I've auditioned 6 times (I know, I just really enjoy gambling), only made it to Nigel once, so I've seen the 'reality' of reality television.

When it comes to the shady stuff going on at even the first rounds- the very first season I auditioned for was 3 in Atlanta. The guy in front of me was holding a basketball (which I thought was pretty random). He stepped up to the judges table, sang about 1 line of music (if even that), the judge handed him his golden ticket with no fanfare, and off the guy went like it was no big deal. It just seemed strange...

I'll say this once again: dress up in a pickle costume or hop on a pogo stick (even better if you do both!) and I'll bet you 10,000 dollars you'll make it to round 2.

Hmmmmm....I wonder if they'll reject more deserving singers and put through characters as Nigel Lythgoe puts it... (at this point we are looking to cast people) "for good tv". i.e., Scott McIntyre, Normund Gentle, Tatiana del Toro...to name a few.

You wait MORE than a week to audition the second time, actually. (I know because I made it past the cattle call in Chicago in 2009). After the cattle call I had to come BACK to Chicago (I'm from Alabama btw) THREE MONTHS LATER! I auditioned in June and had to come back in September or August (I know it was fall by then) and then didn't even make it past some more producers. At that audition to have to get past another round of producers THEN Simon Fuller (exec. producer) THEN a week later you try out for the judges. It's all bull shit.