Tonight we're back in New York for a two hour special and it's the first time we've been here since Season 3 and maybe this time we'll find our first winner from this region. Joining Simon, Paula and Randy in New York is legendary songwriter Carol Bayer Sager. Carol has penned some of the greatest love songs in history and her 40 year career has earned her an Oscar, a Grammy and a few golden globe awards. She's penned the hits Through the eyes of Love , Don't Cry Out Loud and Phil Collins' Groovy Kind of Love. She's worked with legends Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand. Her 9 year marriage to Burt Bacharach produced numerous collaborations including the hit That's what Friends are for.

First up today is #4035 Ian Benardo 25 from Bronx, NY who was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. He's got a massive ego and is telling everyone he meets that he's the next American Idol. Whatever! He's singing Gloria and it's woeful. He's no star. Very cabaret. Plain awful. Randy doesn't know what to say. Simon says it was very hammy and just rubbish. After a big rant and demanding to see Simon's working visa he goes outside still going and saying he's calling National Geographic to tell them the Dodo bird is still alive.

A tearful #8279 Sarah Burgess, 19 from East Palestine, OH is auditioning in New York without her parents knowing she's there auditions. She tells about how her father isn't that supportive of her and she really wants to be a singer and just wants to hear her dad say how proud of her he is. She is singing Call Me and it's nice. It has a smokey tone and everyone likes her. It's a unanimous yes so she's our first New York auditionee heading to Hollywood. Outside they call her dad and it's all good news. I imagine she'll be straight through to the top 12 with her story, good looks and sweet voice.

#8524 Fania Tsakalakos, 26 from Astoria, NY may very well be the female version of Constantine Maroulis. Singing Toto's Africa she is absolutely appalling. That's a no!

Back auditioning again is #12356 Ashanti Johnson, 28 from Cambria Heights, NY singing Loving You. Simon doesn't like it and thinks it's very affected and old fashioned. It's a no. In a melodramatic turn, Ashanti fights for a spot in the Hollywood round again. Fight as much as she did, it's still a no and she is heart broken.

Best friends #2122 Amanda Coluccio, 19 from Holmdel, NJ and #2123 Antonella Barba, 19 from Point Pleasant, NJ are best friends who are auditioning together. They do a duet and it was a bit of a mess Simon thought and encourages them not to sing together. So Amanda goes first and sings Crazy. It's not actually that great. Simon thought it was a little generic and says he doesn't care either way. Everyone gives her a yes so she's off to Hollywood but how will best friend #2 do?

Antonella sings Gotta Be Me and it's pretty sweet. Simon thinks she's better than her friend. They are all in agreeance so the two friends are off on a new journey together.

Blowing his harmonica before he auditions is #97 Clifton Biddle, 24 from New Castle, DE. He's singing ZZ Top's Tush. They want to hear him do something else without the stamping so he pulls out his harmonica and has a play. It was fun but it was no.

They were having no luck with the boys so they were glad when the last person of the day was a girl - #12378 Kia Thornton, 27 from Englewood, NJ singing Aint No Way. The judges love her. Simon tells her it was the best today and that she has a great voice and that songs are easy voices aren't. She's going to Hollywood and she's ecstatic.

Day two starts without Simon who has a "singing hangover" apparently. Kicking off Day 2 is #6315 16 year old Jenry Bejarano from Rotterdam, NY. He's singing I'd Give Anything and he sounds a lot older than 16. Paula is pleasantly surprized. It's a yes so Day two is off to a good start!

#8312 Nakia Claibourne, 24 from Scottsburg, VA is big on everything. Personality. Voice. And... you know. She's singing
Dancing in the Street and it's fun but when she sings Dreaming of You it's rather pitchy. A very different Nakia leaves the audition room as she bawls through "I wish I could change their mind".

#12351Sarah Goldberg, 20 from New York, NY offered Nakia tissues but she may very well need them herself. She sings Dreaming of You but it's awful. She admits she can't sing but she wants to be the next American Idol. She compares herself to Paris Hilton who can't sing but still sells truckloads of albums. It's all too much really. Randy tells her that it's a singing competition and that she really needs to be able to sing. It's a no so she's off outside to have a rant at the cameras.

Simon finally graces us with his presence and then #8913 Antonio Torres, Jr. 47 from Brooklyn, NY sings New York, New York - um.. how did he get in here? It's a no.

Canadian Born #804 Jory Steinberg, 25 from Santa Monica, CA is singing Australian Tina Arena's Chains. She's cute and can sing. Simon thought it was terrific. Everyone loved her. She's through to Hollywood.

#4173 Porcelana Patino, 27 from Elmhurst, NY has been preparing vigorously for the last twelve months just for this audition today. She's lost a lot of weight in the process and walks in to Simon saying "That's one chiseled body". She's singing Love No Limit and has a husky tone which sets her apart from mostly everyone else we've heard on the audition tour so far. I like her. They like her too. After a group hug, she's picking up her golden ticket.

Up next is a George Michael/Simon Cowell look-a-like - #8646 Christopher Henry, 20 from Plymouth, Ma. He sings Before your love but he sounds like a girl. Scary. Simon adds that he should sing in a dress and stiletos. Randy asks if he can sing some Barry White. Paula has a hissy at Simon - as she does.

#6008 Rachel Zevita, 18 from New York, NY is an opera singer and is singing Eternal Life. She has a nice husky rock tone but she looks like an Amish wearing color. The judges like it but want to hear something else. She sings Get Here. She sings some opera and gives a great performance. Three VERY different performances. Simon asks which one she wants to be. She answers that every week they give the contestants a different genre and she can do any. It's a yes and Simon tells her "You're all coming to Hollywood". Outside she tells us that the south has a lockdown on American Idol for years and that this year it is New York's turn.

Next up is a bit of a tribute to Lionel Ritchie with a bunch of bad auditions from people singing All Night Long. Thankfully it's over soon enough so that #8963 Chris Richardson, 22 from Chesapeake, VA can audition with Your Song. It's a yes all round and Simon adds that he thinks he can do even better.

After bowing out of the competition in the Hollywood round last year after forgetting his words in the group performance, #10377 Nicholas Pedro, 25 from Taunton, MA. The judges are hoping he's improved as he sings Fly Me To The Moon. He's voice is nice and Carol thinks he's wonderful. They love his voice and they all give him a yes so he better not pull out this time around.

Finishing off the New York auditions is #6417 Isadora Furmna, 26 from New York, NY - a clairvoyant. She's singing Lady Marmelade and it's kinda freaky. Talk about bizzare. Simon looks like he's trying to figure out what's going on. She starts singing Take another little Piece of My Heart. It's a no. She's one weird girl.

With that, Simon says "And on that note, I'm going home".

35 people are going to Hollywood from New York. Let the good times roll. Next stop on the tour is Birmingham, Alabama.