Still unimpressed by the judge addition

Because of work-related business/exhaustion, I'm a day behind on Idol--I watched the San Francisco auditions tonight. (I'll get back on schedule by Hollywood.) But my quick observations from the past two audition shows:

*Have there ever been more people that got to Hollywood by begging? This is ridiculous. In San Francisco, two out of just 12 singers who advanced only really made it because they begged for it, not because they were standout singers. This could be a warning sign for a really bad year, if these beggars end up geting through to the semifinals (and we all know the decisions in Hollywood can be even odder than those in the original audition cities. See: Sanjaya.)

*Still not really feeling Kara. The last thing we needed was another judge to argue with Simon, and other than that I don't think she's added that much to the panel so far. I guess the true test will, as I said last week, come in the semifinals.

*Pretty unmemorable group of auditioners so far, both good and bad.I can barely remember anyone from last week--maybe the girl who took care of her grandmother--and San Francisco brought us nobody particulaly memorable except the guy who takes care of his mother. Hmm, kind of a theme? But if he makes it to the finals, who will take care of his Mom?

*Loved the kid who hugged Simon.

*No stupid medley of bad singers singing a popular song! Thank you!

Fingerhut out