Would America's Got Talent's New Singing Star Have Fared Differently on Idol?

Kalamazoo, Michigan native Debra Romer took the America's Got Talent stage at Chicago's auditions last night, and the results were -- well, passable. Literally. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne praised her vulnerability while Howie Mandel fist-bumped her with a "no." But Debra's reception shows just how different the audition criteria are between America's Got Talent and American Idol, where she might've been championed (or rejected) for qualities not even mentioned by this triumvirate.

Simon Cowell (and his replacement, if he's worthy of the throne) would've called Debra's choice of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" cliched. He's heard that audition a million times, and he's heard it "better, frankly." Kara DioGuardi would've questioned whether Debra could really make a record. And Randy would've settled on the old, "There's something I like about you, dawg. But you gotta work on the stage presence a bit. Come on, baby!" Ellen DeGeneres would've punned on "Romer" with something lame and agreed with Randy.

Point being, America's Got Talent looks for singers who can build a big, sappy moment in front of a skeptical crowd while Idol's team searches for the best performers -- even if they're eliminate later in favor of polarizing contestants like Megan Joy Corkrey. Debra's foster-child back-story is a familiar Idol yarn, but on America's Got Talent it sets her up for a Susan Boyle-like triumph. And this show is nothing without its breakout auditions.

Most importantly, 20 better versions of Debra would've auditioned on Idol. But on AGT, against the backdrop of dance troupes and carnival freaks, she seems like a special anomaly. Psh. She doesn't even approach Brooke White's fifth-place caliber.