LAST EDITED ON 02-01-05 AT 02:13 AM (EST)

To discuss the winners so far that were shown in this round of auditions. But the numbers of winners are dwindling.

Audition 3, New Orleans, LA - aka the "Can You Dig IT?" Showcase
Winners: 16 out of 9,000
Everyone Sang: Gospel, country, or Jive
Showcased: 6 winners, ?? losers
Episode: Out of 9,000 auditioners, only 16 were sent thru to the next round. Out of the 16 winners, only 6 were showcased, and 6 got quick pics. Michael Liuzza gave us a sentimental tour, and Ryan took us to visit David's Baptist Church, where he announced the good news - Halleluja!! Gene Simmons of KISS was the guest judge, and he was a toughie, even turned down more people than Simon. And not even ONE shot of the infamous tongue - dang, what a disappointment!!!

The winners we got to see, who were sent through, are:
1. David Brown, 19 from New Orleans, LA, sang a gospel-type song, "Long time comin". Judges said that he was wonderful, maybe the best they'd seen so far.
*AI4 Sentimental nominee*

2. Lindsey Cardinale, 19 from LA, wore pink and sang country-ish. I don't remember much about her, including the judges comments.
*AI4 "Where are they now?" nominee*

3. Michael Liuzza, 22 from N'orleans, LA, gave Ryan a tour, his parents were singers. He's a bit heavy-set and no clothes style - Gene said to work on the image. He sang Louie Armstrong, and Randy & Paula loved him for being different. Gene said no, but Simon gave him another chance, in a poor attempt to be the good guy.
*AI4 Personality nominee*

4. Jeffrey Johnson, 27 from Dallas, TX, church music guy, sang "In the Still of the Night", country-style. Gene said no, but Simon thinks People will like him and sent him thru.
*AI4 More-adult-than-Latoya nominee*

5 & 6. Lamar & Jamar Jefferson - 23 from TX, sang "I got nothing but love". Simon said thatpeople will remember them.
*AI4 Roman-Brothers-Rivalry nominees*

I haven't mentioned losers til now, but Fox presented "The Incomprehensibles", that took up a full 5 mins. of the show, so I'll amuse you: starring Leroy Wells, "Can you dig it?" A ball of energy, the boy was smokin'! You can infer from that what you will, but I ain't seen something so wound up and hyper since the Tasmanian Devil cartoons. He performed "Got your money" and "I Feel Good". The "singing" was hard to understand, and Randy thought him to be more of a stepper. Despite taking out his crunk (fake teeth), Randy and Paula understood him and Gene joined them in dancing and clapping along. Poor Simon, sat looking unimpressed, like a kid who's not in on the joke. Simon - "Question, Randy: in America, do they have a button that subtitles?" Then Leroy brought up JESUS! and SIMON! And pointed over to Simon and told him to put Jesus first. Randy - "No, Simon is over HERE". Leroy - "Where?" Then afterwards, he went into the hallway and talked with his posse, while poor-humor-Foxwriter-subtitles revealed what he might be saying. I was too busy laughing to get them all. (haven't seen "Airplane!" in awhile). Unfortunately, Yahoo news reports that Leroy had to watch his audition from a jail cel, for a shooting incident. If only they'd passed him...

Then there was a second pair of twins, who sang like over-the-hill NSync-ers, and the judges had a split decision, but Simon & Gene were steadfast. Randy & Paula walked out. Oh, the DRAMA!!! It's not staged at all - nahhhh. And one of them will return in Vegas.

Simon's Best Quotes:
"It was a cross between a Rodeo & La Cage Aux Folles".
"you should be wearing ladies underwear and red lipstick in a Cabaret."
Paula-"This is a singing competition, honey". Simon-"Allegedly".

Other winners:

AF's Geographical familiarity count: 4
D.C., NJ, no. VA, St. Louis - and I've been to New Orleans once, but I won't count that.