Tears, Steers and Adam Lambert 2.0

The Top 24 have been chosen so let the games begin! Both two hour shows were very well done, especially the first night. I believe this is the first season that we got to see this much behind the scenes shenanigans. From that mean old wicked vocal coach to perpetual town cryer Allison's absurd wedding. However, the meat and potatoes of the show was in the last ditch solo performances to give them one final opportunity to show the judges who's best (in an airplane hangar of all places). Then the long and winding walk, which looked like it was about two football field lengths.

I gotta say, I've been pleasantly surprised by the show, as I was pretty close to wringing my hands and snorting "harumphhh" to it last season. Steven Tyler is a fresh of breath air and vice versa. Jenny "down the block" has been sincere and emotionally vested in the performers. Even the old DAWG himself seems to have something other than "it's just aight for me" to say. Let's face it, the chemistry between the judges (and SeaKrust) last season was absent, and yet filled with malice. Cowell was mailing in his efforts and his criticisms were ill-tempered and flaccid. Once the live shows began, Ellen UnGenerous was like a deer in headlice. Kara just wanted to flirt with Casey, and Jackson was just a Jackass.

So here we go with a fresh new season, fresh judges and fresh ingredients. Papa John's Idol! I digest. Everything about the show is better. The performers, collectively, even the 15 yr olds, are oodles better than ghosts of seasons' past. I already mentioned the judges--nuff said. Seakrust's head seems to be getting smaller, or perhaps some of the chowder in his head has left his cranium.

Enough about the production, what about the talent? Gobs of it, let's just hope the right ones go through week to week. This is another area that had me itchin' to cut the ties to the show the last few seasons. This idea of vote for the worst is ludicrous, but has enough momentum to actually impact the results. The producers need to take that foolishness serious and do something about the voting. That said, from what I can tell, the top 24 are solid, not a weak one in the bunch. There were many cuts that didn't seem to make any sense, but when you look at the 24, what can ya do?

Once they start performing live, we'll see how they do on TV, in front of millions. We'll also see about those song choices, which have historically haunted many a contender. The ability to perform live, pick good songs and make them original will again be the lifeline to the next week.

So who's got what it takes to finish strong? I got some ideas, I got favorites (for now)... I admit sometimes I latch on to one too early, and they end up sucking or pissing me off. This season, I think a girl is going to win it. There are so many standouts. Julie Zorilla (the gal from South America with awesome shoes) has the look and the sound to be the next Carrie Underwood (without the country twang). She did the piano duet for Beatles night with Tim Halperin. Karen Rodriquez and Pia Toscano (they did the Can't Buy Me Love duet) look and sound like seasoned professionals already.

The guys are a mixed bag of nuts, but my fave has to be... CASEY ABRAMS! Yes, the standup-bass-playin, mop-headed guy who looks like a cross between Seth Rogan and Cookie Monster. He's a nut like Graylor Hicks with a voice like David Cook. Then there's Lambert 2.0 James Durbin with insane range. Tim Halperin, the guy I mentioned doing the piano duet above, and King of Beards Paul McDonald are also contenders.



I've already picked my goatskis for this season. The Goatski is the person or people that for some reason, I want to see fail. This season it is Karoake Clint June Cleaver Gamboa. Maybe it's the designer glasses that look like 1920s aviator goggles, or his snobbery towards stout little JC . Also among this list is Jersey Shore reject and Shipbuilder Jovanny Barreto. His ego is bigger than Snooki's hair. Am I watching Idol or the Sopranos? And finally, Jordan Dorsey. His overconfidence and delusions of grandeur put him in with the other blowhards who left early. Not one Idol winner has ever been over-the-top egotistical. They have all started with humble beginnings and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

As the shows were finishing up this week, I can't help feeling a little verglempt about the Chris Medina story. This is the guy who has remained committed to his wheelchair-bound fiance through thick and thin. It was tough on the judges to say NO, especially JelLO who was an emotional wreck. Something tells me that this guy is going to end up okay.

Another season of Idol is upon us, and I gotta start making up nicknames, so my work is cut out for me as you see the list of contenders below... Saddle up for a fun ride!

WOMEN

1.Naima Adedapo
2.Lauren Alaina
3.Kendra Campbell
4.Ashthon Jones
5.Thia Megia
6.Haley Reinhart
7.Karen Rodriguez
8.Pia Toscano
9.Lauren Turner
10.Tatynisa Wilson
11.Rachel Zevita
12.Julie Zorilla

MEN

1.Casey Abrams
2.Jovany Barreto
3.Jordan Dorsey
4.James Durbin
5.Clint Jun Gamboa
6.Tim Halperin
7.Stefano Langone
8.Brett Loewenstern
9.Jacob Lusk
10.Scotty McCreery
11.Paul McDonald
12.Robbie Rosen

OUT