Yes, and she is talented but I don't like her because they are pushing her way too hard for my liking. I don't think she has a shot, really. I *do* like her, but she's not close to the top of my list and I think that the heavy handed push of her is going to backfire with even the most naive AI viewers. She's cute and talented and she'll get the obligatory deal that eventually quietly goes away (like, apparently, her previous deals), but she's not going to be starring in any Ford commercials anytime soon. Me too, I really liked him. It probably doesn't mean much now, but it must have felt good though to have Simon's support. He seemed like a pretty upbeat, genuine kid (though watch me go online today and find out that he's an actor or professional opera singer or some nonsense like that), so I would hope that he'd just be bouncing on to the next thing. But, yeah...Simon's support had to have been pretty cool. It's usually Paula who adopts all the stray Idol puppies, so it was nice to see Simon get visibly annoyed that someone *wasn't* being allowed to progress to the final 24. He was a nice balance to Josiah (who, unlike most viewers, I didn't hate at all) who, whether sincere or not, drama queened his way out of the room. My personal opinion of Josiah is that he's young and inexperienced and he totally nutted up during the final audition. He was so lying to the judges about what happened. He told them what he thought they wanted to hear, but it made no difference. The kid needs some perspective. Still, there were parts of him that I liked. I was less drawn in by the fake British angst-pop vocals that the judges liked and more by the fact that this kid was on AI, progressing to the second round, with a voice vaguely like Daniel Johnston's. And a quivering Daniel Johnston voice is not something I'm used to hearing on AI. I was kinda bummed about Hollywood week, which is usually the favorite part of AI for me. I missed the group singing thing, I didn't like that if you got through your first performance you were free to go until later in the week, while the others were still stuck into the process. It was such a total clusterfuck. I'd be surprised if they do it that way again, though I'd be more surprised if they allowed instruments again. I'm sure that there were good moments that we didn't see, but for the most part it was a mess. I never followed the math, what Seacrest was saying didn't generally match what was actually happening and the "rules" were so vague that if I actually cared about making sense of it, I'd be kind of pissed off. As it is, AI rules are about like the objectives in one of the "Survivor" challenges: I zone out until it's over and I see the winner. I just don't care, but I still like to have a basic understanding of how we got from point A to point B.

I'm having a hard time figuring out why online bloggers and internet magazines are acting like they're blowing some big news out of the water, instead of writing about something that's already been written about ad nauseum for the past couple of months and hinted about well before then. Even "Extra" and E! have already reported most of this. Ignoring all the previous seasons where people had major label connections and previous record releases and contracts, Carly isn't even the only one this *season*. And it's not *news*. I understand (sort of) the annoyance from people who have bought into the idea that these "kids" are supposed to be amateurs, but I can't help it if they chose to either not read or completely ignore the rules and events of previous years. They've never been all amateur, all the way back to Kelly and her demo deals. I suppose next week the column will be about the great shock that Michael Johns was also attached to a major label and Whatshiface BoyBand dated Britney Spears? They'll be way late for the party on those, too. The same way the judges' oohing and ahhing over her is going to make people *not* vote for her, some of the backlash is going to make people throw a few votes her way. It'll all even out and in the end she *still* won't win. Right now, I'm saying Michael's got it in the bag unless he pulls a Daughtrey and people eventually tire of him.

1. I just cursed in front of a baby. I really should never have children. That's so completely irrelevant to this conversation, I know, but it just happened as I was having a conversation with our computer guy and trying to pretend I *wasn't* online. If it makes it any better, we were talking about reality television. 2. On topic: I finally broke my "no going to the other place" rule and logged in for the first time since, I'm guessing, whatever the date was that I registered here. I finally decided that it was time to catch up on Joe R. and Jacob's recaps. Having just read the last of Joe R.'s (which are way too short for my liking; I *hate* the whole "weecap" thing), I highly recommend them. Funny as always, plus (again, as always) they have the added bonus of being right on the money most of the time. At least as far as my Idol viewing goes. I haven't forced myself to read Jacob's yet (and the fact that I say "forced" probably means I shouldn't) but I'm curious to see how much Jacob he can really cram into four or five pages. As a long winded person who likes to pretend that she's very succint, I don't think it can be done. Jacob just (again with the irony, I guess) talks way too much. It's gonna be one page of incorrect song titles and three pages about Seacrest. Still, I'm curious. Plus, he usually makes me begrudingly laugh. Joe R., though? If you're bored, go read them. eta: okay, fine. Page two of my first Jacob weecap (8 pages is not a weecap, btw) and I'm sold. Dammit. Overly complicated metaphors involving obvious innuendo and inanimate entities with thoughts and opinions on the subject of incest win me over every time. I hate myself a little right now, especially since the balance of the 'cap is pretty much the above predicted Seacrest babbling.

t's gonna be one page of incorrect song titles and three pages about Seacrest. But that's why I love them! Jacob's recaps are often amusing, though I'm sure that most of the time it is unintentional. :wink: FWIW, I don't even watch AI --I just like the recaps!

I see that AI is going to make songs available for download from this year's contestants via iTunes, at 99 cents each. Any takers on whether the singers will see any of that cash?

But that's why I love them! Jacob's recaps are often amusing, though I'm sure that most of the time it is unintentional. I have to admit that I'm enjoying his shorter 'caps this year. I always like Jacob and always find him funny (though you're right about the unintentional funny) and I'm even totally amused by the way he beats a two line joke into submission with about three paragraphs too many, but the lengthy recaps (especially for the two hour episodes) wore a little thin for me. Joe R. was always my favorite. I love Jacob's Simon love/Seacrest mockery, but a little Jacob goes a long way. FWIW, I don't even watch AI --I just like the recaps! The recaps tend to be way more entertaining than the show. I've always watched AI, but this is the first year that I've seen every minute of every episode. Usually I come and go until the final 12, give or take, and just read the recaps for the laughs. With the strike and the fact that I get the shakes if I turn the television off for too long, AI got to be my focus this year. Thanks writers!! I see that AI is going to make songs available for download from this year's contestants via iTunes, at 99 cents each. Any takers on whether the singers will see any of that cash? I'd guess that the two of us are more likely to see that cash before the contestants are. I never visit the official site. Are they streaming anything there or are they putting it all on iTunes this year?

I'd guess that the two of us are more likely to see that cash before the contestants are. I never visit the official site. Are they streaming anything there or are they putting it all on iTunes this year? Supposedly they'll also be selling videos of the top 12 on iTunes as well.

There's also a freebie video by Renaldo Lapuz "Memorable Season 7 Audition". Check it out. :twisted:

Is it me or is Randy getting more and more annoying? Also, when will they learn not to talk back to Simon, that's never a good thing.

I didn't think it was possible for Randy to get more annoying but, you're right, he has. He was almost intolerable tonight. Early on I thought that Paula was going to win the prize for most irritating, but Randy lapped her quickly. Simon's biggest sin of the evening was the whole "fresh air" nonsense rant which was completely obnoxious and poorly formatted, but ultimately not as full of totally bullshittery the way Randy's every word was. That's not to say Simon gets a pass because it *was* annoying (and Simon: when Ryan tries to help dig you out of the hole you've dug for yourself you know you're in trouble), but Randy will always insure that Simon will come off smelling like roses. I think I liked Castro the best, which came as a shock. And I think he totally won a lot of votes with that whole "I've only played for people five times" whatnot that he said in his interview. With all the manufactured backlash against Carly/Michael/Archuletta/the rest of the contestants, he'll totally score some points with viewers. And he was surprisingly good, so he backed it up. Hopefully, if there is anyone out there concerned with the well being of both my eyes and ears, Danny will be one of the ones axed this week. At the very least I hope he's given a "bottom three" type of scare. Prior to tonight I liked him. After that nonsense, I began wishing bad things on him.

I really really hate that Danny kid. HATE. I don't think I've seen anyone who I want to see win. I also get tired of the 'He's only 17' crap they are already pushing on David A. Seriously, no need to hit me over the head with that every time we see him. Reminds me of last year with Jordin. It gets old really fast. Luke is very easy on the eyes, too bad he'll be axed this week.

If I had to pick anyone out of these guys, I'd go with Castro, Michael, David Cook (as long as he quits that Constantine camera-fuck nonsense) and...that's probably it. I was (in spite of myself) won over by the goofball back and forth between Archuletta and Seacrest, but that's because it's "American Idol" season and I've come down with my usual case of Stockholm Syndrome. Around the end of May I'll come to my senses and develop a strong desire to bleach my eyeballs and flush my ears. eta: which one is Luke? Is he the one who looks like Orlando Bloom...the one Simon called "forgettable"? He's very cute and I thought he sounded good. He'll make it through this week on "hot", I think. At least I hope he does because he deserves to be there more than Danny or Colton.

Can anyone explain to me why Jailhouse Rock was sung during 60's week when it was released in 1957?