THIS IS....AMERICAN IDOL

What a phenomena! What a show!

Ok, maybe I hyperbolize a lot. But I generally watch. Unless I'm doing something a whole lot more interesting. Which is practically anything else. But tv being what it is today, and me being what I am (read too lazy to do much of anything else), The Idol and I are old friends.

I got started late, maybe Season 4 or so. Carrie Underwood was my first Idol year. She later dated a roommate of a former student of mine. She really seemed sweet to me, but he, a nice guy, really didn't like her very much, so I'm sorta ambivalent about her. She also got pretty skinny since Idol. I've known others that lost a lot of weight and I seemed to like them better heavier, too. Misery loves company, I guess.

But from the start, I have been unimpressed with this year's performers. For awhile I liked the big guy, but he's peaked. I'm starting to like the 16-year old, but I don't even know his name, so I guess he's not too great to me, but I've seen growth. The two remaining women are just too spooky for me. The guy from Mount Pleasant,IL, is ok in a Daughtery kind of way, but I don't see a lot of variety in him either. Casey: ditto. (And they talk bout Tim smiling too much.)

If I've missed anyone else, it's simply because they're non-descrip to me. Thankfully that goofy Andrew bit the bullet two night ago. I only saw a little of "Hound Dog" but I don't think that Hung guy could have been much worse. Horrible. As far as Katie, I can see her more successful that any of them. She, too, at 16 made great strides and with some maturity and an exercise program a la Carrie, she could make it.

Judging as usual. Randy, I like; I think he's helpful, but I don't aways agree with him. Ellen, I was prepared to dislike. Early in the season I thought she was better. Now she tries to go for the laugh ("Money can buy you love") and I hope she doesn't return. Kara is good and tries harder than any of the others to be helpful to the contestants. Simon--he's the one on the money for me. I don't want to agree with him, but probably 80% of the time, I do. Seacrest is a punk. He seems to like the contestants, but I just think he's outlived his time on the show.

So there you have it from me. I think after all is said and done, most people will remember "Pants on the Ground" longer than any of the other contestants, for this season wasn't idyllic.