American Idol 9 viewers got a little gypped on Wednesday night. Instead of featuring a single audition city, we were given a random montage of singers from across the nation - and a few highlights of those we’ll be seeing in next week’s Hollywood round.

Larry Platt’s “Pants on the Ground,” was featured first, of course. The catchy little ditty has truly swept the nation, springing up all over YouTube in the weeks since it was first introduced. The funny clips of this number led into a not-so-subtle segue about song selection…and then, our hour-long montage episode was truly underway.

Jessica Furney, who was rejected in Season 8, sang a song co-written by Simon Cowell, who gulped as he wished her “good luck.” She has a lovely singing voice and plenty of feeling in her vocals, but there was something a little wooden about her audition. Jessica managed to get four “yes” votes to achieve her chance in Hollywood just the same.

Amanda Shectman does impressions when she isn’t auditioning for American Idol (and even when she is). She softly sang to the judges with very heartfelt vocals when it was finally her turn to audition. “I think you need to work on your expression,” Victoria Beckham told her. “You’re such an actress,” Simon Cowell observed. Even so, Shectman won herself a ticket to audition for Idol another day.

Lee Dewyze reminded me of Kris Allen, part of which could have been due to his song choice. His slightly raspy vocals were immediately engaging. Crystal Bowersox had a very nice, rock n roll voice. Both contestants managed to impress the panel to win golden tickets.

Lacey Brown barely missed her chance to compete in Season 8. We were given Megan Joy (Courtney) instead, and I’ve no idea why. Lacey can actually sing beautifully, as she demonstrated in her Season 9 audition with the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The panel was impressed enough with Lacey’s voice to send her to Hollywood a second time around.

Stephanie Fisher has tried to be on American Idol seven times (seven is her lucky number), and she adores guest judge Victoria Beckham. Stephanie’s gorgeous, but her very theatrical audition was sung rather poorly. “Honestly, you can’t sing,” Simon Cowell told her. “With the greatest respect, you have a horrible voice,” Idol’s meanest judge tried to put an end to the whole thing. Fisher did win a hug from Victoria Beckham before she left the room, though there would be no golden ticket this time.

Rachel Hubbard, Thaddeus Johnson and Genesis Moore were one of the many Idol wannabes who only recently won eligibility by turning sixteen. All three offered beautiful vocals to win their shot at stardom. Will one of them become the show’s now-obligatory sixteen-year-old contestant?

Adrian Chandtichi, 17, is 6’8” and a swimmer. “It doesn’t matter what size you are when you sing,” he told Ryan Seacrest. He then proved the point when he sang “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” in an extremely high, shaky warble. I wanted it all to end immediately, and I can’t help but think that if the show had gone to eight cities instead of seven, we would never have been forced to listen to this junk. “You’re not a horrible singer. I mean, it just doesn’t match you,” Simon Cowell was uncharacteristically kind. In the end, Adrian didn’t make is to Hollywood.

Michael Lynche is also athletic, making his living as a personal trainer (and it shows - this guy was built). His voice was a surprisingly sweet tenor when he softly crooned a Righteous Brothers melody to the panel. “You can definitely sing,” Randy Jackson told him. All four judges gave Lynche a “yes,” vote. Upon leaving the audition room, he lifted Ryan Seacrest up in the air to celebrate his golden ticket.

Didi Benami’s best friend Rebecca died at a very young age, which set the scene for this new sad sob story. Listen, it’s sad. But we aren’t watching Idol because we want to be sad, am I right? She sang “Hey Jude,” in her own, weird sort of arrangement and it was hard to focus on the vocals as a result. Gorgeous Didi wasn’t about to miss out on a shot to Hollywood, however, not with that face and her back story. Terrible song selection aside, her vocals could be great. “You really want it bad,” Kara DioGuardi noticed. “You did really well,” guest judge Avril Lavigne tried to help soothe Didi’s obvious nerves. Didi joined the many others who will have a chance to continue their Idol dreams in Hollywood.

Aaron Kelly was raised by his aunt and uncle and sings in a beautiful, very strong voice. The young auditioner won his ticket to Hollywood, joining the others who will move on in the competition…or be sent home for good.

Kimberly Bishop has big black hair, a ton of make-up and an altruistic heart. She flirted immediately with Randy Jackson , remarking on his weight loss. Kimberly predictably sang a Katy Perry joint in an utterly terrible voice, lifting her skirt to flash her junk at the panel. “I think you’re naughty,” Kara DioGuardi remarked. “I would have said yes,” Simon Cowell told her after the others gave her a firm no, and I couldn’t be happier that she was rejected. “That was so weird,” Kara whispered to the others.

Cute Shaddaii Harris had a big bright smile and an extended video package. She enjoys a close relationship with her mom, who says Shaddaii has been singing since she was a small baby. Her vocals were incredibly rough, however, and her performance odd overall. “I actually can’t hear that song anymore,” Simon Cowell directed his words stage right. The panel tried to reject her politely, but Randy Jackson had to be a little more firm. “Baby, you can’t sing,” he finally told her, to send her on her way without her golden ticket.

Hope Johnson was discovered by Idol in Dallas. Hope grew up dirt poor, in a large home where there wasn’t always enough to eat. “There’s always tomorrow. And things are always going to be better. Just make it through tonight, you know?” She smiled prettily at the camera while she shared her positive outlook on life. Like many others, Hope hopes to become a star. She stood before the judges to croon a country tune with a pure twang in her voice. Hope had more than a little trouble with the bigger notes of her song, but the judges seemed to like her all the same. “I think that you’re very sweet,” Randy Jackson told her. “You’ve got a beautiful tone to your voice.” “You’re cute,” Simon Cowell added his opinion. All four judges wanted to see more of Hope, sending her on to Hollywood.

One hundred eighty-one contestants won golden tickets over seven audition cities (and eight episodes which detailed the journey). All of them will audition for the judges in Hollywood, where the panel will be joined by Ellen DeGeneres for the first time.

Check out all our other American Idol 9 posts.