Seattle, what does it mean to you? The home of Hendrix. The birthplace of grunge. And also the place to be if you like wet weather. With Blue Skies as a hopeful introduction the 9000 denched auditionees finally make it inside while nothing can dampen their spirits or their hopes to be the next American Idol.

p>Seattle, the second stop on this year's audition tour. We were last here in season one and our return visit begged two questions. Why did we come back? And, why was Cowell so red all those years ago? That miserable look on Simon's face echoed the wretched weather outside that soaked 9000 people to the skin. But these people were Seattlites.

First up in Seattle is a returnee. Last year, he came dressed as a policeman and sang I Shot the Sherriff. This year, he's dressed up in a stars and stripes Uncle Sam suit much like our Apollo Creed look alike from last night. Randy jokes that he's undercover. #77716 Brandon Groves, 26 from Wheeling, WV sings God Bless the USA. It's not that much better than last year. No's all round.

#81526 Jennifer Chapton, 23 from Seattle, WA aka The Hotness! is singing I want your love. Oh.. I love people who think they're a star. Especially they so aren't. Simon doesn't seem impressed and I don't blame him. Simon tells her like it was. It was all over the place and it was a terrible audition. After a bit of a fight between her and Simon, she says she's going to sing something else and starts off with How Come you don't call me much to the pleas from the judges for her to stop. Simon tells her to go and get a job at the port in the fog. She replies and tells him to go get a lobotomy. Paula says thanks for making that the best moment in all her years on the show.

Stay at home mom, #81347 Amy Salgado, 23 from Seattle, WA tells us that her husband wasn't very supportive of her auditioning today and said she was wasting her time. She's pretty emotional about the fact that she's here and really wants to do it despite not really having the support of her husband. She's singing Christina Aguilera's Beautiful but her story that she's had a cold for a week isn't going to help and I'm really legt thinking that she should have listened to her husband. They let her get a drink of water before she has another go. It's still woeful and Simon tells her that she could line a bath and still not sound any good. Randy adds that she could be standing in a river and it would still be awful. She STILL wants one more shot. She fights for it but it's a no. As she walks out, Simon tells her not to give that to anyone else.

#80231 Darwin Reedy, 27 from Seattle, WA is here with her mother - and the nut surely hasn't fallen far from this tree. Ryan asks her to describe her look which she describes as "sexy". Ryan keeps a straight face and asks her mom if she got her styling from her. Apparently... so Ryan comments that she bought sexy once and now her daughter is bringing it back. She's singing Don't Cha by PCD. They want her mom to come in. Simon says that if they just swapped their hair they'd be identical. Scary! Paula then has a "Oh God get me outta here" moment as the mother tells of how Darwin used to dance to her songs. By looking at her you just know this is about to be painful on the ears. And that it is! When she gets to the chorus and asks "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me" Simon responds with a resounding no. She then asks if she can do Sweet Home Alabama. Simon says she wouldn't as it was appalling to him.

The rain is relentless as the backing track of Blame it on the rain plays in the background and everyone is complaining of having wet tshirts and being soaked through to their asses.

Someone who has quit their job as a gas attendant is #8104 Thomas Daniels, 21 from Troutdale, OR. He's singing Arms of a Woman. It's pleasant and Paula is smitten. I can see this being a good result. And it is. He's through. Outside we meet his four legged lap dog friend who the judges all fall in love with too. Paula tells us that if her and Simon ever have a baby, that this is what it would look like.

Next up, with another dog - this time it's named "Tika" - is #79236 Melissa Stavris, 22 from Seattle, WA. She has a lot of spunk but doesn't really have the "Idol" look. Randy starts off with Baby Got Back and she raps in at the end where he stops. Her audition song is actually I Turn To You but she's a bit strained and off in a few places. I guess that's a no then? Yup, you can count on it! Simon asks what the net was she was wearing. Randy says he didn't have to comment on her tan.

Coming at us next is #77804 Blake Lewis, 25 from Bothwell, WA who gives us a bit of his beatboxing. He's actually pretty good. Reminds me a little of Daniel Beddingfield actually. Can he sing? He does a great little rendition of Seal's Crazy even with a little beatboxing in between. Simon thought it was pretty good but very over the top. Paula Loved it. Simon thought it was good enough to go through to the next round. Randy adds a third yes and tells him he's through to Hollywood!

After having some success, it must be time to showcase, for whatever reason there might be, some of Seattle's worst talent on offer. Featuring the songs Stand By Me, The Way You Make Me Feel and Lean On Me as performed by David Mills, 21 from Ottawa, KS who gets told that this is probably one of the worst days they've had and he's the worst they've had today. Charming!

Next up is the brother and sister combo of #80202 Shyamali Malakar, 19 from Lacey, WA and #80203 Sanjaya Malakar, 17 from Federal Way, WA who are pretty adamant they're not brother and sister. They're auditioning separately and first up is Shyamali who is singing Summertime. She's got a very pretty voice but she's nervous. Simon doesn't think there's anything different but the other two give a yes so she's through to hollywood.

Sanjaya is up next and is singing Signed, Sealed, Delivered but his voice is much weaker than his sisters. Either that or he's much more nervous. Simon disagrees with me and thinks he's better. Everyone tends to agree so he's through as well. How wonderful. Now we can watch them split them up and be cruel, mean and nasty to the siblings.

The judges were thinking that the day couldn't get worse after finding a handful of talent. Then they met #78045 Nicholas Zitzmann, 27 from Midvale, UT who is about to destroy Simon's favourite song - Unchained Melody. Simon is writhing. No one is stopping him. Paula looks like she's in pain. Randy is doodling. Simon asks "what the bloody hell was that?" Nicholas asks if it wasn't good enough. Simon responds with "no... it was one of the worst I've heard" and then adds "it was almost non-human". He looks like he's going to cry. Simon looks stunned.

So it's been a pretty bad day with very little talent or anything that resembles talent, but there was still one more contestant. #59576 Rudy Cardenas, 28 from North Hollywood, CA. He's singing Open Arms and he's not half bad. Paula is obviously in love with this Venezuelan immigrant. Simon, wanting to stir, stops him mid way through and tells him it's obviously a no which gets the exact response he was wanting from Paula who says one million times yes. Randy thinks he's got a good voice and puts him through to Hollywood. And then it's time for the hate session on Simon with Daniel Powter's hit Bad Day.

After the first day, only SIX people made it through to Hollywood. Will Day 2 be any better? Ryan emphatically warns us... "Hell No!"

The sun is shining but does that mean more talent? Lets find out.

As with many contestants, #77751 Jonathan Jayne, 20 from Renton, WA and #76288 Kenneth Briggs 23 from Bothell, WA formed a friendship while standing in line. Kenneth is up first and tells the judges that he's been compared to Justin Timberlake. He's singing Tearin' Up My Heart and is busting a whole bunch of moves in the process. Talk about animated. When he gets to the line "I can't take it any more" Simon steps in and says "neither can I". He makes some rude comparisons about how he looks like a bush baby. Paula thinks he's a fire cracker. Randy is laughing and says it was a no but he enjoyed it. Inside they're hysterical.

Jonathan gets his turn and sings God Bless the USA and it's not much better than Kenneth's. His voice is better but he's got so much vibrato and he's still sharp. Simon says it was beautiful but it's not a career path for him.

#80450 Eric Chapman, 28??? from Renton, WA is a bit of a Taylor Hicks look alike but he's a hair dresser. He's singing Drift Away until Simon stops him and asks him if the audition is for real. Eric swears on his mothers life that it is and then Simon asks him if he's drunk. Oh.. there is FAR too much deja vu in this for me. It's a no. He walks over to Simon to give him some hair styling but security rushes over and escort him out.

#78163 Anna Kearns, 20 from Wichita Falls, TX is one 6"7 tall momma with attitude as she makes her mark on the audition stage singing Respect. It was loud but Randy liked it. Simon thought she was very old fashioned and a little cabaret. After some weird noises and Simon refusing to comment Simon tells Randy and Paula that they just put through a giraffe. Paula also adds that it will be interesting during the groups in Hollywood.

16 year old Jordin Sparks, 16 from Glendale, AZ #80066 has been waiting for her chance to audition but she hasn't been old enough but now is her chance so she sings Celine Dion's Because you loved me and she is great! She's got a great voice. Randy was blown away by how great she was at 16. Simon uses an analogy about how he likes to put 1 sugar in in his coffee but that was a bit too sweet and cutsie for him. It's a yes from everyone and she's going to Hollywood.

Only 7 people made it through from day two. And in tribute to the ones that were [thankfully] left behind we get to see a montage of Don't Cha auditions.

Finally tonight is "Big Red" - #76846 Stephen Thoen, 27 from Seattle, WA - who compares himself to Queen's Freddy Mercury. In fact, he's auditioning with Bohemian Rhapsody. He's singing in a terrible falseto and everyone is cracking up at him. It's a no.

Next stop on the journey is Memphis.