I'm so glad I do not watch Idol anymore!

I still like the show. Yes, I'm disappointed that some of the top 24 folks aren't as good as they should be, BUT, I realize that it's a type of filler similar to the audition portion. Once they get to the top 10, or top 6, we get to see REAL talent, and careers are launched.

By the way, does anyone remember Chris Sligh? Just got his album and it's really quite good.

do you miss the screeching freak from last year?

Sangina?

I was thinking Adam Lambert

I do remember him, but I didn't know he had an album out. He wrote (or maybe co-wrote) a Rascal Flatts song that was big in the last year or so (the name of the song escapes me). I figured maybe he was going to just go the songwriting route instead of performing.

Danny Gokey's CD comes out tomorrow. I am not sure I really think he is cut out to be a country artist (at least not in the traditional sense, maybe so in the "pop-country" sense). I will probably pick it up and give it a shot, though.

Chris Sligh's album came out under a "gospel" heading. Some of the songs are true Christian Rock songs, others are just rock songs with a be a good guy bent.

Thanks for the info. I may have to check that one out as well. I thought he was a good singer during his season and got sent home earlier than he deserved.

I don't know what I feel about him anymore.

No, I just don't like the drama anymore. Makes me happy not to watch it.

me too, ever since a good friend up there got me hooked on Farkle, Mafia and Vamp Wars!

What did you all think last night? I thought most of the guys were better than last week. I would say that I enjoyed Michael Lynch's performance the most.

I have not enjoyed the performance by Jermaine Sellers either week. He is very shrieky to me, but the judges don't seem to think so.

I hope Andrew can get it together and pick some better songs. I like his voice but haven't loved his song choices yet. I think the judges were right when they noted that he set the bar too high with that "Straight Up" performance in Hollywood week.

Anyone else think Kara was critical of Casey this week just to try to compensate for how she has acted over him so far?

I liked Michael Lynch, Casey struggled a bit but was still better than most of the rest of them, and I now have a crush on Lee. He's adorable.

I agree about Kara trying to make up for her Cougar tendencies, but I think she was also the most honest about his performance. Some of her phrasing stunk ("dirt?" seriously?), but she at least gave him something he could use to improve for next week.

On a side note - he needs to go back to wearing a ponytail. It was much sexier on him.

I totally agree with you about Kara's criticism of Casey, even though I do think it was deserved.

John Park really picked himself up from last week, but it was still only "good karaoke."

If I was a contestant on the show I would be really confused right now on what the judges expect.

First they say take a song and make it your own. Then they say you changed it too much. And they also mention that a really good song shouldn't be changed too much. And they critize someone for sounding too much like the song and the singer who recorded it.

What exactly do they want?

ratings?

What exactly do they want?

A contract for more money next year

You are exactly right. I don't recall the judges ever being quite this wishy-washy on this issue in the past. I wouldn't know what to do either.

I wonder if a contestant could get away with singing Im A Little Teapot (the dance remix version of course)

If they really want ratings they could bring in Posh and Amy Winehouse, pit them in a celebrity death match billed as the battle of the Skeletors.

The judges are always like that! It makes me (and the singers, i'm sure) CRAZY! Although i think, that at this stage, they just want to hear the kids SING....then as the competition moves on it becomes more about how the kids will make it on their own.

and i'm often convinced that the sound is different "live" than on my TV...Simon has said as much in past years when he re-watches a show and apologizes (or takes away praise) during the results show based upon the TV viewing.

I'm liking Lee a lot, Adam Lambert might grow on me. Casey is cute..(yes to the ponytail) but not the best singer...

Song choice has me confused too...i think they must have a system in place that only so many can sing "current" music...others get stuck with older and inevitably cheesy sounding songs...

Another mediocre night. I liked Michael and Andrew, and the young kid was ok. The rest were kind of boring.

Oh, and Danny Gokey's album is a pretty darned good country listen!

They provide a list of songs the contestants can pick from if I remember right.

Early on, the list is REALLY broad too!

Oh, and as for the advice of make a song your own vs. just sing the melody.... There's a fine line between making a song your own and it turning out really good and making the judges happy, and overdoing it and ruining the song. It's a risk. If you succeed, like David Cook did many times, you win AI. If you fail, you end up like Sanjaya!

So I'm hoping the two fellas who go home are either Tina Turner guy, My Girl guy, or Korean guy.

I'm terrible with names.

I was surprised by the Lambert kid's improvement, but my faves this week were Lee (love him!), Big Mike, and Casey. I do have to say that Casey's vocals weren't the greatest, but MAN he can play that guitar! I'd like him to bring back the ponytail, too.

Overall, I thought it was much better this week.

Any word on Crystal? Is she gonna be able to perform tonight?