American Idol rolls into the mile high city of Denver, Colorado tonight for the second stop on our audition journey to find the next pop icon. First into the firing line tonight is #39391, Marlows Davis, Jr, 16 from Denver, CO who says he is so excited. If this is excited, I'd hate to see bored. He audtions with Fallin' first to show off his vocal ability, in this case is pretty poor. I have no idea why he thinks he could be the next American Idol. He says he's come a long way but they judges laugh since they're in the same town he's come from.

#35604, Tiffany Christensen, 25 from Clinton, UT comes out saying she is gonna knock our socks off with Here For the Party but her intro sounds like she is cawing like a crow. Listening to her is about as painful as sitting in a dentists waiting room and hearing the drill turning in the next room. Simon says it's all going horribly wrong. Tiffany also walks out complaining about how she came all this way.

#35976, Olivia Dudley, 20 from Arvada, CO wasn't much better with Paula Abdul's Straight Up . Queue Ryan's jokes about Denver being off to a "rocky" start. #36894, David Horning, 27 from Colorado Springs, CO continues the mayhem with Not to Touch the Earth which deservedly so gets a "dude, no" from Randy.

Perhaps #36047, Lisa Tucker, 16 from Anaheim, CA, who was in the top 10 kids to watch in Variety Magazine, is going to finally impress the judges. Her dad says that she got all her performing talent from him to which her mom agrees, but said she left him with nothing left. She auditions with a classic Whitney, One Moment in Time and impresses everyone. Wow. She is incredible for a 16 year old. What an amazingly moving audition. Simon says she's the best 16 year old they've ever had in the competition and normally he loathes them. It's a yes from Randy and Paula and Simon continues the yeses with a "you're sailing through to the next round" with what could almost be mistaken for a genuine smile. Outside it's all screams as she tells her proud parents what Simon said to her. She's certainly one that we'll all be keeping an eye on throughout this competition.

Two hours in and Simon is on his second break and the locals are wondering why he keeps needing to go potty. Perhaps the auditions really are giving him a weak bladder? Or is it the coffee. In the foyer, the waiting contestants are showing off their skills. Some are dancing, some are trying to teach Ryan how to do a backflip, but #39181, Amanda Berg, 17 from Northglenn, CO, is showing us her gymnastics flair with her move which she self titled 'the banana'. Simon asks her what she wants to be in 10 years. Her reply is "Whitney Houston". She auditions with Can't fight the Moonlight but if it hadn't been for the fact that I knew the words after hearing it played over and over on the radio I wouldn't have had a clue what she was singing. Perhaps she should have just stuck with her banana. Simon tells her it is going to be a very long ten years. He asks her how much she thought she would get out of ten. She says a six but Simon tells her to minus a five and a half.

Perhaps #36456, Ace Young, 24 from Los Angeles, CA can impress the judges with Swear It Again from Westlife. Randy thinks he's one of the best singers since they started this season. Simon disagrees but thinks he's very likeable. Paula likes him. Simon gives him a yes but says it has a very small y. Surely he's won some female fans already after that audition with his boyish charm.

#37453, Rochelle Elaine Dye, 25 from Kansas City, KS is here with a large support family with each of them wearing one letter of her name on a t-shirt. We hear a sob story about how much she needs this as she has nowhere to go after this as she has been evicted from her home. She performs Chain of Fools and seems somewhat subdued. Perhaps she's nervous after what she just told us. Simon loved it and says he couldn't fault it. Randy thinks she is definitely one of the best they've heard so far. They love her texture and control and she's going to Hollywood.

Constantine and Bo rocking the show last year it looks as though all the rockers are out in force hoping for their shot at the American Idol action. #36450 tries out with We Will Rock You while #52774 auditions with Hemorrhage (In My Hands) before #78575 sings something about hypnotizing a chicken. Maybe it'll be the rock chicks this year.

#37549, Naomi Guse, 26 from Denver, CO lets us hear what she has got with I wanna be Sedated and after hearing that, so do I.

While Bo was the master of the mic stand last year, this year we have #36041, Jacob Garcia, 27 from Greenwood Village, CO who uses his crutches to the best of his ability in his performance as he sings Jump, Jive 'an Wail . Creative, but no idol.

Inspired to audition for American Idol because of Bo Bice last season is #36483, Chris Daughtry, 25 from McLeansville, NC who we get to see a bit of at home, in his band, and with his wife and 5 and 7 year old kids. His wife is very emotional because Chris married her and took on her two kids as his own and she wants to see his dream come true because his life might have been very different if he were single. He auditions with Joe Cocker's The Letter and Paula likes how he infused his own style in the song. Randy liked his style. Simon thought he rushed the song and wasn't sure he was seeing a lot of charisma and not sure that he's looking at a stand alone star. Paula adds that she saw nerves but saw talent. Outside, Chris' wife is anxiously waiting to hear the news. Chris emerges from the audition room, removes his hat, and cheers as he reveals his hidden piece of yellow paper. There are hugs and tears. A nice emotional American Idol moment.

It's late afternoon and the judges have seen dozens of auditions including #36338, Heather Cox, 21 from Jonesville, NC who auditions with You Raise Me Up who falls into the good category and #36242, Angela Garcia, 25 from Hobbs, NM who sings another Paula Abdul song, Rush Rush who does not. Simon takes a dig by saying it's not very often he hears a version that is better than the original. Simon says it was outstanding while Randy is in the background saying "oh come on". Paula stands up and leers over Simon with a pen as if to stab him.

#35811, Eric Mena, 23 from Monterey Park, CA sings The Way You Look Tonight and after waiting for a drawn out moment after ending his audition he asks if he should just go to which Simon replies with a little nod of the head. He walks out with his head hanging.

Next up to the plate is cowboy #39702, Garet Johnson, 18 from Veteran, WY who is used to singing with his turkeys out on the cattle ranch. Ryan adds that as he's used to singing in front of a judge with a puffed up chest and a wrinkled neck he shouldn't have any problems in front of mr Cowell. He's a bit nervous in front of the judges and stumbles over his song title which the judges end up saying he should just sing if he can't remember to say it. Thinking it was going to be as quiet as his voice was when he was talking, it is surprizing when you hear Can You Feel The Love Tonight . He doesn't have the best voice in the world but as Simon tells him, there's a good voice in there somewhere. Randy adds that he'd do well with some good vocal lessons. Possibly a little difficult to find someone to coach you in a town of four people however. They ask him questions about how he could get improvements by singing in church choir or something but he tells us that this is pretty much his first time in public. They congratulate him on taking the step. Paula says no as he's too young and not ready. Simon says yes which leaves it up to Randy who asks him if he's ever been on a plane before. Apparently it has been his dream to since he's never been on one before. Now he will have the opportunity to as Randy gives him his golden ticket to Hollywood.

19 Made it through to Hollywood on day one of the Denver auditions but how will day two go? #37614, Nick McCord, 25 from Athens, GA walks into the audition room wearing one of his many pijama looking outfits with matching hat and Simon says to him, Welcome to American Idol 5, the search for a tablecloth. He starts off with Your Song and hits a bump on the first note. It's just attrocious. Simon tells him it's the worst they've had in Denver which is I guess is something he can take away with.

#39705, Ben Hausbach, 24 from Pompano Beach, FL is an amateur inventer and presents the judges with his cosmic coaster which makes your glass of drink hover. For someone who was just telling us about how intelligent he is, it is somewhat ironic to hear him audition with If I only had a Brain . Paula puts him off and Simon goes mental telling him he's hopeless. He complains that they haven't given him a chance to evolve. Paula sends him off with an "at least your engaging" which he replies with "do you want to get engaged"?

Singing Bjork's It's Oh So Quiet is #37870, April Walsh, 27 from Laguna Niguel, CA. She's very animated and has fun with her audition which seems to brighten the moods of the judges. Randy says it's a great day in Denver and likes her. Paula really likes her but Simon says that if they were at a restaurant and someone got up and did that you'd be saying "shut up, let me have my desert. Simon says no but both Paula and Randy put her through to Hollywood, starting a stream of girls from Denver to make it through to the theatre round of the competition.

Drawing to a close on the last day walks in #37022, Zachary Travis, 18 from Denver, CO. Randy asks to be told something interesting about themself. Simon asks if that is really necessary considering that this person is supposed to be a guy but fully looks like a chick. Randy asks if Zachary is a girl but he says that no, he is a boy and pees standing up. His hair, face, arms and clothing are very feminine though so the confusion is justified. Zachary sings Queen of the Night and Randy responds that there are some interesting lyrics in that song. He asks Simon what he thinks to which he just gets an "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear". Simon adds "Attrocious" and "Confused" to his list of nouns. It's a no and outside he is upset at how prejudice and racist America is and that he wants to punch Simon. I can imagine Simon telling him he punches like a girl if he did.

Another 18 made it through Hollywood from Denver. Next week we've got a two hour special from Greensboro, NC where apparently we have more great talent from the state that bought us Clay Aiken and Fantasia.