Pants on the Ground

Wednesday night's "American Idol" should only be remembered for one thing:

"Pants on the ground!"

This was the cleverly devised climactic tune belted out by 62-year-old 'General' Larry Platt. The rap, which he claimed to have written himself, was accompanied by an impressively physical dance that had the man break dancing.

"I have a horrible feeling that song could be a hit," is all Simon could muster by the end of it, adding, "I don't think this is the last we'll hear from you."

Sadly, Platt's age automatically disqualified him - contestants can't be older than 28 - which begged the question of why they let him into the audition in the first place.

His unique number was reason enough.

"American Idol" producers played up the song so much, they had everyone singing and taking part. During a montage following Platt's audition, Randy Jackson could be seen dancing by his side, and other contestants outside where chanting its addictive chorus.

"Pants on the ground! Pants on the ground!"

The evening's Atlanta episode was peppered with a few other auditioners hoping for some "Idol" fame. At the same time, as is expected with these audition-themed episodes, several were clearly more interested in chasing that William Hung fame.

But among them were singers seeking real "American Idol" gold, and were invited to Hollywood, such as the guitar-garbed Holly Hardin, country-crooner Vanessa Wolfe, Keia Johnson and Brian Walker.

Hardin's get up appeared to be an instant ticket out the door, but the 20-year-old's voice impressed the judges (all except Mary J. Blige, this episode's guest judge, who seemed to spend much of the episode laughing). Brian Walker, a 25-year-old cop from Tennessee, showed he had soulful vocals with his take on "Superstar."

Next week, "American Idol" auditions wanna-be stars in Chicago.