Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler wow on 'American Idol'

"American Idol" struck gold with its Jersey Shore auditions kicking off the 10th season  -- Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were surprisingly fun to listen to, while the likes of Travis Orlando, Victoria Huggins, Kenzie Palmer and Long Island's own Robbie Rosen wowed with their stories as well as voices.

Who knew Tyler was going to be good? His comments were insightful, he really seems to care and aside from all the vulgarity and bleeping he wasn't anywhere near the train wreck many had feared.

Lopez was like an upscale Paula, her trenchant quips mixed with motherly advice for the young contestants. (You knew she was going to be good, she's always starred in her guest judging stints).

And with Randy Jackson solid as always, this crazy judging panel actually seemed to work. Honestly, I didn't really think of Simon Cowell that often.

Here's how I ranked the real stars of the show, the contestants. Put in your own thoughts in the comments, below:

1) Twin Travis Orlando stole the night with his story of living in shelters, and meaningful renditions of "Eleanor Rigby" and "I'm Yours." As Lopez said, his "unique, almost sweet" tone really lingers; and his tearful celebration with his brother was pure magic.

2) Victoria Huggins,16, brought a delightful personality, baby speaking voice and a soulful version of "Midnight Train to Georgia" that had Tyler simply saying, "Lord have mercy." She could be the next Paris Bennett . . . or, she could just be too much. 

3) Kenzie Palmer is young with a sweet smile and nice, bluesy voice she showed off on "Crazy Ride." I don't agree with the judges that she needed to do more; she's got something extra that comes through without theatrics.

4) Melinda Ademi, who with her family fled the war in Kosovo, got high praise from the judges for "If I Ain't Got You." She may be my favorite, just because of her no-fake-drama life story and highly-likable presence.

5) Singing waitress Devyn Rush is a real adult, has a seriously good voice and was instantly likable -- "delicious" for Tyler. As they all said, she just needs to glam it up a bit.

6) Brielle Von Hugel, the girl with a flower in her hair from Staten Island, was sweet and sang "Endless Love" well, if not amazingly. Randy put it best: "you definitely have some work to do, but you have potential."

7) I thought Tiffany Rios was gonna be a "Jersey Shore" train wreck what with the big hair and the bikini with gaudy metal stars and her crying excitement at meeting her idol Lopez. But she can sing -- and inspired the line of the night when Tyler asked her about "the joo-joo-bees on your ooh-ooh-bees."

8) Robbie Rosen from Merrick, who was in a wheelchair as a kid, made everyone beam with his soulful "Yesterday." Then Lopez made his day when she called him "cute."

9) Caleb Hawley  was good on "Hallelujah I Love Her" and has some rough charisma, though it remains to be seen how strong his voice is.

10) Not sure why or how Rachel Zevita got through, given that she butchered "Hallelujah." Maybe cause Lopez (and hubby Marc) remembered her as being kind of good four years ago?

11) Love her or hate her, you gotta admit the frenetic Britney Spears-worshiping, Broadway song-shouting Ashley Sullivan is someone you're gonna remember out of tonight.

As she said, maybe she'll be "the first awkward Idol."