'American Idol' Orlando rewind: 'Two-bazillion percent' crazy

We live-blogged Wednesday night's "American Idol" episode, featuring auditions in Orlando, Fla.

The guest judge was actress/singer Kristin Chenoweth.

Here's how the evening unfolded:

5:00 - "This ... is 'American Idol.'"

5:01 - Our little opening vignette focuses on guest judge Kristin Chenoweth. She just won an Emmy!

5:03 - Theo Glinton is our first "character" of the evening. He screams a Pat Benetar song. Kara uses the word "pitchy" for the first time tonight, and probably not the last. And then she tries to be Paula Abdul by playing good cop. And to top it off, poor Theo can't find his way off the set. Next!

5:10 - We're back and producers are really trying to get us to understand how Kristin and Kara totally hit it off. Hmmm. OK, we get it. And we don't care.

5:13 - Seth Rollins of Lakeland, Fla., is the first sob story of the night: his son is autistic. He's singing a Frank Sinatra song, which wins him points in my book. BFF Kristin and Kara are swaying in unison. Kristin says: "I like everything about you." He gets four yeses and hug from his son.

5:20 - While we're waiting, check out this story about how "AI" did some creative editing at the beginning of the Chicago-auditions episode last night. Palm trees in Chicago. No, not really, because it wasn't Chicago.

5:21 - Hey it's another Jermaine! (We had Jermaine Sellers last week.) Jermaine Purifoy is singing Tony Bennett. Great to see these younger guys singing the works of the older masters. Randy calls him the best he's heard in all the Season 9 auditions he'd seen so far. They send him through to Hollywood, and Randy's vote was "Two-bazillion percent yes!" What the hell is that?

5:24 - Shelby Dressel has an issue with the shape of her mouth. This girl has some soul! She goes through to Hollywood along with 17 others on day one.

5:31 - Ah, Kristen got called away for work, so I guess that's all we get to see her. Jay Stone is up next and does a rather original cover of "Come Together" in beatbox style. Pretty dang cool! Like Blake Lewis with added sound effects ala Bobby McFerrin! But it's decision time for the judges, especially now that there are only three judges. But Randy gives the deciding vote and Jay is off to Hollywood.

5:37 - A medley of young ladies who all get yes votes. The only name I remember is Brittany Starr.

5:38 - Cornelious Edwards does the splits in his audition and rips his pants in dramatic fashion. Oh and yeah, he can sing too. They send him through. I can't understand how that did not seriously wound him ...

5:44 - Bernadette Desimone and her sister Amanda are up next. Man, they seem closer than twins. And, um, they look great. Jersey girls! Aren't they supposed to be over on MTV? The judges send both of them through to Hollywood.

5:48 - Now this is what we've all been waiting for. It's Jarrod Norrell doing "Amazing Grace." He's one of those kids the General Larry Platt was singing about last week. When he won't take no for an answer, it's time for security to come and escort him out. This is not going well. They cuff him and lead him out of the building. And then Simon has the best line of the night. "Yes or no?" haha.

5:55 - OK let's wrap things up. The last contestant of the day is Matt Lawrence. He manages his dad's trucking company. His backstory: He robbed a bank with a BB gun 10 years ago, and spent four years behind bars. He's looking "for a way to make my family proud." He looks country but he's got a nice bluesy tone. Really nice. Simon says: "I was very impressed." He seems overwhelmed by all the praise from the judges.

So 31 people earned their golden tickets in Orlando.

My favs from tonight? The guys were better.

1. Jermaine Purifoy
2. Matt Lawrence
3. Seth Rollins

What's your opinion?