American Idol(s)

I have been a HUGE fan of American Idol ever since it began.

I think we only missed half of one season, and I can't even remember why...we may have been just really busy being married and with a baby and all, I don't know. Regardless, I have a lot of fond memories just about WATCHING American Idol.

My husband and I, for one whole season, were living with his brother and his new wife while we were waiting for our new home to be built. The four of us would watch it together and when the commercials came on, the guys would get up and put on a little show for me and Kristine. Of course, neither of them are AI material and they aren't So You Think You Can Dance material either, so it was hilarious to say the least.

My husband and I find ourselves commenting on the performers the same way Randy and Simon do..."that was pitchy", "just horrible", etc...We are pretty good at picking the favorites, and we have rarely been just dead wrong about who will end up in the top 20.

This year I have to admit that I was very let down by the fact that they let Bikini Girl through. Guys, I realize sex sells and the chick was pretty, but seriously? The girl looked like she was a chicken pecking seeds off the ground when she sang...and her voice was like it should be in a Disney show or something...not horrible, but not the next Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood by no means.

Also, they let the screaming guy through that looks like he's in a great deal of pain while he's singing (Von). A spoiler alert indicates he may be hanging in for a while. The only screamers I know that have made good money doing so is Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), J. Joplin, and the Rolling Stones. I know there's others, but I'll stop there. The thing is, Von doesn't sing this style...he looks like he came from the age of Frank Sinatra.

I'm calling, for now, my faves as Adam Lambert (picture below) and Danny Gokey (picture below). I am NOT choosing Danny b/c of his sadly tragic situation at all, although it did grab my attention and help me remember him. He is truly talented. Adam I had not seen anything from that I can remember until last night...then, I was like "whoa! Where did that guy come from?"

There are some good girls too (Leneshe Young for one), but I just think that -- so far -- the guys are stronger.

I also like the addition of Kara to the judging panel. It shows that Simon truly gets on people's nerves, that Paula really isn't all THAT crazy, and I like how she herself is kinda nutty. She got those claws out a couple of times with Bikini Girl and I, for one, was cracking up.

Finally, I nominate Tatiana Nicole del Torro as AI's Season 8 Drama Queen. That chick is PSYCHO, melodramatic, and possibly even bipolar. I'm not even sure she can sing; I think they keep her on for the drama factor. She stirs it up!

Alright. That's my two cents for how little it's worth -- especially in this economy.