I've always hated AI...until I was flipping through the channels about three weeks ago and Elliott was getting ready to sing. Oh, My Goodness! HE has RAW talent. If there were ever a diamond in the rough to clasp onto, then this is the man. He has little to no showmanship, but he can be taught. And I suspect WILL be taught. Already, someone's counseling him. He can grow that hair and find a good dentist...and he'll have women drooling. He needs an objective ear to help him chose the right songs to sing in this contest to win it. Overall, he is just phenomenal. I was shocked with all of the other talent on the show. Chris...has honed his pipes and stones to a smooth delivery of his persona when he performs. I'm a bit concerned that he isn't multifaceted. Time will tell. Katherine has my vote for the most marketable of the women. She has talent, looks, and presence. She is still immature acting at times, but towers over Kelli's frivolous attempt at playing the Barbara Mandrell's sister Erline's type of a roll; or like June Carter played. There is money in funny, but not stupid cutesy like Kelli is trying to pan out. It seemed that Seacrest was trying to give her some sympathy time, too, to try to keep her around longer...when he had her up there seated next to him for his fireside chat. I kid you not, she's probably a better actress than singer. Listening to her say something like, "Lookeehear! I got toenail polish on and fake eye lashes!" Makes me want to say, "Darlin', cut the crap. Women are listening and they're not as stupid as you think." We all know how men can be when it comes to a hot tamale. They drool. Even Simon drools. Thank the Lord he didn't the other night. As for Mandissa, Paris, Ace, Jay...or Taylor...they're marketable to a degree. They'll certainly make the tour fun and diverse. THAT is what I believe the judges were going for when they chose this group of singers: a diverse group that would appeal to all age groups when the show is done and over and the American Idol 2006 group goes on tour.

Brooke changed my mind about her tonight. Hope she redeems herself next week, but don't doubt she is one to go home. She just doesn't have enough umph! and she didn't do well tonight. I still think she has a lot of potential for that Carly Simon genre, but we aren't the major voters. Well, we didn't have to like her kind of music, but I did enjoy that she was true to herself. Tonight, however, Amanda showed us she cannot sing a lick. Finally a song she didn't have to yell and grind every word, and we see there is no singing voice in there at all. I keep saying Carly is the best of all the girls, but it's so funny to me how she does not have an edge over them. They are more personality, or more dynamics, or more appealing when they sing. Can't put my finger on it except to say she doesn't shine like some of the others who don't sing as well. Asia'h was stunning tonight........then screwed up her song. I think she needs that adenoid (sp?) surgery. She's so extremely nasal and so is Alexandrea, but she really rocked "Baby, Please Don't Go." Ramiele is my little sweetheart. She's gonna win.

Actually, I think only the top TEN do......when they eliminate one more boy and one more girl, they will be the ones who do the summer tour. The top 12 is just when they start having both boys and girls in the same show. I don't think it's by popular vote anymore. I think the producers pick a well-rounded group to include all races, different styles of music and someone that will appeal to the teeny boppers who bring in money with their text votes and consume their sponsor's products. (As it should be, when you think about it)

I missed Naima's performance, and I wanted to hear her. I was thinking that Thia Megia had some pitch problems, but then Steven Tyler immediately said she was pitch perfect. I have a pretty good musical ear, but I'm willing to concede the argument to Steven. I wasn't thrilled with her, though. I agree that Lauren Alaina, at 16, is a complete natural. I think she'll go far in the competition. I disagreed with Jennifer's assessment that Lauren Turner (?) was holding back in her performance. I'm unfamiliar with the song she sang, but it seemed to me that she put everything into it. I also disagreed with Randy when he said Haley didn't bring anything unique to the Alicia Keys song ("Falling in and Out of Love"). I thought she really made it her own. I missed some others in the first half hour. I read that somebody sang the Fiona Apple song "Criminal," which I would have liked have heard because I like it. I liked Pia's performance. I wondered if the standing ovation was entirely in response to her song, or maybe partly inspired by the fact that she was the last singer. I thought she did a good job, though. I wasn't bored. :-) PS: How does the wild card thing work?