Idol Goes Top Gun

Ahoy there! Ten thousand American Idol hopefuls boarded the historic USS Midway in San Diego with the dream of changing their lives forever. The battle? To find the next superstar!  

Aboard the aircraft carrier that was the pride of the U.S. Navy for 47 years, we met a motley crew of contestants, starting with this year's version of "Bikini Girl." Jennifer Diley, 19, of Columbus, Ohio, took San Diego's theme a little too far when she showed up in tiny American flag short shorts and a red-and-white striped bikini top. "I am all-American … just perfect," she declared. Diley, obviously, was hoping to make an impression on Steven and Randy. "When I walk in, I hope the male judges are kind of shocked — I'd rather get two votes than one," she bragged. Turns out, she got none. Diley's performance of Jessica Simpson's "With You" was a dud. "Your voice lacks the fire that your getup has," Steven said.  

Next up was fresh-faced single mom Ashley Robles, an accountant and DJ in San Diego, who tried her luck with one of the biggest songs of all time: Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." The judges were blown away. "Wow, that's how you audition!" Randy said. "You're gonna be big," Steven added. Looks like Ashley's 5-year-old daughter might fulfill her dream of becoming a backup dancer for mom after all!  

R&B/pop artist Jayrah Gibson has said that he can't write and he can't sing, but he didn't let that deter him from his only goal: to be the next American Idol. Jayrah, 26, performed a song called "Shake Your Moneymaker," which he wrote especially for Jennifer. When the Long Beach, Calif., resident followed that with Musiq Soulchild's "Just Friends," the judges knew that they'd struck gold. "What is going on in San Diego?!" Randy asked. "I thought you were mad good!" "You're the whole package," Steven added. With three yes votes, he's going to Hollywood.  

But it was the girls who really shone in sunny San Diego. Pretty Aubree Dieckmeyer started out on an awkward note: She forgot what show she's on (Hint: It's NOT "America's Top Model"!). Even so, the 20-year-old receptionist from San Clemente, Calif., dazzled the judges with her performance of Michael Buble's "Feeling Good." Steven raved, "I haven't heard anybody sing with that kind of flavor in her voice." Jennifer said that she loved "the voice and the look." Aubree gave herself a yes, so it was FOUR yeses!  

The next contestant came to Idol by way of former judge Ellen DeGeneres. Alexis Shields, 19, was invited to appear on Ellen's show after writing the comedienne a song — and she managed to score a smooch from Usher. She also happens to be a talented female rapper with a convincing "ghetto dance" … and she "can sing a little," too, Jennifer said. Randy said that he couldn't get over her "wild audition" … she's "just crazy enough to make it." Three yeses!  

As day two rolled around, the contestants were ready to show off their sass. Kyle Crews, a 19-year-old frat boy from U.C. Berkeley, is known as a "ladies' man" around campus who "serenades every pretty girl he sees." He dedicated Monica's "Angel of Mine" to Jennifer Lopez's face (in particular, her "voluptuous lips"). Steven said that Kyle's was "the best male voice we've heard yet." In fact, he can even see Kyle Crews as the next "American Idol." Randy admitted that Kyle sings "nothing like he looks." He's going to Hollywood!  

If the next contestant looks a little familiar, it's because she happens to be the daughter of superstar Jim Carrey. Jane Carrey, a 24-year-old waitress, described her upbringing as "fairly normal," but she longs to make her own mark in the entertainment industry. "It is difficult growing up in shadow of something, trying to find your place in the world underneath this huge shadow," she explained. "The last name helps and hurts." Jane sang Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About," and Randy said he liked her "potential." Although Jennifer also liked her, she thought that she has to work on "connecting with the audience." But it's good enough … Jane Carrey is in! "She's so wonderful. I can't wait for the world to understand what she has inside her," proud papa Jim Carrey said over the phone.  

As the sun set over the Pacific, we met a real-life "Wolf." Jason Hamlin, who goes by "Wolf," is a 24-year-old mechanic from Livermore, Calif., whose dad built him his own "git-fiddle" (guitar) before he passed away in 2010. Hamlin sang CCR's "Midnight Special," and Steven wanted to hear another song … with the git-fiddle. Wolf followed up with Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues," and Steven proclaimed: "That's the way to end the day!" Make room for a werewolf in Hollywood.  

Finally, it was time to wrap up in San Diego. Steven said that Day 2 was the "best all-in-all in one day," with "so many good people" and "seven triple-threats." Even with the little problem of jets flying over and loud cruise ships sailing by, 53 hopefuls received golden tickets to Hollywood and the next stage of the competition. Now bundle up, because next we're off to Aspen, Colorado!