American Idol continues to audition process and in the first of this week’s instalments, the show rolls into San Francisco – and there’s no let up in the weird and wacky auditionees. And the action hots up with new judge Kara DioGuardi towing a very thin line by constantly disagreeing with Simon Cowell, with one flashpoint seeing Cowell cut her off as she was talking, to criticize an unlucky auditionee, leaving DioGuardi infuriated.

From the very start, we are introduced to a girl called Tatiana – a girl with an annoying laugh and a penchant for wearing net curtains around her knees, who was also told by a psychic that she’d be in the Final 12. She is followed by Jesus Valenzuela who arrives with kids in tow, who promptly help him win the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. And in the backdrop of San Francisco, Cowell even allows his softer side to (briefly) come through by sharing a hug with one of the kids. Other auditionees include Akilah, who brings a folder full of notes how to sing – and pronounces several scientific words incorrectly (such as ‘A-Capella-ly’) and a man, who claims he can finish a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds.

The tearjerker moment of the episode sees a man named Kia Kalama, who has sacrificed his life to taking care of his mum, who has a seizure disorder, to attempt to fulfill his dream of a career in music. Though Simon says he has the ‘personality of a ship singer’, the judges eventually decide to let him through – which sparks a flood of tears from both mother and son.

Cowell’s razor sharp tongue is very much in action throughout the show, with some of his best lines including:

“It was really boring and I hate what you’re wearing.”

“Annie, I’m going to be honest with you, that sounded like you were drunk. And not one or two bottles, that was like a whole crate.”

“You should be a hooker”

American Idol airs at 8pm tonight on ITV2