Still watching via DVR, but thought I should start the thread.

First impressions: Tyler is a bit annoying, JLo isn't too bad. But it's still early yet.

And this whole Jersey theme is killing me, after 10 years of them calling us New York, they're trying to bring in that "Jersey Shore" crap...

Dang it!! I forgot it was on.

After seeing the first two nights, it's amazing to me how lenient they've been in letting people go thru to Hollywood. Perhaps because JLo and Tyler have voted first much of the time -- but some of them were just not good at all. 50+ from NJ and 30+ from New Orleans alone?? Many didn't deserve it. But it's funny how many who DID deserve it were so young!

'American Idol' premiere averages 26.1M viewers

You mean....the Situation isn't a typical Jersyian/Yorker?



Not like there's a difference or anything, right?

EDIT - as for IDOL itself, technically Tyler is more qualified to judge singing than Simon Cowell, who's "credentials" amounted to boy bands and producing the WRESTLEMANIA album. Though to be fair, Cowell did co-found and run the Fanfare label so there's that.

Of course people didn't watch Cowell for his expertize. They watched him to be a dick, especially to the blooper reel-quality contestents. IDOL can' replace that.

And I guess this says something about J-Lo's current career that she's doing IDOL now.

Although I am not a regular viewer of AI, it seems to be quite the talk on the radio the last couple days. They had "call-in" vote on whether they liked to new judges and by quite a majority most people did like them. Many surprised by Steven Tyler saying he was "awesome" and actually thought J-Lo was good too.

On a funny note, when talking about attracting the younger generation, and in regards to Tyler, it was commented that "it's not a good sign when the Supreme Court Judges are younger than the AI judge.

TIS

Jennifer needs to grow some nuts and say no to these terrible singers. You can't just let everybody get through like that.

I don't watch the show at all, never have never will.

But have heard several people say over the past week that it alot more than a judge was lost when Simon left the show.

Just last night Robin Leach claimed in a radio interview that Simon Cowel alone had the guts to tell people outright if they did not belong there. And let's face it part of the fun of the show was seeing him being honest (and yes, a dick) to the untalented. And if you as the viewer sitting on your couch feel that way about someone, you WANT to hear it told to them by a judge. It's what people loved to hate about Simon.

Their choice of judget shows the producers are trying to re-create the Simon/Paula dynamics. They tried w/ Ellen Degeneris, among other 'Paula' replacements...failed miserably.

Long live American Idol, makes no difference to me...from what I understand, contestants remain on the show more through audience voting anyway so they better find a way to keep the ratings going.

I'm pretty much sick of Idol... I saw the season premier (more because my mom wanted to watch it than me lol) and it was pretty good, but I just don't care enough to follow it. I'm sure J-Lo knows a lot about the music industry and how things work and all that, but as a singer I think she's just ok...It's weird that Randy is the only original judge left.

For me, Idol has lost something seriously special with the departure of Simon. Tyler and Lopez are fun and add something different to the show, but I feel a big void with Simon's absence. That brutal honesty is gone, replaced by JLO not wanting to say no to ANYBODY, and Tyler hitting on every girl that walks through the doors.

Simon's departure signaled the end of an era, but probably not the end of the show. It's just too popular. Hopefully it gets better.

The only reason Simon left was so he could come back. You wait and see. He'll be back.

Apparently Simon walked away from a $150 million pay day. As entertaining as he is, I doubt FOX will offer that much again. Any anyhow, he's off making his own show, where he'll probably make even more money. He may come back as a guest, but I don't seem him coming back in any sort of permanent capacity. But who knows?

OK, thanks to Idol, I want to stand up and admit that, yes, my emotions are obviously manipulated quite easily. That singer at the end, damn! When Steven Tyler bent over to kiss his girlfriend and told her that her boyfriend sings so pretty because he always sings to her, I started to cry like an idiot.

Why does Steven Tyler still have that ridiculous long hair? Can someone tell him 1.) He's over 60 and 2.) The 70's are over?

Yes, SB I admit...I cried too. But I started crying when I saw the girl in the wheelchair.

I like Tyler on the panel. He adds a quirky perspective and he is humorous. J-Lo is a bit too reserved and Randy really hasn't changed. Strangely, I don't miss Simon. I think his time was up. The show definetly has a different personality, and I like it.

I thought being in the Ryman Auditorium was cool except they kinda ruined it with the American Idol backdrop (but I guess they had to do that). I visited the Ryman - it is now a museum - and it was an interesting visit to a piece of Americana. It is occasionally used for performances. Neil Young staged a film there - Prairie Wind, a very cool production of the folk-country style of Neil.

I cried like a bitch.

SB cried like an idiot,
Vinny cried like a bitch
I just cried regular
Must be the Season of the Witch.

I guess no one is watching the Idol this year. I love Tyler. He's a character. J-Lo is cute. Randy got better being away from the overbearing Cowell. I don't miss him. Some great talent with this group; some are quite different. I hope I'm not writing to myself.

i totally forgot about this...usually i dont post in here unless geoff posted

There's some seriously good singers in this group. I was in awe when I heard some of these voices. The guy to look out for is Jacob Lusk, amazing singer coming straight outta Compton.

I don't know any names yet, so...

Damn! James Durban, Jacob Lusk and Casey Adams were incredibly, jaw-droppingly amazing. Wow!!! Let's just crown them now and move on. The others? Meh. With the exception of a few truly BAD performances (Usher? Really?), the other contestants were just boring.

I NEVER MISSED ITS EPISODE . I REALLY LOVE THIS SHOW ITS JUST AMAZING.

I missed the guys on Tuesday. Got back from a very long business trip; watched Ashton (great pipes, but a little too cocky), fell asleep. I'll be out tonight.

Mamma Mia how about Pia? Sorry to see Ashton make it. What an obnoxious bitch. The only thing bigger than her ego is her ass. She'll be gone in round one. Unless some of these people have brain farts or their voices crack, the competition should be very good.

I hope I'm not talking to myself again.

Had 7 hrs of Idol on the DVR to catch up on, just have to watch last night's episode then I'll be caught up.

The guys were great! The girls, not so much. I swear (again) the judges heard them quit differently than I did -- the ones that I thought sucked the judges praised! Maybe because they "have to" start with 12 guys and 12 girls, and not the best Top 24 regardless of gender.

I can't stand Ashton, but the judges just love her for some reason. I feel like she was just shouting "And I Am Telling You", a song which very, very few people should attempt. I would have much preferred to see Robbie Rosen put through. At least that little guy with the big glasses didn't make it. He's just incredibly annoying.

Pia and Thia are the most talented girls, although I love Naima. Not sure if I love her as a performer, or if I love her story more, but I do like her. I hate that Randy Jackson compared her "Summertime" to Fantasia's. Yes, Fantasia did it beautifully, but Naima's was an upbeat and jazzy version. Totally different. But I usually am annoyed by what comes out of Randy Jackson's mouth.

As for the guys, I'm still loving James, Casey and Jacob. Stefano has moved up the list considerably as well after his Wild Card performance.

I really hate it with a fucking passion when they start sharing some stories about how fucked up their lives are. Sure I got sympathy for the less fortunate, but people are getting sympathy votes. This is a singing competition. How unfair is this to the people who don't have fucked up lives.

Anyway I think Jacob Lusk is the biggest talent in this competition. Pia Toscano is the best girl singer.

After XX years can Ryan come up with a better question than, "What does this mean to you?".....and then the innane answer, "this means everything to me!"

Apparently not, MC! Personally, I miss his "Seacrest out!".

Okay, so it begins. My ratings:

Top 13 - Contestants' Idols


In order of appearance:

Lauren was a bit boring, didn't blow me away.
Steven: More kick-ass; J-Lo: Kick it into higher gear; Randy: Sang well, didn't shine

Casey was good, but nothing special.
J: Wow, blew me away; R: Unbelievable, exciting; S: Rainbow of talent, plethora of passion

Ashton was bad, really bad karaoke. Looking like Diana Ross doesn't mean you can sound like her. Bye-bye.
R: Liked it; S: Have confidence in you; J: You're awesome, pulled it back in when it got away

Paul I like, but was off/breathy. Was he drunk??
S: Little pitchy; J: Hope America gets it; R: Love who Paul is, huge fan

Pia was pretty good, some flat parts, but some big notes.
J: There it is, really beautiful; R: Love it, natural gift; S: Slammed it

James is my favorite. Effortless and perfect.
R: Can do anything; S: Good job; J: Can really actually sing

Haley's yodeling was pretty cool, but otherwise meh.
S: Beautiful, good; J: Special voice, good job; R: Little boring, can do anything

Jacob disappointed me, I had high hopes, but pitchy.
S: Pure passion, so good; J: Amazing; R: Signature sound, kinda lost it, end was unbelievable

Thia wasn't great, wasn't terrible, flat.
R: Little pitchy, good; S: Like it, pitchy; J: Sing like an angel

Stefano, another fav, was pretty good, but a little flat in spots.
S: Beautiful; J: Really you; R: Wow, wow, wow

Karen was okay, but boring and a bit flat.
J: Little problems; R: Fighting the song, sleepy; S: Lacking energy

Scotty does what he does very well, but needs more energy.
R: Love it, don't change it; S: Did Garth justice; J: Embraced audience

Naima was off.
S: Little pitchy, brought flavor; J: Got fire, girl, work on control; R: Care about pitchy