Tonight auditions head to Hollywood and we get our first look at the newest judge on the panel, Ellen. I will attempt to live blog the episode as best as possible. Hollywood week is always a tough one to blog.

If you are watching, which I am sure you are, feel free to chat about the show live on the sidebar or leave your thoughts on who your favorites were tonight in a comment.

Don’t forget tonight at 11PM EST is the Idol Radio show hosted by Sir Darryl and Alan Attebery. You can Click Here to tune in and listen. You will even be able to call into the show and some of the comments made here might even make it to the show.

Live Blog Begins Here

After 100,000 auditions we are down to 181 people all of which are trying to be the next American Idol. Oh yeah we have Alan Atteberry’s favorite new judge, Ellen. Man she will bring so much to the show.

Day 1 Of Hollywood
Contestants arrive for a week of hell. The lucky ones will go home today and not have to deal with the drama. Ryan introduces Ellen and the judges take their seats.

Contestants come out on stage in a group of 8 and sing. Sudden death. You either move on or are sent home in a hurry.

Katy Stevens gets a pass to the next round while “Skiiboski” is sent packing. Off to commercial.

Returning from the sponsors Simon is having a bad day and Ellen trying to be a comedian to lighten things up. The next group up finds Andrew Garcia moving along which makes the wifey quite happy. Vanessa Williams isn’t as lucky. She is packing her bags and heading home on the “airoplane” she flew in on and we head to another commercial break.

Back from the latest commercial we are still on Day 1 and find more people hitting the tarmac at LAX. We do see Janell Wheeler and she is an amazingly hot little blond who moves on. Haeley Vaughn and Mary Powers move on.

46 contestants in total from Day 1 move on and we head to another commercial.

Day 2 Of Hollywood

We return to the contestants that didn’t perform on Day 1 in the same setup, groups of 8 on stage, sudden death. We hear Lily Scott, she is moving on.

The next group on the stage brings Michael Lynch whose wife is in labor while he is performing. Of course he is moving on and we head to the guys who pay the bills, you got it, commercials.

Returning from break we listen to more contestants sing including my early favorite Maddy Curtis who heads home. What were the judges thinking? Casey James left his shirt on today, sorry Kara. It may have helped. He moves on. Another damn commercial.

Wrapping up Day 2 and individual singing we have our final group of 8. Didi Benami is in the group and of course she moves on to the group rounds. I like her. Hope she makes Top 24 (hint hint). Crystal Bowersox is also in the group and she moves on as well.

In total 95 contestants move on to the group rounds. Tune in again tomorrow night as I blog the show live. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts about tonight in a comment.