After a Tuesday-night audition episode from Chicago that played more like an America’s Got Talent gag reel, American Idol got back to the business of finding the nation’s next singing superstar tonight with a tunefully terrific hour of action from Orlando, FL. The good singers (handsome fella belting “Smile,” gorgeous chick trilling “House of the Rising Sun,” just to name two) were very, very good, while the questionable Golden Ticket-getters displayed enough personality to justify the judges’ decisions. And best of all, the “hey, mom! look how annoying I had to be to get on the tee-vee!” freakshows were kept to a merciful minimum. I’m so happy, I decided to write a celebratory ditty to the tune of the CCR/Tina Turner classic “Proud Mary.” Click here for musical accompaniment (if you want to sing along from home), then check back in the early morning for my full TV Watch recap (UPDATE: Click over to read my full Idol Orlando auditions recap now.) Oh, and if you’re looking to waste a little time before bed, check out our gallery of the 15 Best Idol Auditions Ever, as well as my colleague Kate Ward’s post on the Chicago auditioner who once had a recording contract with Jive Records! And, of course, post your thoughts about tonight’s episode in the comments below, after you sign up to follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.
Eleven damn good auditions
Packed into a one-hour episode
Not even a sad guy dragged off in handcuffs
Could send it all into the ‘ole commode
Big Simon make it happen
Shrill Kara keep on yappin’,
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ onto Hell Week.
As Survivor‘s 20th season approaches, one of the series’ stars, Jennifer Lyon, who placed fourth in the Palau season, 
It’s a bit ironic that amidst all the 
When Suzanne Somers shimmied through a rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” on the Golden Globes telecast on Jan. 20, 1990, she underscored the obvious: In what other business — and at what other awards show — could one find Audrey Hepburn (accepting a lifetime achievement honor) rubbing elbows with a dorky 16-year-old kid named Neil Patrick Harris (there to plug Doogie Howser, M.D.)? Too bad Robert Duvall missed the entire thing. The legendary thespian snagged the trophy for Best Actor in a TV Miniseries or Motion Picture for playing lovesick cattle rancher Gus McCrae in the epic Western miniseries Lonesome Dove (which also won Best Miniseries), but skipped the ceremony. Still, he considers the role his most important ever, which is saying something coming from a six-time Oscar nominee (and winner for 1983′s Tender Mercies). “It’s my signature part,” says the 79-year-old actor. “Let the English play Hamlet and King Lear. I’ll play Augustus McCrae.”
