On Tuesday evening, January 18th 2005, over 33.5 million people tuned in to the Washington D.C. premiere of American Idol IV. Last night, another 26.4 million viewers watched highlights from the Summer 2004 St. Louis auditions.

For a recap of the Washington D.C. show, go to:

American Idol IV Premiere Brings Families Back Together In Front of 100,000 Aspiring Singers

In D.C., 21,000 contestants from Sacramento, California to Belpre, Ohio to Plymouth, Massachusetts to Syracuse, New York to Hackensack, New Jersey to New York City to Newport News, Virginia to the nations capitol filled the convention center.

But only 42 made it through to Hollywood.

In St. Louis, the crowds were just as large.

Host, Ryan Seacrest said, "And just as confident."

Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson were at their top of their game, as entertainers and brutally honest judges. However, Mark McGrath, the guest judge from the previous night, was greatly missed from our at-home audience.

The Sugar Ray lead vocalist may have helped Fox's first night's ratings.

With or without McGrath, a record number of Idol fans tuned in two nights in a row.

FOX Gets Record Ratings

FOX, the network which airs the American Idol show, expected a drop in ratings this season.

Instead the fourth season premiere of the popular amateur singing contest became FOX's third-best rated non-sports program, ever.

Gail Berman, Fox Entertainment president, said the day before the premiere that given any four-old-year series, it was reasonable to assume a down-turn in interest. National TV advertisers did the same.

It is a rarity for a TV show to deliver more on their ratings guarantee promise to advertisers. It is even more rare when this comes from an established show with a predictable ratings track.

However, the huge 14.0 ratings/33 share in the adults 18 to 49 demographic was 9 percent higher than the third installment debut of the show - and probably around 20 percent more than national advertisers estimated going into the new season.

On Wednesday, American Idol's St. Louis auditions show averaged an 11.1 rating/27 share in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research.

The producers of "American Idol" now have the kind of opportunity you want to have in any business: the ability to under-promise and over-deliver.

Certainly, they will figure out a way to capitalize on the heightened demand.

Meanwhile, here's a look at a few of the thirty-two St. Louis audition hopefuls who received that coveted golden ticket to the Golden State.

Hollywood California, here they come.

But first a taste of last night's Schadenfreude Crew.

Where Tuesday night's two hour premiere offered a balance between the good, the bad and the horrible, there seemed to be less of a balance on Wednesday night.

Between those who were voted in and are now headed to Hollywood versus those considered part of The Schadenfreude Crew, we experienced more "schadenfreude" than ever before.

In other words, the producers of the show spent more time profiling those we could laugh at then cheer on in the next audition.

First up, American Idol fans witnessed the potential "triple threat" of three eighteen-year old girls who Simon called more overweight than talented.

Mandy, Erin and Melissa Maynard from Omaha, Nebraska sang It's Raining Men.

Their harmony was right on the money. Randy and Paula admitted that they could sing. However, after Mandy and Melissa were "dismissed" Erin was never given a chance to sing solo. Randy gave her a "yes," but both Paula and Simon said, "no."

One contestant, Katrina Rece from St. Louis, Missouri admitted to having eaten human flesh. She said it tasted a bit like "bacon." Randy admitted she could sing after hearing Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody. After Simon and Paula nixed her, Cowell offered to introduce Rece to the triplets. Based on Katrina's past behavior and Cowell's previous comment about the Maynard girls, you can only imagine what suggestion he made.

Johnny Hayes, an eighteen year-old from St. Louis sang My First Love (while his family has praised his singing abililty since he was three, the judges took milliseconds to send him out the door empty-handed.

Jessica Pontius, a sixteen year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana sang Over The Rainbow (way, way too high pitched and out of key). Perhaps voice over work will be a better living, as Paula suggested. Randy, Paula and Simon had a rat's field day with this one.

Joe "Cruiseship Singing" Schoen, a twenty-five year old from Oakville, Missouri sang The Temptations' My Girl. He should have left his performance alone as the basis for Abdul, Jackson and Cowell to judge.

Instead, Joseph blew it by getting on Simon's nerves. While he may be talented, Schoen's demanding "you need to's" turned off all three of the judges.

All those who traveled with Joe to St. Louis but who did not see what went down in the audition room learned last night that Schoen's behavior, not his lack of talent, sent him home without a Golden Ticket.

Dirk Pearman of Granite City, Illinois and Adam Pratt were both pathetic singers. But the friendship that developed between them at the auditions may be worth more than that Golden Ticket to Hollywood.

Last season, William Hung became an offbeat, wildly successful personality on the show. This season, the media seems to be looking for a comparable character.

The way FOX highlighted Pratt's personality in front the judges and Pearman and Pratt's friendship during the auditions you'd think FOX was out to create a pilot tv show for this pair. They certainly got their designated fifteen minutes of fame in life.

At least Stevie Wonder got a plug for his famous song, That's What Friends Are For.

Other hopefuls were profiled who did not make it to Hollywood.

Some had the talent but the wrong attitude or an over-effected performance. Most of those who got air time just plain couldn't sing.

Four contestants with potential who were profiled last night include: Osborne Smith, Angel Higgs, Aa'shia Jackson and one of our favorites, a "country girl" by the name of Carrie Underwood.

Osborne Smith, the twenty-two year-old son of baseball great Ozzie Smith, sang Stevie Wonder's All I Do. "Ozzy" came into the audition room wearing a black t-shirt, a black hat, black glasses and a silver cross. He had the look of a potential idol. Paula rocked out in her chair as Ozzy snapped his fingers and belted out his song. Cowell praised Smith with a "good, well done" before asking Randy for his vote. Randy affirmed Smith's hopes. Paula complimented his great tone, his vibe and his ability to grab their attention.

Cowell was the man of the night to send the performers out in tears or on there way to the next level of auditions. To Ozzy Simon said, "Oswold, you are going to Hollywood.

With golden ticket in hand, standing in front of Missouri's capitol building, Smith said:

This is for everybody who has been held back in St. Louis. This is for everybody.

See this arch right here? This is our city.

We're about to take over. So, y'all get ready.

Angel Higgs, a twenty-four year-old teacher from Knoxville, Tennessee came to St. Louis with her star student to "sing like an angel, sting like a bee" as she said.

Angel sang Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody. Her rendition got her invited to Hollywood. Paula encouraged Angel to celebrate being young. In near unison, Paula and Randy gave Angel a resounding "yes." Randy said, "she is probably the best we have ever so far."

Simon gave her a "no" based on her look. He told her she looks like she was going on a shopping trip. Hopefully, she'll do some shopping in Los Angeles and bring a transformative look like so many before have done (e.g., Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson). This will be fun to watch.

As Angel walked out the door, she said, "I will show you, Simon." She was found dancing in the aisles chanting, "Where we going? Where we going?" Her student, Jeremy Wakefield chanted back, "Hollywood!"

Unfortunately, Angel's student, Jeremy, the main reason Angel came to St. Louis for the auditions, did not have the same luck. If he was going to Hollywood it would not be as an American Idol contender.

Aa'shia Jackson, a sixteen year-old from St. Louis broke out into song the minute she walked through the audition doors.

"Unique, different and talented" were the words described by Paula and Randy.

Simon was not as kind. Her helium, chipmunk voice led Cowell to say, "100 percent, categorically no." Paula responded by saying, "I'm going to say 100 percent, categorically yes, and I hope you make it all the way to the Top Twelve."

Carrie In The Miss NSU '03 Talent Competition

Carrie Underwood, a twenty-one year-old from Checotah, Oklahoma left milking cows on her family's dairy farm to audition in St. Louis.

If there was one reason to watch the show last night, she was it.

Carrie sang Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me in a soulful country-style voice which appeared to be refreshing for the judges, and the audience.

Carrie, a student at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, is not foreign to talent competitions. In 2003, she was the 1st runner up in the Miss NSU 2003 Scholarship Pageant and the overall talent winner.

Simon jumped in before she was even finished to say, "That was very good."

Cowell inspired Carrie to stay good at what she is doing in the country genre.

Randy asked her who her favorite singer was. Carrie responded "Martina McBride" to which Randy said, "I could hear a little bit of that."

After a unanimous "yes" vote by all of the judges it was Randy who yelled to Carrie, "Welcome to Hollywood, Girl!"

American Idol has become the family show that the Carol Burnett or Andy Williams Show was in the sixties and seventies. Last night, I had a business call that couldn't be changed, so I missed out on watching the show with my kids.

As they were going to bed I asked, "If last night was a '10' how did tonight's show rate." Without hesitation, my nine year-old said, "10 -- maybe 11."

Only two things I would have changed she said. Mark McGrath as a judge was one.

The other: She wishes every show was two hours long.

Personally, I was glad to TiVo through the commercials and the lame contestants.

I was also glad to have the show TiVo'd, so we could listen to contestants like Carrie Underwood and more than once.

Next week, the guest judge from auditions in New Orleans will be Kiss rocker, Gene Simmons.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful "Golden Ticket" living!

Until we meet again next week, King out.

~ Jennifer Carolyn King

American Idol IV Premiere Brings Families Back Together In Front of 100,000 Aspiring Singers