It's the (2nd...maybe 3rd...) most wonderful time of the year...

Of course as everyone knows football season (yes, American football) IS the most wonderful time of the year...and as many know I'm recently enamoured of 'Lost' & very excited about the new season so far...but of course as lots know American Idol season is pretty far up there with me too. :P

I've had a few ppl now ask if I'm gonna blog about AI this season...and well...mostly I've been lazy about blogging in general...a habit I need to get out of yeah yeah...but...I suppose it's as good a reason as any to jump back in there and start yakking some more. Sooooo...AI fans...I know you're out there...speak up & lemme hear your thoughts too!!

So...who should (and/or shouldn't) be in the Top 12?! Thoughts and stuff after the cut...:P

Ok so I'm not one of those viewers who really enjoys the audition/beginning stages of the show most. They're ok...fun at first...but they wear thin on me and really what I look forward to is the part starting next week...once the top 12 has been decided.

Sooo...on the day that top 12 will finally be announced...who's worthy...and who's not?!

Well first up I think I can pretty well say that the 8 who've been cut so far...didn't matter anyhow. I can't even remember their names really...maybe a couple...pretty much forgettable overall though...and there are still a few left who are just as forgettable, imo.

Ladies first...as they say:

Well...my uberearly preference for the final 2 was Amanda Overmeyer (the rocker nurse chick) and Michael Johns (the Aussie guy).

Amanda is still my fave among the women...but...I think Brooke White (the nanny) and Carly Smithson (the Irish girl who can pour a perfect pint) have also been fantastic.

As for the other 5...mostly they've had their ups and downs...and mostly I think I'm not going to really care which two leave. Although there are considerations:

1) Two of them sang Whitney Houston songs last night...and frankly I think just about anyone who does a Whitney Houston song should be subjected to one of those giant comedy hooks they used in vaudeville(?) days to haul people offstage. Yes, there have been (rare) exceptions when they've been sung well...but mostly those have come during or close to the finals...and only by the very best of the best singers. Just seriously people...stop singing Whitney. Just trust me before you go out there and make a fool of yourself. You're not that good. Just. Trust. Me.

2) That Queen song. WTF? Why did the judges act like that was ok? Did she even hit any of the notes on pitch? Did someone replace my ears with non-working replicas? Cos I sure missed the part where that was anywhere even close to good.

Sooo...if I had my choice...it'd be the girl who did the Queen song and one of the Whitney twins (don't really care which...just send one home as a warning to those left...sorta like the horse's head in the Godfather...) who goes home tonight...just on principle yanno?


Anddd then there are the men:

Overall I think they're stronger than the women...it's sort of a shame...I think they should just pick the *best* 12...not divide it up into 6/6.

As I said before....Michael Johns is still my fave among the men...even though I have to admit he's not been my fave either of the past two weeks. I was a bit confused by Randy's rxn to his performance last night. He sang a song originally performed by the band Simple Minds...yet Randy reacted as though he had just done an INXS song...said he had 'come home' and gushed about how he reminded him of Michael Hutchence. Ok to my knowledge INXS never covered that song and...well the original band is Scottish...and to my knowledge Michael Hutchence was never in it. Sooo...*confused look*.

David Cook (the 'rocker' dude who likes crosswords) and Jason Castro (the dreadlock guy) were both just outstanding last night...in entirely different ways. How David managed to take one of the most cheesy songs ever and turn it into something fresh and alternative is beyond me...but he did it. And Jason just turned in such a beautiful rendition of a beautiful song. He's still a bit weird to me though...it's like...he has a sort of...vacancy...about him that disturbs me anytime he's speaking and not singing.

David Archuleta (the 17 y/o one who always looks like he's about to cry...) is also very very good. I mean...I was with everyone else when he did 'Imagine' last week...it was an incredible performance. There's something about him though...that I just can't get behind as far as winning the competition. I think it's probably his age...as good as he is I think he will have a struggle connecting and forming an identity at some point.

David Hernandez is growing on me...I think he's probably good enough that he should stay...but really singing a Celine Dion song is just ugh. Please no more. It's right up there with singing Whitney really. Also there's the problem of having...no real way to describe him. He just...doesn't really stand out...good singer...but...sorta bland.

Sooo...that leaves three...Luke (the one who sang the Wham! song), Danny (probably the most flamboyant male teenager I've ever seen), and Chikezie (called 'jacuzzi' by Simon in one of the biggest LOL moments I've seen thus far). Honestly I don't like any of them. Danny imo is like Sanjaya II just not quite as annoying...but at least he has a personality...the other two just...don't really. None of them sang well. But...I guess if I had my druthers it'd be Luke (because JTFC who sings 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' and expects to be taken seriously...hello even George Michael realized he couldn't be taken seriously singing that) and Chikezie (HELLO STOP SINGING WHITNEY, PEOPLE. THAT GOES *QUADRUPLE* IF YOU'RE MALE!!!!!) who'll be leaving tonight.

That's it from me...thoughts out there? Tonight's the night...AI top 12...new episode of Lost...WHeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! <3333