"American Idol" judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, along with host Ryan Seacrest, took a break from the second of two days of auditions at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to talk to the media on Thursday.
It was a return visit for "American Idol," which held preliminary auditions in Pittsburgh in July.
When they hear about 50 singers a day, two days in a row, for just quick little sound bites, pop star Lopez and her fellow "American Idol" judges often don't know what to say as a critique.
The judges sometimes feel a definite "yes" or "no" when they hear contestants, but many times aren't sure what they think.
Sometimes, the judges will ask a contestant to sing a second song. Often, Lopez says, they just have to act on instinct.
"You really have to just go with exactly what you feel," Lopez told reporters. "Sometimes, you don't know."
Out of about 100 people auditioning in Pittsburgh, some earned Golden Tickets to advance to the next round in Hollywood, Fox officials say. By Thursday afternoon, although several contestants had yet to try out, the judges said they had seen about a half dozen that seemed to be strong Top 12 material.
The judges also saw their share of crazy, awful contestants, which come every season, Jackson said. Lopez said many candidates fought with the judges, and wouldn't take no for an answer. Seacrest said one candidate even "planked" -- prostrated himself -- during his audition.
Former "Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Paula Adbul have launched a new talent show this season, "The X Factor," which might steal many "Idol" fans. Yet Jackson, who says he's a Steelers fan, said he isn't concerned about the other show.
"They're all different things," Jackson said. "I don't think there's really competition.
"They're doing their thing and we're trying to do our thing," he said.
Aerosmith frontman Tyler said he knows better what to expect as a judge this year, his second season with the show.
"It feels really good now," Tyler said. "Knowing what's going on, I feel more comfortable."
Now, he said, it will be easier to tell candidates if they don't have it. Lopez said it is difficult to reject hopefuls: People are people, and sometimes their stories are very moving, she said, even if they aren't Hollywood material.
The judges do not work with quotas or have a set amount of Golden Tickets. They can send through as many contestants as they want, officials said.
Wednesday was the second of two days for the "American Idol" crew in Pittsburgh, after stops in Savannah, Ga.; Galveston, Texas; and St. Louis. Next, the crew goes to Portland; Aspen, Colo.; and, finally, San Diego to hear the final batch of candidates.
Candidates who receive a Golden Ticket will go to Hollywood sometime toward the end of the year, and the show's next season will debut in early January, Fox officials say.
