The Comet’s very own Idolholic, an industry insider who chooses to remain anonymous, is on the front lines of “American Idol” and reports on the auditions and chooses some early contenders.

Is Idol in need of a 12-step program to beat an addiction to its own audition rounds? After five broadcasts, it’s abundantly clear that the format needs an overhaul. When the kinder and gentler post-Cowell panel took its seats a year ago it was refreshing to see fewer train wrecks, which frankly seemed to have always been front-loaded to goad Simon into delivering his slash and burn critiques. In Idol’s formative years, the ratings for these rounds were through the roof as the worst of the worst (can you say, William Hung?) made for hours of water cooler fodder the next morning. But, to coin a phrase, if I’m being honest, this year the auditions have just seemed forced and forgettable.The same old, same old. 

No one thus far has hit it completely out of the park. And ratings are significantly lower. So has the attraction of the audition rounds run its course? Maybe Idol needs to produce just a combined auditions highlights reel for one or maybe two nights tops. Then we move right on to the Hollywood round and the live performance shows.

As with last week, there’s not a whole lot to say about this week’s shows. Between San Diego, Aspen and Houston, some 100+ singers have made the cut…most of whom we’ve never even seen.

In San Diego, the most talked about audition was by that of Jane Carrey, actor Jim’s daughter. She was nice and sweet but I cannot see her making it too much further based on what I heard.

In Aspen, Curtis Gray showed promise, along with Haley Smith, a log cabin-dwelling, vegetarian who works in a meat department. I agree with the judges who were grooving on her 60s/70s vibe as she put her own spin on the classic “Tell Me Something Good.” The term natural talent is over-used (even by The Idolholic at times), but it really applies to this girl.

Minnesota Country singer Shelby Tweten wanted to show that even someone who is fighting a bipolar condition and depression can sing her way to better health. Jairon Jackson’s original song was risky, but it paid off when he sang it with conviction and honesty. And self-proclaimed vintage glitter queen Angie Zeiderman came on strong with a somewhat disconcerting rendition of “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It” from the Broadway blockbuster The Producers. It seemed liked she would be shown the door hastily. But, then she completely changed course and did a totally on point Linda Ronstadt song and got her golden ticket.

Finally, in Houston, a few more Country cuties, Skylar Laine and Baylie Brown, proved they might have the goods. And Mexican mother Kristine Osorio showed she could bring something fresh and new to the show.

The only spark of life that I’ve seen during the first two weeks came when Jennifer nearly lost her cool as Steven and Randy blocked several of her female favorites, while putting through others she thought did not deserve the time of day like Linda Williams. Maybe if we had a bit more of these tete a tetes from the judges during the auditions it could add another dimension to the show. That’s the formula being employed by both The Voice and The X Factor, but sometimes to extremes which is not good either.

On Idol, except for this very brief segment, the judges are usually in lockstep either loving or hating the contestants. For the record, The Idolholic agreed with Jennifer’s choices, not the guys.

The Texas auditions concluded with two guys who could ultimately be among The Idolholic’s favorites: Ramiro Garcia, a young man who had been born without ears and who was not expected to ever speak yet alone sing, but who grew up and withstood years of surgeries to find his voice; and Cortez Shaw, a sweet and telegenic student who survived homelessness, who quite unexpectedly performed an upbeat version of one of current chart-topper Adele’s hit songs “Someone Like You” that forced you to notice and remember him.