'American Idol' Judges' 2013 Baton Rouge Auditions (VIDEO)

Surprisingly, there isn't much drama to report on the "American Idol" front as auditions run smoothly in Baton Rouge, La.

The reality show was cut down to an hour for the first time in the Thursday night episode shot in Randy Jackson's hometown.

Although there were no outright ridiculous dramatics on the hour-long show, there were some interesting contestants vying for a place in the Idol lineup of superstar hopefuls.

Among them, Miss Baton Rouge herself--Megan Miller, postponed an impending surgical procedure on her leg to audition for the chance to get to Hollywood.

The beauty queen staggered onto the set with a peculiar combination of heels and crutches and sang "Something's Got a Hold on Me."

Following the performance, "American Idol" judge Nicki Minaj said that Miller is an "undeniable superstar."

Another contestant, Charlie Askew, pleased the judges with vocals that Jackson described as "seemingly dark, strange, but cool."

Keith Urban compared the 17-year-old's voice to David Bowie, in that it is "not of a gender."

"I mean that in a really glowingly complimentary sort of way," Urban said.

But there was one contestant who appealed to everyone's emotions after they learned that he was a Hurricane Katrina survivor.

Burnell Taylor, singing "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple," received a standing ovation from Minaj and made co-judge Mariah Carey cry.

Minaj said the 19-year old was "what we came for" and that he had "that thing that gives everybody chills and goose bumps."

Urban said, "Somewhere there's a spotlight right now waiting for you to walk into it."

"American Idol" airs new episodes Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. Central on Fox.

(Source: LA Times)