'Idol time': Talent show hopefuls flood Glendale

It was so early that drivers still needed headlights, but thousands of singers had already lined up on Friday morning outside Jobing.com Arena in Glendale to audition for “American Idol.” Slideshow: American Idol auditions “This is my third year trying out,” said independent R&B singer Jeremia Lipsey, who previously had auditioned in San Diego and Seattle. “Never give up!” With a sign that read “3x is a charm,” the 25-year-old from Phoenix stood in the front of a line that by 5:30 a.m. already contained about 2,000 people — and had more than tripled by 7 a.m. The enthusiasm was palpable — and produced. Cameramen and producers buzzed up and down the lines getting footage for the program, and past contestants Brandon Rogers (season six) and David Hernandez (season seven) conducted interviews, signed autographs and took pictures... [read full story]