Meet the (Possible) Contenders: Louisville

[P.S.: Unlike last year, YouTube has been scoured of all Idol footage, so I'm not embedding clips. But this site has some clips up -- for as long as FOX will allow it -- so you can check them out there.]

Name? Joanna Pacitti (23, Philadelphia, PA)
Major malfunction? This season's "I used to have a record deal and this is my second chance" contestant, sure to earn the scorn and hatred of Idol fans everywhere for her hateful perseverance.
For real? Most certainly. I'm not sure I love her, but she's easily in the top echelon of featured auditioners.

Name? Brent Keith Smith (29, Blanchester, OH)
Major malfunction? Being super hot and countrified and conspicuously middle-America (dig the cross necklace!).
For real? Maybe. He seems to be the TYPE of person Simon would want to sell, but these guys tend to fall by the wayside in Hollywood. Stay tuned.

Name? Matt Giraud (23, Kalamazoo, MI)
Major malfunction? Showing up to audition in jeans and a fairly ratty white t-shirt. Sounding like the love child of Chris Richardson and Elliott Yamin (another reason to hate Elliott! He had a love child with my Chris!). Something about dueling pianos.
For real? I'm weirdly fascinated by him. And I'm not sure if that's necessarily positive or negative. Is he arrogant? Insecure? Blasé? Regardless, there's something there that makes me want to learn more. And Simon thinks he "could be great," which is a pretty good endorsement.

Name? Alexis Grace (20, Memphis, TN)
Major malfunction? Stay-at-home mom with a fiance in military school. Subtext: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SAVE ME FROM THIS SLICE-OF-LIFE INDIE MOVIE!
For real? I have to tell you, I LOVE this girl. Easily in the top 0.1% of most likeable auditioners this year (it's her and the upcoming Leneshe). The judges didn't seem over the moon about her voice, but I think there's real potential there. And the fact that she couldn't deliver a convincing "WOO!" on command actually speaks in her favor.

Then came the parade of Hollywood-bound auditioners who didn't merit actual screen time because they needed t set aside a block for that nerdy guy who drank from Paula's straw. So there was (the wicked hot) Kris Allen, raven-haired Felicia Barton, Ryan Johnson, and Shera Lawrence.

Name? Leneshe Young (18, Cincinnati, OH)
Major malfunction? Grew up in poverty with her quite-awesome mom. Performed her own original song, which NEVER works out.
For real? ...Except for this time, because against all odds, that song was amazing. And she's super likeable. This girl is all kinds of for real.