It is nice seeing the vulnerable side of Rachel again – we haven’t seen it in awhile.

Rachel, Finn and Kurt visit Blaine and serenade him with a pretty version of Ben. Ben - is one of my least fave MJ songs, not that it isn’t a pretty – but it is a song about a rat! Ugh!! Santana heads to Dalton Academy to confront Sebastian about lacing the Slushie with something and they get into it with a rousing version of Smooth Criminal. Sebastian admits to adding rock salt to the Slushie, he also admits that it was intended for Kurt and not Blaine and then he hits Santana with a Slushie of her own. This Sebastian character is an ass.

GLEE: The glee club performs in "Michael," a special episode celebrating the music of Michael Jackson, on GLEE airing Tuesday, Jan. 31 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Justin Lubin/FOX

Featured Songs

Kristen Wiig, who is nominated along with her castmates for “Bridesmaids” arrives at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. Associated Press

Tonight actors celebrated each other at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. See the list of winners below!

Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture: “The Help”
Male Actor in a Leading Role: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Female Actor in a Leading Role: Viola Davis, “The Help”
Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer, “The Help”

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series: “Boardwalk Empire”
Male Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story”

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series: “Modern Family”
Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Betty White, “Hot in Cleveland”

Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Paul Giamatti, “Too Big to Fail”
Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Kate Winslet, “Mildred Pierce”

Stunt Ensemble, Motion Picture: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″
Stunt Ensemble, Television Series: “Game of Thrones”

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Tyler Moore

It was nice seeing Dick Van Dyke present Mary Tyler Moore with the Lifetime Achievement Award, that and the Martin Scorsese drinking game as presented by the ladies of Bridesmaids (Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy) were my favorite bits. One step closer to the Oscars…are your favorites in contention?

The Screen Actors Guild Awards will kick off at 8 p.m. Sunday on TNT.

Paul McCartney is busy these days. He will perform at the Grammys on Feb. 12 and will possibly play the Olympics this summer in London. He also is promoting his new album, “Kisses on the Bottom,” due out next month.

Ben Stiller is returning to TV. He’s directing and starring in “All Talk” on HBO. It will likely co-star Alan Alda. The series will follow the adventures of a Jewish family in Washington, D.C.

Fiona Apple is finally releasing a new album this year, but no date has been announced. It will be her first since her 2005 album “Extraordinary Machine.”

Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood will be featured together in CMT Crossroads: “Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood Live from the Pepsi Superbowl Fan Jam” to air on Saturday, Feb. 4.

MOVIES arriving Friday, Jan. 27

Man on a Ledge – PG-13, 1 hour and 42 minutes…Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Elizabeth Banks (Our Idiot Brother). The title sums it all up, yet I really want to see this guy on a ledge!

The Grey – R, 1 hour and 57 minutes…Liam Neeson and a lot of wolves. Plane crash survivor needs to make it through the wolves to get home…

One for the Money – PG-13, 1 hour and 46 minutes…Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova) take on the first in the ever long “Stephanie Plum” series of books by Janet Evanovich.

AMERICAN IDOL: Contestants line up for a chance to become the next AMERICAN IDOL at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas airing Thursday, Jan. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Aaron M. Sprecher/FOX

Houston – I hope we don’t have a problem…last night’s episode was lacking in every aspect! They have been to Texas 5 times and this is where they found Kelly Clarkson. Let’s mess with Texas and see what they bring!

Phong Vu (25) – this looks like it is not going to end well. He sings Unbreak My Heart (Toni Braxton). He broke the hell out of this song, I am not sure I will ever be able to listen to it again without cringing in fear. Of course he did not make it. Texas is not making the best impression…

Back from break with two horrible auditions…I am losing my faith in Texas.

Skylar Laine (17) – she’s a girly girl who shoots deer and works at a family restaurant. She’s singing the Pistol Annies’ Hell on Heels. This is one of my favorite country songs currently and she does a nice job with it. Riding off to Hollywood.

Baylie Brown (21) – Baylie auditioned in season 6 of AI and made it to Hollywood, but did not progress farther than that. Tonight she tries again. She sings Bed of Roses (Bon Jovi)…her country arrangement was really nice – it took me a moment or two to actually discern the song. She definitely has grown – her voice is lovely. Back to Hollywood she goes.

Kristina Sorio (27) – she has a bit of a hard luck story…3 kids under the age of 7, going through a divorce and odds and ends jobs. She used the money that was supposed to fund her divorce to buy a plane ticket to audition. Singing Nelly Furtado’s Scared of You, she has a raspy, soulful voice. She is going to Hollywood.

In a classic case of boys against girls…Randy and Steven say no to the first three women that Jennifer loved. Finally they show Linda Williams (24) who sort of yells her way through Fallin’ (Alicia Keys) they let her go through to Hollywood, but without Jennifer’s vote. Today – I agree with J Lo.

Alejandro Cazares (26) – he wants a revolution! He wants an idol and a world where the underdog can win. His ugly sounding version of Paramore’s Looking Up was ridiculous. Not going through.

Cortez Shaw (20) – a formerly homeless young man who was raised by a single parent. He has had tough luck and it looks like it is time it started to change. He chooses to sing Adele’s Someone Like You and I am blown away. He changes the tempo and he makes it his own. After a little discussion, he makes it through to Hollywood.

Ramiro Garcia (28) was born with no ears. Doctors told his parents that he wouldn’t be able to hear or speak. But surgeries that started when he was 4 revealed that he had inner-ear workings. He auditions with Chris Tomlin’s rewrite of Amazing Grace, called Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). And the judges are visibly moved.

Houston was slightly better than Austin last night, but only slightly better. 54 people got golden tickets this time. Next week they travel to Portland to see what the city of roses has to offer where talent is concerned.

First up is self-professed “overly enthusiastic” teacher Jenny Schick (24) she sings Heartbreaker  (Pat Benatar). She is a bit hyper but she isn’t too bad. Her voice is a bit thin, but she has a look that would likely be appealing to the voting public. The night starts off on a positive note and she is sent to Hollywood.

Curtis Gray (28) – It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye (Boyz II Men) – he has a passably nice voice, but I am not blown away. The judges disagree. He has that blue-eyed soul vibe that tends to do well on the show. Hollywood bound.

Richie Law (19) is a deep-voiced country kid (similar to last year’s winner, Scotty). Devan Jones (26) has a cool R&B take on The Script’s The Man Who Can’t Be Moved. Mathenee Treco (25) sings  Hey Jude (The Beatles) and does a nice, if overwrought, na – na – na breakdown that seemed to win over the judges. All three make it to Hollywood.

Tealana Hedgespeth (19) – is a twin that wants to escape the orbit of her sister. She sings Melissa Etheridge’s  Bring Me Some Water. She is going to have to do an amazing job to win me over. I am not a Melissa fan and this is one of my least favorite tunes…she is really bad. This is the first really bad audition that I have seen in Season 11…too much.

Haley Smith (18) – vegetarian meat department worker…she has a very hippie vibe so I am super shocked that she chose Tell Me Something Good (Rufus f. Chaka Khan). She brings a different vibe to the song but all of her notes are spot on and she is really enjoyable to listen too. Going to Hollywood.

Alanna Snare (22) – this was a hot mess of an audition. I am so made for Dolly Parton because she messed up the classic Jolene so badly I can hardly stand it.

AMERICAN IDOL: Aspen contestant Shelby Meredith on AMERICAN IDOL airing Wednesday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Michael Becker / FOX.

Shelby Tweten (17) – I love her Minnesotan accent, it is so cute! She is bi-polar and is taking a stand for those afflicted with the disorder. She sings Temporary Home (Carrie Underwwod) and she even has a bit of a Carrie look. She is surprisingly good. She’s going to Hollywood.

More bad,  no name, auditioners greets us. Ugh…but that leads us into Jairon Jackson (19). Against advice from friends and family, he performs an original song called So Hard. It is not the best song I have ever heard – but his tenor is so pretty the judges give him the golden ticket.

Angie Zeiderman (25) – this young lady is a super Gaga lover and I am not sure what she wants to represent today. She is a bit of a mess on her version of When You Got It, Flaunt It (The Producers). She is a bit of an attention-seeker and is my least favorite type of auditioner. Somehow she is allowed the opportunity to sing another song Blue Bayou (Linda Ronstadt) and she can actually sing – but she is just too much. J Lo agrees with me – but the guys put her through.

The last person to audition was an odd person called Magic Cyclops…that is all of the mention he deserves.

Tonight was more of a miss than a hit. Somehow they were able to give away 31 golden tickets. I wish we had seen more of the winners. I hope tomorrow’s auditions in Houston are much improved.