So, last night was auditions in Milwaukee for American Idol. A mixed bag with some great singers, some singers who will be great when they grow up, some not-so-great singers, and, of course, it wouldn’t be Idol if we didn’t exploit someone’s pain and tragedy.

Great singers… I wasn’t as big a fan of Harvard girl as I wanted to be. She seems nice enough and she can sing, but there’s this perverse part of me that doesn’t want her just to get everything she wants. Go back to the White House girl with three names.

On the other hand CPA guy was totally making me cringe, right up until he stood in front of the judges and turned into Will Ferrell CPA guy who can actually sing. We’ve heard a lot, and seen a lot, regarding them lowering the age limit on one end, but they also raised it on the other end, so it was nice to see some grown ups singing as well.

Speaking of which, I’m not sure if the 15 year old learners permit girl (am I the only one who just can’t remember any of their names?) just sounded shaky and too-young because she was sick, or because she really is just too young. I’m not sure she’ll get eaten alive in Hollywood, I think she’s stronger than she looks, but I’m guessing she’ll come into her own more around 18 than now. Time will tell.

Couldn’t believe deep country voice guy was only 16. He didn’t sound it or look it. That was classic old school country and I think he’s got a legitimate shot, especially with that cute boy aw shucks grin of his.

I thought the guy who looked like he was out for some brewskis with his frat bros (khaki shorts, flip flops) was surprisingly good. I enjoyed him.

And there were a host of others that were good too. That young girl in the beginning with the rhyming name? Liked her a lot. Frustrating, to me, though was when they had to recap some of the few good singers they’d already put through and didn’t take that opportunity to give us some highlights of other golden ticket winners who we get to see scream with joy over and over, but not, you know….sing.

Speaking of screaming with joy…. So, Tiwon gets his golden ticket and bursts out the door into the loving arms of his family, then black leather auntie goes full mental jacket when she gets a charley horse and drama scream queens all over His Moment. Over, and over. And over. Like, over. Now Tiwon — who I remember because he talks about himself in the third person. And, oh yeah, his family had huge signs with his name sparkle sprayed all over them. Already. –was not exactly winning me over, despite his lets-have-fun-by-the-pool singing. But I couldn’t decide if I thought it was hilarious that he wasn’t getting his moment, or if I wanted to give that woman something other than a charley horse to worry about. Now that’s one ego centric all about me family I could do without dealing with. Ever again.

Which brings me to Mr Medina and his Tragic Story. I was dreading it all night. Especially given he comes from the Town of Gokey, who also made me cringe and gnash my teeth for entire season as he milked his dead wife for fame. (You can blame it on the show, but other contestants have managed not to do it, most notably winner David Cook who kept his dying brother out of the press and under the radar pretty damn well for being in the grip of a media machine far more powerful than himself.) And while my heart goes out to the guy, because he was handed a horrible blow, moreso, I’d say, than Mr Gokey, and is to be lauded for his commitment, he shouldn’t be boosted up on a talent show because of his unfortunate circumstances.

And while I know a whole lotta folks hated that they exploited the tragic fiancee by bringing her into the room, and sure, maybe that should have happened with camera’s off, in deference to not exploiting her, who didn’t ask to compete on the show…I did think the judges hearts were in the right place, and, I’m sorry, but I loved Steven for the very heartfelt attention he paid to her. Only Medina knows if all this was the kind of thing she’d be okay with anyway, and I have to imagine she loved getting to meet the judges as he, who knows her best, seemed to think she would… But…yeah, that now needs to be the end of that story arc, and his singing needs to truly be what gets him by. Or not.

Speaking of Steven Tyler…and we always should…my love for him, it grows. And grows. Sure, I’ve been an Aerosmith devotee since they first hit the airwaves, oh, a few years back, so I’m biased, but he truly loves music, and singing, and is a true rock star with all the eccentricities of someone who has lived a life that is so ridiculous we could never hope to wrap our heads around it. And, even more important, to me, he tries hard to preserve the dignity of those before him who can’t sing, but earnestly believe they can. I know Randy is still coming out of the Cowell Era, and he’s heard so many bad singers at this point that he’s numb to that part of the process…but I hearted Steven a whole lot when he took Randy to task for being needlessly cruel when a no thank you that preserved the kid’s dignity would have sufficed. Not that the kid necessarily deserved his dignity preserved, he did after all, ask for it, to some degree. But when you can preserve anyone’s dignity…be the bigger guy. Randy.

One thing I’m very much not missing, in addition to Simon Cowell, is the overall lack of the Angry and Disgruntled this season. Yes, we did have a montage of the Rejected and Pissed Awf, this episode, but it was mercifully brief. And did include that nugget of the mother in what appeared to be a giant lemon costume, berating the cameraman for having the nerve to film her distraught daughter, and in the very same breath tells her daughter to just shut the hell right up already. HA! HA HA!

But, yeah….enough of that now. Show.

What do you all think thus far? Loving the new panel? Hating the new panel? Endlessly amused by what kind of whackjob metaphor Steven will come up with next? For me, it’s been the most enjoyable season in recent and even distant memory. And it’s just the auditions. I hope it bodes well for the show itself when it finally begins.
(Which isn’t until March, by the way. I know. March.)

After Idol, I stayed up waaaaaaaaaay too late and watched #9 ranked Li Na come back and kick the snot out of #1 ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the women’s semifinal of the Australian Open.

I don’t have problems with Caroline having the ranking she does despite no slam wins, she wins a lot of other stuff, consistently, but last night showed that she doesn’t really have the grit and polish quite yet needed to sustain her ranking. I don’t know that she really has a slam in her. Yet. She’s young. I hope, like Andy Murray, she works on building up some true weapons, then shows us all what she’s made of. Li Na, on the other hand, showed us she was made of serious grit and determination on the court, and total hilarity off the court. She throws her husband under the bus saying in her on court interview after her grueling win that she was surprised she did well considering she got no sleep the night before due to his snoring, which she imitated. But when asked what motivated her at match point down to turn the game around, she deadpanned, “Prize money.” Love. Her. First Chinese man or woman, and in fact, first asian man or woman, to reach a grand slam final. Ever. Impressive, Li Na, and you’ve got my vote. Right up until you play Kim Clijsters, who I adore. That’s going to be one great final. Can’t wait!

Do you know what you don’t have to wait for? My next cupcake kitchen adventure!! Yup, it’s posted rightthisverysecond over on Cakes by the Cup blog.

Find out who won a copy of Martha Stewart’s Cupcake cookbook, featured in last week’s post…and how to get in the running for this week’s Blog Candy offering! I’ll even make it easier on ya….just click HERE.

Then come back on over here and DISH! Watching Idol? Still swooning over the Castle Kiss? (Me! Me!) Bummed there was no new Top Chef on last night with more Fabio goodness? Tell all!!

Tags: Writing //