The ninth season Idols SA juggernaut is approaching, and yesterday judges at the Sandton Convention Centre sifted the "baddies'' from the real contenders.
A large number of the "contestants" who appeared were aiming for the Wooden Mic competition, rather than the Theatre Week phase at Sun City, where Golden Ticket recipients go next.
But it was hard to gauge the level of talent that viewers can expect by the time the new season premieres at the end of July.
The producers were still shooting gags - the entertaining trash that fills out the beginning of every season - before the business end of the competition.
The three judges - Unathi Msengana, Randall Abrahams and Gareth Cliff - had to entertain the talentless and regularly dropped some funny and sometimes odd quips.
Among the contestants was 18-year-old Katlego Phangwa from Soweto, who shouted his way through Lady Gaga's Born This Way while wearing heavy eye-liner, later cursing: " Why did I have to choose that song?" He left the venue wringing his hands.
Dumisani Shabangu, 21 - in skinny jeans, hi-top sneakers and pink earmuffs - insisted on rapping freestyle, despite it being a singing competition .
There was at least one golden ticket recipient - one who echoed UK singer Lianne La Havas with her guitar skills and hairstyle.
She sang her own song, Humpty Dumpty (which was actually pleasant), before performing Rihanna's Stay.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
