This was the episode featuring the Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey conflict that an employee leaked last summer.

But we don't see that video. The conflict we see is relatively minor, though it causes Nicki to walk out. We all know Nigel Lythgoe artfully (or deceptively) edited this in a way to make it more innocuous than it actually was. That's his choice, eh?

Charlotte brought some great talent. Go South!

Anyway, we saw 16 good singers,  including three Georgians, including an Alpharetta High School teenager Isabel Gonzalez, who was included as part of the new "nomination" process. She even got a visit by Randy Jackson to her school.

Thirty seven made it to Hollywood.

But if the spoiler list is to be believed, only three folks we saw made it to the final 40.

Up first:

Naomi Harris ("Respect" Aretha Franklin) - One of the worst singers ever. Loud, off key, shaky. Why they gave her two songs leaves me mystified.

Joel Nemoyer ("Feelin' Good" Michael Buble versoin?) - He took advice from David Foster about Daughtry singing laying down on his back and singing season five and laid on the floor. He was horrid in all ways a horrid singer is.

Two jokey bad singers in a row? That's unusual. Does not bode well for the rest of the hour.

Sob story #1 Brian Rittenberry , 27, from Jasper, GA ("Let It Be" Beatles) His wife Megan had stage four appendix cancer and survived. He sings with deep soul. "You took me by surprise. I seriously enjoyed it," Mariah said.  "You have a good light about you," Keith said. "Vibratto is great." "I love your tone and raspiness," Nicki said. His wife, a big Keith fan, gets to meet him. He's Hollywood bound.

Jimmy Smith Waynesboro, TN, 25, social worker (Rascal Flatts "God Bless the Broken Road") - Love this guy's voice! Pretty! "Poppin!" Nicki said. "I can tell who you are through your tone," Keith said. "I dug it." He's an easy in and clearly can go far based on that one audition.

Three quickies who made it through:

Sarina-Joi Crowe Columbia TN, 17 (an assertive Jessie J's "Mama Knows Best"),  Haley Davis, 26, Charleston, S.C. hairdresser (a gorgeous old-school Roy Orbison Crying") Na'Chelle Fullins-Lovell Charlotte, 19, student (hits high notes that only Mariah could also carry)

Matthew Muse, 23, Florence, SC ("When I Get Going" Brad Paisley)  - Terrible karaoke. Charming goofball. Done.

Alpharetta High School gets a visit from Isabel Gonzalez's autn Bernie Haberman, who nominated her to be on the show. "If you give her that little push, she can rise to the occasion," Bernie said. She gets a direct visit before the judges. "I feel super duper important," she said on the show. The 16 year old is adorable. She gives an adorable take on Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love."  "I'm head over heels in love with you," Nicki said. "I can hear you riffing all day." Keith: "You're a natural." Mariah: "You are so adorable." (Hey Mariah! You stole my word!) Her family sprays her with silly string in celebration. "I'm on top of the world right now," she said.

I interviewed her in advance and she said she also sang "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson. She likes jazz and riffing.  She said she avoided trying out for "Idol" on her own because she feared rejection. "I take things very personally," she said. "But I love singing so much."  Her favorite "Idols" are the big ones: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jennier Hudson. She also loved Jason Castro. She said her audition felt "nerve wracking" but she felt more comfortable once she started singing.  

If you want to hear her sing other stuff, check this out on YouTube.  (She also supported Ron Paul--like Kelly Clarkson!)

Here's her take on "Hallelujah" from two years ago.

The final few minutes of hour one includes one more contestant: Taisha Betheat, 21, rock musician, Concord, N.C. (Johnny Cash "Folsom City Blues"). It doesn't really rock very hard but it's very spirited. Then she did Alanis Morrisette ("You Oughtta Know). She's a little breathy and is okay but not quite the rock girl or quite good enough. "You're different," Mariah said. "I wish I could hear you with the band," Keith said. "I think you're more suited to a band." "You're voice is unique," Nicki said, noting she isn't doing the typical runs many black female contestants do. Nicki says yes. Mariah says no. Keith says yes. Randy says no. It's split. Keith is the tie-breaker in Charlotte so she makes it.

Then the Nicki-Mariah drama hits with Summer Cunningham ("Lean on Me") from Warner Robins, GA.  She is pretty good. "Your voice is very very pretty and controlled. I love the tone. I love your look," Nicki said. Keith is not happy with her response when she said, "I did the country thing" and chose to put more soul in it, which to Keith was an insult to country. (At least that's how it appeared.) Randy thinks she is more country. Keith says yes anyway. Nicki looks peeved. Randy says yes. Mariah says she has a clean pretty voice so she says yes.

"For a minute, I thought it was a country music debate. Why are we picking her apart?" Nicki said. "You make comments about people in the pop world all day non stop." Now we know why she's peeved. I guess.

"Is that what I do?" Mariah said.

"When I'm making comments, we're trying to help her as opposed to talking abou their outfit," Mariah added. 

"We're scaring her into lying. She said what she said," Nicki said. "We're forcing to claim something."

"We're trying to help her," Randy said.

"We're just asking who she is?" Mariah said.

Mariah is still unhappy after Summer leaves.

"I can't help her. Why don't I just get off that f*** [something or other]," she said. She then walks out in a huff.

Nigel Lythgoe decided to play up the controversy by playing clips from TMZ, The Chat and other gossip TV shows about the fight.  But the clandestine clip we saw of them fighting is a different one or edited differently. What gives?

Tweeting, he downplayed drama:

RT @drpepperflamin: @AmericanIdol@dizzyfeet how do u handle all the cat fighting lol #askidol There really wasn't that much.

They closed shop early day one. But they return the next day in truce mode. And we are into hour two.

Brandy Hamilton, Navy Reservist, 25, Charlotte ("All I Could Do Is Cry" Etta James) - She has a very old-school R&B feel but is engaging enough personality wise to make it through. "You lit up the room," Randy said. Then she says, "Please don't fight. It makes me sad." Awkward silence.

Ashley Smith, a rambunctious personality who appears to be wearing a bad blonde wig ("Cowboy Casanova" Carrie Underwood) - Surprise! She can actually sing. She could use a fashion makeover, though. Nicki calls her "Blondie": "I like you sang country. It was cool on you."  Mariah: "Effervescent." Keith: "I couldn't look away."

Nicki goes in nickname mode: "Collard Greens." "Little Ladybug." "Honey Pie."

Janelle Arthur, Oliver Springs, Tenn., 22. ("Where the Blacktop Ends" Keith Urban) - She has the country down with a vibrant performance "Beautiful voice. Great control," Keith. Nicki: "You are really really special. You seem like a star." Randy: "Like a young LeAnn."

We see a bunch of bad singers. Keith has to leave for his wife Nicole Kidman winnig an award but they squeeze one more guy in, a street performer named Rodney Barber from Charlotte (Edwin McCain "I'll Be") - He has a gruff, interesting voice. "You have something captivating about you," Nicki said. 

Candice Glover, St. Helan Island, SC, 22 (Duffy "Syrup & Honey"), who was cut in Vegas last year, is back. She said she knows more what she wants to be as an artist. She said she is compared to Joshua Ledet. She is a powerhouse. It's always great to have a monstrous voice like this in the competition. "Best audition I've heard so far," Randy said after the judges applauded. "What is going on?" "Can we listen to you rest of the day?" Mariah. "I'm obsessed with you," Nicki said. "I want to skin you and wear you." She is an immediate early frontrunner based on that 30 seconds alone.

Ja'bri Barber, Clover, S.C. ("Pride and Joy" Bonnie Raitt's version) She likes to catch frogs. "Tastes like chicken!" she said. She brings a bright light, confidence and a fine voice. Randy likes her spunk. "You're a big piece of cutie pie," Nicki said.

Brad Harris, 28, Maiden, S.C. ("A Whole New World" Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle) The beret-wearing dude does a good imitation of Ryan Seacrest and loves bacon. But he can't imitate a good singer. Not crisp or sizzling.

Sob story #2/Danny Gokey memories: Seretha Guinn from Charlotte ("Fresh Prince of Bel Air"/ "How Do I Live" LeAnn Rimes) with a cute three year old daughter who loves Nicki and calls her "Dun Dun." Her boyfriend nearly died in an accident. She turned the TV theme song into a jazzy/R&B tune. It's cute.  Her LeAnn Rimes isn't half bad either. Nicki: "Incredible. I'm so proud of you , too." Randy: "Blown away. You have a little Whitney thing." Mariah: "I liked when you sang the first song better. It felt more like you." (I agree with Mariah.)