"American Idol" Auditions Underway: Thousands Of People, Tears And Collapsing

NYDN:

Some walked away in tears. One woman collapsed and was carted away on a stretcher. And the lucky few got one step closer to Hollywood!

More than 15,000 American Idol wannabes auditioned for the hit show's producers Tuesday at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands. The few hundred that got picked will get a second audition. Those survivors will then go before Simon, Randy and Paula.

"I am so excited I'm just trying to contain it," said Christopher Bingham, 20, of Wauseon, Ohio, who wowed the judges with a rendition of "Gallery" by Mario Vazquez. "I've wanted to do the show since it started."

Others weren't so lucky. "I feel hurt," said Jyreek Ellerbe, 21 of the Bronx, who sang "Yesterday" by Shanice. "They rejected me. I don't think I was a bad singer. I honestly don't."

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