THE IDOL CONTINUES

I was not an early American Idol viewer. Actually, until MTV's Jordan McCoy was on the show in the Summer a few years back, I'd never tuned in much at all. Since I had had both her parents in class and knew her grandparents as well, I had to watch.

And I watch it fairly consistently now. Tuesday night's show was one of the few times I haven't agreed with the assessments of the judges. Especially Simon. He may be mean, he may say things for the shock effect, but basically I agree more with him than Randy/Paula. The / is there because they never disagree; thus, they are one.

Seacrest is becoming pretty annoying. I liked him better two years ago. He wants to slam Simon too much.

This year's performers are talented, nice looking, smooth, or overrated. First, the talented: Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, and LaKisha Jones can really sing. It would be hard to separate or select the best of those three, though if pressed, I'd say Melinda.

The nice looking--Haley Scarnato, hands down. Or should I say she has a leg up on the competition? The smooth would be Blake Lewis, whom I'm starting to appreciate a little more and Phil Stacey, who despite his unusual looks is pretty smooth though unexcitable. The overrated have to be Sanjaya Malakar--one of the worst (I know sponsored by Howard Stern fans) since Chicken Little last year and plain old Chris Richardson.

I'm rooting for Sanjaya to go (hey, if Stern's for him, then how can I be for him?) and if he hangs around another week, then I'm rooting for Chris to go, just because I don't think he's anything special.

And whom would I vote for? Probably Jordan, but any of the women would be my choice over any of this year's men.