So Wednesday night's auditions took place in Milwaukee - a first for "Idol" - the hometown of Season 8 contestant Danny Gokey, as well as what Ryan coins as "the biggest music festival in the world," SummerFest. The night's auditions were pretty uninspiring, with few truly memorable vocals. But the judges seemed impressed.

THE GOOD:

First up was 16-year-old Scotty McCreary, from Garner, WI, whose deep speaking voice promised greatness - and, if you like country music, he delivered. He sang "The Old Man" by Josh Turner, which highlighted his rich, low register and natural twang. Steven Tyler requested something that "spans the test of time" so Scott switched to a Travis Tritt song. Steven was impressed enough to recite some rhyme with a curse, which sent all the judges into a tizzy and Scott straight through to Hollywood.

Naima Adedapo, who works at the aforementioned SummerFest, showed off her pipes, see-through green eyes, and Bowersox-like hairdo. She sang Donny Hathaway's "For All We Know" with a clear, natural vibrato and soaring high notes. Jennifer Lopez called her "one of the best" and Steven called her "all that." Through to Hollywood.

Wedding singer Jerome Bell impressed with his style first (metallic sneakers, hip sunglasses, and a porkpie hat) and his voice second with Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On." I thought he oversold some of the high notes and runs a bit, but the judges had nothing but glowing compliments. Jennifer told viewers to remember his name, but I have my doubts.

15-year-old Thia Megia ushered in a "Bieber Fever" segment, featuring auditioners in the show's newest age group. She sang Adele's "Chasing Pavements," which sounded nice for 15, but not necessarily to hang around much longer. I couldn't get over how familiar she looked, so I did some research and found she auditioned on the last season of "America's Got Talent." Jennifer called her the total package; Steven loved her voice for its "muster, smoke and heat" and she got three yeses.

Student Scott Dangerfield, 22, arrived in the audition room only to be called out immediately by Steven for a lipstick smudge on his face, which he claimed to get from one of the girls backstage. He sang an Amos Lee song I didn't know, but totally sold me with his smooth voice and effortless runs. The judges were impressed; Jennifer said he might be her favorite of the competition so far and Randy gives him a "100 million percent yes."

Auditor Steven Beghun, 27, professed that his career has made it so that he "doesn't have very many friends," which may change after his oddly memorable performance of The Script's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved." His voice had a tinny, almost echo-y effect, as if it were pumping out of an old Victrola player. I'm not sure he'll go far, but he definitely has a voice we haven't heard before. Steven called him disturbingly great and he was sent through.

Recent Harvard grad and current White House intern Molly DeWolf Swenson, 22, of Seattle, bravely entered the audition room after being punched by Randy during his high-five entrance. Her rendition of Otis Redding's "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" was my favorite of the night. She started out in a shockingly low range, which was off-putting at first, but she quickly moved onto higher notes, showcasing her voice's great, almost smoky quality. Randy wondered where she's been all these years and she was very obviously sent through.

In true "Idol" form, the sob-story was saved for last. Chris Medina, 26, whose fiancé, Juliana, was in an accident 2 months before their wedding, suffering a traumatic brain injury. "What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most?" he asked. He sang "Breakeven" by The Script, which started a bit uneven, but he really hit his stride as he hit the verse. He brought his fiancé in to meet the judges and in an admittedly tear-jerking moment, Steven Tyler kissed her cheek while telling her "he sounds so good because he always sings to you." With his voice and sad tale, he's likely a lock for the semi-finals.

THE BAD:

Civil War re-enactor Nathaniel Jones showed up in full uniform after babbling to the camera that his dad's not a hippie because hippies believe in sex. What?!? He sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in a strange falsetto which sounded more like the gazelle being eaten by the lion. Steven said it wasn't for "Idol," but he liked the song; Jennifer and Randy flat out said no. He saluted the judges and marched off.

Mason Wilkinson entered the audition room nervously and Randy told him to turn around, take a deep breath and turn back when he was ready - and pause he did. A long, painful, minute-long pause. He sang some song I couldn't recognize in his monotone, gravelly voice, which was surprisingly more painful than the pause.

Vernika Patterson picked Minnie Riperton's "Loving You," quite possibly one of the hardest songs to sing in an audition. As she began to sing, she flubbed up because, "The lady lookin' at me," referring to Jennifer Lopez. OK, bad start, but will she hit the classic high note? Nope. She was off-key, slightly off-kilter and off the show. She immediately got defensive at the judge's reactions and said "half of these people cannot sing better than me...Is it because I'm not skinny like half of these females in here? I think it is." She stormed off before the judges could vote, cuethe show's signature angry montage of people storming off, slamming the camera and spewing curse words.

Green Bay Packers uber-fan Megan Frazier, 20, tried an opera rendition of Justin Bieber's "Baby." Her defense: "You've had your country singers and beat-boxers, it's time for opera." Well, maybe so, but only if they can actually SING opera. Her opera impersonation, replete with a near glass-shattering high note finish, was scary. Hopefully her real dream will come true on Superbowl Sunday.

A total of 53 hopefuls went through to Hollywood. Next up Thursday: Nashville.