Seattle not as cool as everyone thought

It aired more than 10 years ago, but whenever I think of Seattle I often think of the Beavis and Butthead episode during which a video from a Seattle band comes on (it was probably Pearl Jam, but I'm not sure) and the two of them carry on a lengthy conversation about how cool Seattle is. "If you just walk around in Seattle, you're cool," was the best line from that conversation. But after watching American Idol tonight, they would probably change their mind.

Once again, we didn't see many people that one would think had any chance at becoming the next American Idol. An hour after finishing watching the show, the only three good singers I can really remember is the 16-year-old Jordin Sparks (the one Simon said had too much sugar in her performance), and the Indian-American brother-sister duo. I thought both members of that duo, the Malakars, were pretty good (maybe the guy was better, but I'm not sure why Simon seemed so unimpressed with the girl, who was beautiful.) I was getting a Paris Bennett/Lisa Tucker vibe from Jordin Daniels, which actually isn't bad, I suppose. She's probably got enough raw talent to make it to the final 12, but is too young to really contend for the title.

A lot of people were saying and writing today that Paula seemed very subdued last night. I suppose she did, but she came out of her shell tonight. Randy, though, seems really talkative this year. Is he trying to form a new identity apart from just saying "Dawg" all the time? And is this something we really want to see? The jury is out.

A couple other observations: I was glad to see that at least one singer actually took criticism for the judges seriously--he actually said, "This is a major wake-up call for me."

That girl at the beginning that said everyone in high school called her "The Hotness"? Is she sure her high school friends weren't goofing on her?

There's really nothing I can say about the girl who brought her mother and sang the Pussycat Dolls song. But speaking of the Pussycat Dolls, I'll just do a brief rant because I've ranted at least once or twice about this subject last year at this time. To waste our time showing bad contestants singing that "Dontcha" song (which the producers asked them to do because many of them auditioned with other songs) when we could actually be seeing good singers, singers who went to the Hollywood round, is ridiculous and inexcusable. This happens every year, and then we get to the final 24 and there's three or four people we've never seen before--and they start with a huge disadvantage. But for some reason, the producers don't care, and they don't listen to me.

Finally, two last observations: Paula held that dog and said "If Simon and I ever had a baby" it would look like this. Why, exactly, did holding a small little dog bring that into your head? Wow, Paula, you are in love with Simon.

And my favorite line of the night from that last guy, "Big Red.": "Don't sing it, just bring it." It hearkened back to the ill-fated appearance of Stevie Smith in last year's final 24 with her statement, after a bad performance, that she "can bring it." And yet it's completely different. And I have no idea what it means.... Wouldn't you want to bring it when you sing it? Oh, why am I trying to make sense of this.....