In the back of my mind, rewatching parts of tonight's American Idol performances and last week's among the women, part of me thinks we'll look back on Season 6 as the year the world discovered Melinda Doolittle.

When the 29-year-old Brentwood, Tennessee-resident auditioned with Stevie's "For Once In My Life," I thought that she sounded solid but looked a tad odd. I think I noted in a previous post that she reminded me of a cartoon character or something.

But then Hollywood week came, and we didn't see much of her.

Last week, Doolittle belted out some Aretha Franklin, a clip I have embedded in this post. But THIS WEEK, Doolittle donned her jazz club black and gave what I honestly think is the best live performance in American Idol history with her rendition of "My Funny Valentine," which ain't on YouTube just yet.

When it is, I'm-a-posting it. Believe that.

There are just some singers so polished, so soulful that they dwarf every other competitor on shows like these. Several years ago, one such singer -- Anastacia -- just killed everyone on this MTV show called "The Cut."

You watch this and think, "Holy s$%#, that was great."

It is the beauty of America's most popular show, in its sixth season, that it seems the top tier of talent has gotten even better. The five best competitors this year, boys or girls, are all black women, and I love that. However, aside from Lakisha Jones, who was excellent singing some Gladys Knight, and Sabrina Sloan, who was terrific with some Whitney, this post is all about my official favorite for Season 6.

Oh, did I mention that Melinda Doolittle is a native Oklahoman? She was apparently a 1995 graduate from Tulsa Union, according to this blog post.

Quite fortuitous that my favorite contestant for 2006 also happens to be a Sooner, well, at least she lived here for awhile, I guess. Long enough for the good stuff to rub off.

Welcome to Ryan's list of Idol favorites, none of whom have ever won I should warn.

Join the club that containeth Kimberly Locke, Jennifer Hudson, Constantine Maroulis and Katharine McPhee. It's a club whose contestants finished 3rd, 7th, 6th and 2nd, respectively.

I think Doolittle gets me off the schneid. I think she wins American Idol 6 and goes on to not only stardom but super-stardom.

Simon Cowell noted last week that many contestants get to the Top 24 and get filled with ego without enough talent, while Doolittle is the opposite. He said that she had a great voice, a great back story and that he hopes she does very well.

This week, he said her rendition of "... Valentine" was "incredible."

In six seasons of Idol, certain performances standout. LaToya's "All By Myself," Bo's "Whipping Post," Carrie's "Alone," Jennifer's "Weekend In New England." Never before have I thought a singer's performance stood out from not only the show but the entire music industry.

Seriously. As a pianist, I can't say that there are many Idol contestants I'd get jazzed to play for. I would play for Kimberly Locke, no doubt. I'd play for Jennifer Hudson, super big no doubt.

But, I would actively pursue an opportunity to play for Melinda Doolittle. In two weeks of live competition, I have never been this impressed with one singer. In all six seasons.

She's world class, and even if you think this clip of Melinda singing some Aretha is only pretty darned good, just wait until I post this week's. It reminded me of Sarah Vaughn or Lena Horne; it was phenomenal.

As for who should go? Who cares. Seriously. The wheat and the chaff have been separated. Melinda, Lakeisha, Jordin, Stephanie and Sabrina are the class of the entire show, with Blake Lewis getting a spot alongside them.

To me, right now, everybody else is vulnerable.

By the time we get to the Top 10 men on American Idol, some patterns emerge.

Brandon Rogers is blowing his opportunity unlike possibly anybody in the show's history by literally repeating history. His run and likely early exit from Idol is mirroring that of Nadia Turner two years ago.

Turner was cool, stylistic and damned talented, but she picked terrible songs week after week. Well, she'd pick good songs but then arrange them terribly, such as when she did a punk version of "Time After Time" while sporting a hideous mohawk -- all in the name of being an individual.

Tonight, Rogers selected -- guess what -- "Time After Time," had it arranged in some terrible folky manner and dedicated it to his grandmother. Predictably, Simon Cowell gave the 28-year-old backup singer a lecture on the difference between passion and competition.

Son, you can be an artist on your own time. If you want to win this SOB, you have to pick music that fits your voice and that people want to hear from you. Like Donny Hathaway. Like Stevie Wonder. How about Robin Thicke or Remy Shand or Joe or John Legend or, perhaps, some Sting with a soul twist.

Last week, I suggested Sundance Head take some time, head to a bar, drink a few drinkies and watch a good, live blues band. Don't know that he followed that exact advice, but he did something right because he was excellent on Tuesday doing "Mustang Sally," possibly the most overdone bar song of all time.

If you're not aware of this, well, Sundance -- even last week -- was the leading male vote-getter. He sucked and still racked up the votes, and he's leading so far again this week, according to DialIdol.com, which is widely regarded to be the closest we mortals can come to knowing the vote totals on our favorite show.

Really, to be the last male standing in Season 6, all he has to do is sing the blues. Every week, find a song he can fit into three or four-chord blues and feature his big Texas voice. It is a prescription for victory, and while I'm not that big a fan of his musically, I suspect he'll continue to grow a large following.

So, if the first pattern to emerge in the second week of Season 6 live competition is to adhere religiously to song choice, the second pattern might be that contestants should listen to some of us who have freaking watched this show since Day 1.

Brandon, let us save you. Goodness, already.

What's unfortunate for Brandon, who does have a great voice potentially, is that other guys stepped it up Tuesday night big time. Virginia-native Chris Richardson was excellent with Jason Mraz' "Geek In The Pink," a song I was heretofore unfamiliar with. On the other hand, I love Mraz. His first CD was among the best debut albums I've ever heard.

The guy who stood out to me, big time, was Blake Lewis. At first, he was this guy with weird hair and a white-boy ghetto look who could beatbox. Then, last week, he sang and only sang and wasn't half bad.

But then, this week, Blake busts out some Jamiroquai and did so originally, I thought. In mid-song, he was scatting and beatboxing, and I realized that in six seasons of this show, there really hasn't been somebody quite like this cat.

The show has featured some white-boy soul. Elliott Yamin had one of the better blue-eyed soul styles the show has yet to feature. On the other hand, Elliott always looked half uncomfortable on stage.

Chris Richardson comes out with what was, maybe, one move -- shaking his hip and waving his hand horizontally across it.

But, this Blake Lewis guy can legitimately move. Vocally, he's not perfect, but if Lewis continues to improve at this clip, he'll be one of the great all-time Idol contestants with a real chance to win.

Let's say pattern No. 3 is that, I think, the whole blue-eyed soul thing, among the males, will be a definite theme throughout the season. That's why South Carolina's own Chris Sligh should get back to the rock.

He was terrific doing Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble," so don't get me wrong. However, that's a very soulful tune, and while he should sing anything that shows off his big voice, I think he'd really do himself a favor by patterning his choices by answering the question, "Would Meat Loaf sing this song?"

Chris Sligh can win this bugger by channeling Meat Loaf. Nevertheless, he's a shoo-in for the Top 12.

Look, a lot of folks are falling for Phil Stacey. He's OK, but in singing John Waite's "Missing You," I thought he was mediocre at best, and to me, his voice sounded odd.

Sanjaya Malakar looked eerily like El DeBarge tonight, doing a whispery rendition of "Stepping Out With My Baby." Last week, Ryan Seacrest revealed that the 17-year-old Washington native was among the Top 4 boys.

While his performance was generally panned, he's got a following, and I don't think he's headed anywhere before making the Top 12.

Unfortunately, for a kid like Jared Cotter, it means that his days on Idol are certainly numbered. Same for Nick Pedro, who I thought was atrocious with the Peggy Lee classic "Fever." Cotter was at best average with "Let's Get It On."

The pattern I hope to see emerge here is that voters will see fit to send these two dudes home Thursday night because, long term, they stand no shot of winning the title.

Perhaps the one surprise of the evening was Idol's own version of Justin Suarez (if you watch "Ugly Betty"), A.J. Tabaldo, who came out and swished to some tune called "Feelin' Good."

Tabaldo is a contestant who assured us he was happy just making the Top 24 two weeks ago, that he had fulfilled his goal. Well, somebody needs to sit him down and make him understand he's pretty damned good. Getting better week after week is a way to turn a Top 24 surprise into something akin to the runs Diana DeGarmo or Jasmine Trias had in Season 3.

If I had to compel voters to get behind anybody for one week to ensure his survival, it'd be this kid. In a Top 12 setting, he'd be very interesting to see develop.

If it were me, I'd just kick Jared and Nick off the island right now, and be done with it. However, my gut hunch suggests Brandon Rogers will get the early hook, a tremendous disappointment if it happens.

However, song choice is where it's at.

It matters not how you feel about a song or a performance; it means everything how you sound.

A couple of years ago, my friend Sharon and I got together a couple times per week to practice music for this little duo we had goin'.

We'd often practice on Wednesday nights, which during the spring presents a conflict. Idol is on.

That I would go ahead and practice music with my friend indicated just how much I enjoy playing and working with her. However, we'd always eat dinner before practicing, which means I'd always catch her up on what was happening with Idol.

"How's your girl doing?" Sharon would ask.

Although the 2004 season -- Season 3 -- was the year of the three divas, there was only one "your girl." Sharon was referring to Jennifer Hudson, a Chicago native, who was picked by Randy Jackson to be part of the Final 12 in a wildcard show.

Without Jackson's selection, she never would have been in that final group. While Hudson really caught fire by the week of the Final 9, when she blew the house down with a rendition of "Circle of Life," from The Lion King, that momentum really blew up the next week.

"Hudson takes on Houston and wins," director and guest judge Quentin Tarantino said of Hudson's performance of Whitney's "I Have Nothing."

Simon that week noted that there were probably two other women backstage pricking voodoo dolls of Jennifer. Cowell was referring to LaToya London and eventual winner, Fantasia Barrino.

The voodoo worked because Hudson was eliminated the very next week, amid some controversy regarding phone systems down in the Midwest due to severe thunderstorms. In my opinion, that week, Hudson did what no Idol performance had ever done: She covered a song better than the original.

Hudson took Barry Manilow's "Weekend In New England," and gave it soul, power and balls. Barry knew it and acknowledged it; heck, he helped arrange it.

The Bottom 3 that night were Barrino, London and Hudson, and in very much a serendipitous turn, Hudson got the boot.

You'll never hear me claim that a show like Idol actually produces fair results in terms of the product that gets released in the marketplace. Heck, Kat McPhee's album is actually better than Taylor Hicks', and while I didn't expect much from Hicks, I really didn't expect much commercially from McPhee.

And, heck, Chris Daughtry has 'em both whipped at this point with an album that could end up being the biggest CD of 2007.

However, Jennifer Hudson gets the biggest possible last laugh, if she wants it. She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Dreamgirls," and while Hudson has talked about her Idol experience, it's not like she thanked them onstage.

There is absolutely no reason for her to feel that obligation.

One wonders how people are changed when good fortune comes their way. We might wonder just how much bitterness Hudson might hold toward the reality show that made her famous considering the lack of support they gave her compared to other singers. However, if you expect J-Hud, as Idol nerds nicknamed her, to become a real-life diva, you shouldn't hold your breath.

"Look at what God can do," she said upon grabbing the golden statuette on Sunday.

A couple months ago, while other stars were at parties after the Golden Globes, Hudson chose to celebrate her success with the people truly at the foundation of her success -- her church.

It's really easy for celebrities to deviate from who they really are when fame hits. It's ultra-impressive when they stay true to themselves.

I can't tell you how personally impressed I am with her, not only in terms of talent but in terms of character. While it would be really easy to say, "Hey, look at that Idol machine producing another star," really, it was whoever cast her in the role of Effie who should be given the credit.

To a certain extent, Idol and Simon Cowell in particular deserve a bit of scolding for how they treated Jennifer in 2004, if only in their failure to recognize just how talented she is. That the judges didn't get behind Hudson to win Season 3 of America's most popular contest, to me, is the show's only genuine talent misjudgment in six seasons (so far).

Of course, I'm biased because I think the world not only of Hudson but of her talent. I'm not terribly excited about seeing "Dreamgirls," if only because musicals on-screen don't do much for me. However, I'll definitely give it a look and a listen.

What the future holds for Hudson, in terms of movies or music, is anybody's guess. I know she's got the big record deal with Clive Davis now, and I suspect that album could be pretty good, particularly as some of these Idol CDs continue to get better and better.

While I couldn't say for sure that it'll ever get any better for Hudson than it was Sunday night when she won an award so few ever will, I'll be stunned beyond belief if she's ever caught up in anything the likes of Lindsay, Britney, Paris, etc.

We like to think that good things happen to good people, and -- frankly -- Jennifer Hudson is living proof that they do.

Smart women with a dark sense of humor are sexy as hell.

Brionne Jones turned 4 years old today, and it's highly likely, in my book, that her mama will end up a millionaire in three months -- win or lose American Idol.

If there was any doubt that Maryland native Lakisha Jones could win Season 6, those doubts were put to rest when the bank teller sang Jennifer Holiday's "And I Am Telling You," the showstopper from "Dreamgirls," which is about to win Idol alum Jennifer Hudson an Oscar.

"I'm very tempted to say to 23 other people, 'Book your plane tickets home,'" said Simon Cowell after Jones' performance.

Unfortunately for the hefty chaunteuse, this Season 6 group of women were pretty fantastic upon first listen. The competition among them is fierce, even after one week of live performances.

What could spell a problem for Ms. Jones, if I may call her that, is that it's quite possible that she cannot improve upon her rendition of the Holiday classic. Allow me to explain.

It's generally accepted in music that THAT song is to be sung only by big, black women with big, thick, rich voices. It is stylistically unique in that only a few people can pull it off, which Jones did.

On the other hand, for many singers of Jones' caliber, that song comes natural by way of emulation. It's as if one can almost memorize how to sing it, blow it out and then watch everybody's collective amazement. So, in one sense, it was very smart of Jones to debut with that performance.

In another sense, it could leave audiences wanting more after future ones.

Yet, several singers Wednesday night left America wanting more, including Stephanie Edwards, who opened the women's half of the Top 24 with Alicia Keys' "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore."

The 19-year-old Georgia native took to her knees and immediately drew praise from the fearsome threesome.

Randy Jackson said she "set the tone" for the night.

In a sense, he was spot on with that comment.

Five young women, all of African-American descent, blew the other 19 contestants out of the water, setting the stage for what media critics will almost certainly label as the "five divas."

Jones, Edwards, Sabrina Sloan, Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle all impressed at a level unseen at any point during the guys' Tuesday night portion of the competition.

Sloan was solid with Aretha Franklin's "I've Never Loved A Man," rendering high praise from the Dawg Pound.

"That's the way to put it down," Jackson said.

Paula gave the California native a standing ovation, which Ms. Xanax is apt to do.

Sparks sang to an extraordinarily uptempoed "Give Me One Reason," popularized by Tracy Chapman, drawing some criticism for song choice but general praise from all three judges, who agreed that she could do better.

"Push yourself, and you might surprise a few people in this competition," Cowell said.

However, the shy and unique Doolittle did right by Aretha's "Since You Been Gone," demonstrating tremendous soul and polished stage presence.

"You have a fantastic story. You are a fantastic singer, and I really hope you do well," Mr. Nasty told the Tennessee native.

Doolittle has spent years as a backup singer for stars like Christina Aguilera, yet she comes off as unassuming and shy. Several weeks ago, I noted that she reminds me of a young Tina Turner. It's high praise, but in a competition -- as I noted in my last post -- that is looking more for uniqueness than mere technical ability, she's a keeper.

If these five women represented the best of the pack on Wednesday, singers Amy Krebs, Leslie Hunt, Antonella Barba, Nicole Tranquillo and Alaina Alexander represented the half of the group almost certainly to disappear in three weeks time.

Of all of them, Hunt was undeservedly criticized for her stage presence during "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." Hunt's mannerisms are a tad quirky, but she did some terrific things with this Aretha classic.

Heavens no, she couldn't sing it nearly as well as the Queen of Soul; however, while watching, I noted that her vocal mannerisms, particularly the scratchiness of her voice, reminded me of Kelly Clarkson quite a bit.

Krebs put on a forgettable performance of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me," Barba butchered Aerosmith's vapid "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," Tranquillo squealed through Chaka Khan (and Erykah Badu's) "Stay" and Alexander pooped out "Brass In Pocket" only half as well as Scarlett Johannson did in "Lost In Translation."

And, she wasn't rockin' the pink hair like Scarlett.

Those four singers, to me, have to develop an extraordinary fan base to go far in this competition. To win, they'll need a Clarkson-like transformation, too. Don't forget that Kelly was never considered a front-runner until about the Final 8, when she just took over like a dominatrix at a submisison party.

Oddly enough, two singers who fared well vocally but not stylistically could, theoretically, undergo that type of transformation. Texas-native Haley Scarnato sang "It's All Coming Back To Me Now," and drew criticism but also some backhanded praise in the judges' description of her as a Broadway singer.

There are worse fates, honey.

Illinois-native Gina Glocksen took on Celine Dion's version of "All By Myself," utilizing the arrangement that was mastered by Season 4's LaToya London. Instead of continuing the run at the end of the song, culminating in the screechingly, beautifully soulful climax that London gave us in this very same round two years ago, Glocksen's arrangement came to a halt.

But, then she belted out a big final note at a surprisingly high level. Glocksen, a dental assistant by trade, took the judges by surprise by going the ballad route, given that her musical background is definitely more in rock-n-roll.

What viewers cannot take from these Top 24 performances, boys or girls, is anything certain about what the future holds for Season 6. According to DialIdol.com, Sundance Head came out on top of the voting for the men last night.

And, he was abysmal.

At this stage of the Idol competition, as it's been for six seasons, the singers are vying for a fan base. They're demonstrating uniqueness. That's all.

The vocals have to be a given right now, and song choice ultimately determines whose voices shine in the largest light. While Sundance might have garnered votes from people who feared for his Idol existence this week, a second consecutive subpar performance will render his days numbered.

The contrary can be said for singers like Doolittle and Jones. Their performances tonight bought them weeks of safety and, likely, a ticket to the Top 12.

And, rightly so.

I haven't picked my personal favorite yet. However, Jones and Doolittle took steps toward securing that designation tonight. Personally, I felt a bit sorry for Leslie Hunt, who I think was better than what the judges said, and there is very much something I like about Glocksen.

She's a classic overachiever, methinks. I've been called that a time or two, so I identify with it.

Among the guys, I have to say that my loyalty is securely with Mr. Sligh at this point. He writes. He can play an instrument, and he can do both at a high level.

Truly, Rudy Cardenas could be voted off Thursday night, but vocally, there might not be anybody on par with him among the males. Go to YouTube and look up M-Pact; they're freakin' excellent.

And, Brandon Rogers is the type of singer I have always liked playing for. He's charismatic but nice with a rich, soulful voice. He's got the North Texas background, and he has sang backup for one of my all-time favorite singers, Anastacia.

However, I temper these thoughts with some reality. The guys in this competition aren't nearly as strong as the women, not at this point -- and they might not ever be. I have a theory as to why that could be, in general, on Idol, and I might expound on it later.

For now, my picks (guesses) as to who will be eliminated: Amy Krebs and Alaina Alexander.

Who I would eliminate: Krebs and Antonella Barba. Vocally, Barba should never have been included in the Top 24. Unlike Sundance Head, I can't add some backhanded compliment to caveat the obvious: She's not a good singer.

Doesn't mean she won't stick around for another week, but I can't envision her hanging with what turned out to be an excellent group of women for very long.

Welcome to the top of the pack, Phil Stacey.

To the rest of you: Be glad Simon doesn't make you smell Paul Kim's bare feet.

In what truly has to be considered one of the weakest live American Idol shows in the behemoth's six-season, five-year run, the bald-headed, Clay Aiken soundalike (scary how much he sounds like Aiken) from Jacksonville, Fla., was the only male in the Top 12 to stand out, according to the fearsome threesome of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Stacey originally auditioned the day after his baby was born, and he missed her birth. Syrupy, sweet story aside, his vocal talent went from ordinary in the auditions to solid in Hollywood. On a night when every Idol singer played it safe and generally bored the judges, Stacey was the only one to grab a chorus by the balls and prove his musical manhood.

Truth is, Tuesday's episode isn't nearly as bad as I made it out to be, not in my opinion at least.

Rudy Cardenas' version of Edgar Winter's "Free Ride" was solid if not for some vocal roughness in the middle.

The judges immediately pounced.

Randy called it "corny."

Simon said, "I don't think you have a distinctive voice."

Paula loved the 28-year-old North Hollywood, Calif., native.

So, the show generally goes. However, as the night wore on, so did Paula's opinions.

She told Texas native Sundance Head that he picked the wrong song when he puked all over The Moody Blues' "Nights In White Satin." In one of the truly terrible performances in Idol history, the son of a former top R&B star managed to sing an entire song off key.

Paula told the barefoot Kim that he "oversang" George Michael's "Careless Whisper," while Simon called him third-rate, adding that "I would suggest putting your shoes on next week ... if you're here."

However, Paula's tough opinions cut through several more wannabes.

She told Massachusetts native Nick Pedro that "the magic just fell flat," and beatboxer deluxe Blake Lewis that he picked an odd song in choosing Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know."

If Paula was super tough on Tuesday, one can only imagine how critical Randy and Simon were -- and, possibly, just how bad the performances were.

For my taste, it's still about potential at this point. Stacey's vocal in the middle of Edwin McCain's "I Could Not Ask For More," was as Randy said "on point." He has a solid voice when he sings strong, yet his ability to sing soft and gentle, such as at the beginning of the tune, was rightly called "monstrous" by Simon.

Brandon Rogers' tone is so great that even a dull rendition of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" fared among the best of the night. Unfortunately for Rogers, for a guy who has sang for Anastacia and has a background at the University of North Texas (great music school), he has yet to wow anybody.

However, the moment of the night came after Chris Sligh, the man whom Jack Osbourne looks like (as opposed to the other way around), sang Mute Math's "Typical". Simon noted that while Sligh's humor has served him well, the performance reminded him of "some student gig."

Sligh replied with some crack about Simon's involvement with the terrible, hideous Il Divo and the Teletubbies, both of which Cowell had a hand in creating, apparently.

I knew to blame Simon for the former, but for the latter?

Who knew?

What Sligh soon found out is that Americans should never mess with a Brit's wit. Cowell replied by telling Sligh that he reminded him of those Teletubbies, making reference to Chris' extra weight. Fat jokes are a Simon Cowell forte.

Touche. Touche all around.

Nevertheless, Sligh and the Seattle-native Lewis were at least original. Sligh sang a tune nobody has ever heard of, although anybody who's visited his various Web sites should know he reveres the New Orleans-based band.

Lewis' version of the Keane song demonstrated that he could, in fact, sing -- albeit not at a level that I think could win him the Idol title.

Chris Richardson sang a little Gavin DeGraw, and A.J. Tabaldo grooved to some Luther Vandross.

What's odd about that combination, given Richardson's vocal resemblance to Justin Timberlake, is just how much more soul Tabaldo had. Simon seemed a bit surprised about Tabaldo's better-than-expected performance of "Never Too Much."

"Maybe you're a better than I originally thought," he said.

Of course, per usual, that quip came after 30 seconds of tougher criticism.

The problem with guys like Tabaldo, Pedro and Jared Cotter, who turned in a fair performance of Brian McKnight's "Back at One," is that there is not a thing unique about them. After five full seasons of Idol, given the success that their predecessors have had, this season's Top 24 should realize that being unique is their ticket to the Top 12.

And, to stardom.

Being unique could serve Sanjaya Malakar well. His rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet," was completely panned by the judges, yet there is something, well, unique about the kid that makes you think he'll stay alive for at least another week.

Unfortunately, for Nick Pedro, a boring rendition of Richard Marx' terrible, disgusting "Now and Forever" likely sends him back to the day job on Thursday. His dismissal, I think, is a certainty.

While Sundance's trashing of a rock-n-roll classic should have been enough to render him eliminated that instant, I think America will give the guy another chance -- deservedly so. There is something about his approach to this competition that demonstrates a lack of confidence.

I don't think he yet quite knows what he's supposed to be doing musically.

That could be a killer down the road; however, he's from Texas. I'd suggest a side trip to a smoky bar, a few beers and some live rock-n-roll. Go with the blues, man. Not only can being a one-trick pony save the guy from an unexpected early elimination, I think it could be his ticket to the Top 5, at least.

Where is the shame in being a great blues vocalist for goodness' sake?

The guy with the best voice most likely to be eliminated early though is Rudy Cardenas, whose personality has yet to stand out with the judges. His work with a capella group M-Pact is sensational, and if Tuesday night's performance is his last on Idol, perhaps it's God's way of letting him know where he should be musically.

Again, no shame.

However, for any of these cats to have a chance at the grand prize come May, they'll have to step up considerably. It was a dismal start to the live part of the Idol season, and I expect they know it.

The good news though is that there is still enough that is fresh and unique about certain contestants that Season 6 has the chance to progressively get better and better each week, as opposed to its general cycles of good this week and crappy the next.

My picks (guesses) to go home: Nick Pedro and Rudy Cardenas, which if correct is a darned shame because Cardenas can flat-out sing.

Who I'd send home: Pedro and Sundance Head. While I still think the son of Roy Head has tons of potential, he's just not pliable enough to be a vocal every-man at this point. If he'd promise to stick with the blues, I'd give him a second chance.

Everybody else should feel lucky they're getting a second chance and get to work immediately. Boy, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I can't stress enough just how underimpressive this group was upon first listen.

One of my favorite bloggers happens to be a comedy writer for "Mind of Mencia," and as you might expect, she has a different take on the whole Rogan-Mencia confrontation.

The general contention among many comedians is that Mencia is a joke thief.

Pamie's response is that, uh, a lot of these jokes are so obvious that they were bound to be written by multiple jokesmiths.

Unfortunately, in Mencia's case, he's been confronted about alleged joke plagiarism before. George Lopez (another unfunny comic) confronted Mencia about allegedly swiping 13 minutes of his routine for an HBO special. Lopez told all about this on some Howard Stern broadcast.

I'd be very curious to see if any comics come out and support Mencia. Perhaps he's alone on an island, having pissed off the comedy gods (or perhaps some karmic structure).

I've defended BOOK writers on accusations of plagiarism before; however, given that books are comprised of tens of thousands of words, often hundreds of thousands, the odds of inadvertently matching another piece of work are actually significantly higher.

You have to be able to prove intent at some level, and the Rogan video has comics on the record saying, "Uh, I opened for Carlos in 2004, and I debuted that joke in front of him only to hear it on his next comedy album ... "

I'm paraphrasing. However, that's pretty ballsy on Mencia's part, if true.

However, for the sake of being fair, I wanted to post Pamie's link. She's a terrific writer (and original, too).

I've never cared for Carlos Mencia's brand of comedy; however, turns out several of his fellow comics can't stand him for a different set of reasons.

Led by Joe Rogan, their confrontation of Mencia -- which is getting a ton of play on YouTube right now -- is one of the most tense pieces of video I've seen. It's beautiful.

I feel sorry for Britney Spears, but it's not for any reason you might immediately imagine.

First, I've never considered her to be a music icon with any talent whatsoever, except that she at one time looked pretty hot. Heck, the bald head doesn't bother me physically about her as much as her generally unhealthy look.

Frankly, the partying takes a toll on her.

Second, I don't shed a tear for anybody who actively pursues fame. My friend J and I had a discussion this weekend about putting themselves "out there," like on the Internet, in the form of blogs and vlogs and such, and she expressed an initial desire not to do this -- that she didn't really want to be exposed publicly, whether its result was good, bad or indifferent.

I can definitely understand that; likewise, I can understand why somebody pursues fame. However, I am also aware that, oh, probably seven times out of 10, fame doesn't buy anything but a big house and a life of general unhappiness.

If you want that, then so be it.

I'd love respect, recognition, critical acclaim, popularity, etc., but if I can still go to the grocery store without the 'razzi on my tail, then I'm cool.

So, my sympathy for bald Britney doesn't center on a "why won't they leave her alone" sort of construct.

I feel sorry for her because it's clear she has no friends, not even her sister or mother.

There is an argument to be made that Britney's mom created this monster like so many parents do, by pushing their kids into entertainment and sports without letting them experience a regular childhood. And, for those of you who didn't have a regular childhood -- let me tell you -- it can't be beat.

Friday nights watching the great Richard Belzer on some Lifetime variety show ("Hot Properties"), before it became a chick network. Nightline whenever the parents would let me stay up late enough. C-SPAN 24 hours a day if I wanted it.

MTV and ESPN, too.

OK, so I was a nerd.

Heck, I still have cassette tapes of my buddy Jonathan and I recording faux comedic discussions as if we were in The McLaughlin Group. There is living evidence that I have done a Morton Kondracke imitation when I was like 17, which should give you a ton of insight into what interests me.

However, if I had a problem like Britney clearly does, I would hope that somebody would intervene and say, "You just have no choice but to get your ass into rehab."

On the other hand, I don't know that I'd ever be good at that. I'm not one to say, "Yo, dude, you just have to cut down on the heroin before you fly that commuter jet."

I just can't get into people's business like that. I don't like confrontation, well, unless I'm not in it.

Britney might be 25, but mentally and emotionally, she's clearly 13.

Because she's an adult, she only has herself to blame. However, that won't keep me from feeling a tinge of sympathy for her because, to me, clearly, her mother and friends have completely failed her.

Starting a new playlist in Rhapsody for the first part of 2007, these are my favorite tunes of the new year so far. Couple of them came from 2006.

1. "Grace Kelly" - Mika
   
   Wonderful song, top to bottom.
   


2. "Smile" - Lily Allen
   
   Early favorite for song of the year. It's spiteful, mean and brilliant.
   


3. "You Know I'm No Good" - Amy Winehouse
   
   She's unique, soulful, weird, drunk. Again, brilliant.
   


4. "Lovelight" - Robbie Williams
   
   I'm not sure how Williams hasn't been a bigger hit here in the U.S.
   


5. "Rudebox" - Robbie Williams
   


6. "Breathe (2 A.M.)" - Anna Nalick
   
   Still love it.
   


7. "I Know" - Drake Bell
   
   Catchy, syrupy, tight.
   


8. "Hood Boy" - Fantasia
   
   This is a way better track than folks are giving it credit.
   


9. "Breathe Me" - Sia
   
   It's growing on me.
   


10. "Take A Chance" - The Magic Numbers
    
    A hidden gem.
    


11. "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake
    
    Great rendition on Saturday's SNL repeat.
    

Way to go, dude.

The journalistic heavyweights at AH have revealed their first ranking of Idol's remaining 24 -- their Top 5.

In no particular order, they noted Sundance Head, Chris Sligh, Melinda Doolittle, Antonella Barba and Jordin Sparks. I think they're overlooking a much deeper male contingent this season; however, it's early. We'll cut 'em a break.

On the other hand, their Web site featured a fascinating story about a Canadian kid who correctly picked the Top 24 at least a couple weeks before the selection show aired.

Impressive.

My colleague, Rick Mitchell, chief meteorologist at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, indicates on his latest weather blog post that it looks that the bitter cold is done in Oklahoma for 2007.

All I can say to that is: FREAKIN' HALLELUJAH to the God in Heaven.

The winter of 2007 has merely reinforced in me my hatred of cold. I can deal with bitter heat. Definitely. Cold saps my life blood, and I hate it, and I don't know how you Yankees can take it.

It's on to severe weather season in tornado alley, and I've never been so ready for it.

I haven't had time to analyze the backgrounds of each contestant; however, an initial glance-through produces three girls and three Idol boys who, I think, have legitimate chances to win the Season 6 title.

Girls:

Lakisha Jones -- If I were an oddsmaker, I'd make her the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing. In a year that saw overlooked Idol Jennifer Hudson gain supreme stardom via "Dreamgirls," I think the odds are excellent that it will become a storyline this season with this Maryland mom.

Melinda Doolittle -- I'm not a fan of the Tennessee-native's voice. However, she has a big 'X' factor, and I suspect she'll end up being one of the more polarizing contestants this season.

Jordin Sparks -- She's gorgeous. Hell, most of the female contestants this season are lookers.

Boys:

Chris Richardson -- Sounds like Timberlake in an industry that, I think, can handle two of them. If he can show some musical agility, I'd label him an early favorite.

Chris Sligh -- Personality and humor can only get you so far; however, this guy will develop and has developed a significant Idol fan base. On this show, that's huge.

Brandon Rogers -- Great, great voice. Experience as a backup singer to Anastacia (who I love), and he seems to be a nice cat.

American Idol's Hollywood week is a spectacle of friendship, camaraderie and teamwork.

Uh, I'm sorry. I meant to say that Idol's Hell week is a spectacle of backbiting, bitchiness and bickering -- not to mention forgotten lyrics and terrible group dance steps.

However, 2007's edition of Hollywood week will be remembered for some shocking dismissals.

Baylie Brown. Absolutely thought we'd see her in the Top 12. Stunned. The forgotten lyrics killed her, but Nashville should come calling right now.

Matt Sato. He wasn't my cup of tea, but I was pretty sure they were setting him up to be a Top 12er.

Sean Michel. We weren't told whether his dismissal centered on talent or his beard. My hunch will always be the latter.

Porcelana Patino. Thought she's make it further. Her story and look were so unique.

Perla Meneses. In terms of singing ability, this isn't a shocker. My fear was that the judges would advance her because she was bubbly and vibrant.

Shymali Malakar. I think her brother, Sunjaya, gets a shot in the Top 24, but I don't think he has a clue how cut-throat this industry is. He came off as compassionate and sweet and nice, going out to console his sister. However, I promise you: I can count off the top of my head at least 10 male singers better than he.

Speaking of which, Sundance Head suffered through a pair of terrible auditions, including one in which he butchered Shalamar's "Night To Remember." He was initially considered a favorite, and now I am not 100 percent certain he'll make the Top 24.

Chris Sligh, Brandon Rogers, Blake Lewis, Rudy Cardenas, Tom Lowe (only because he was in the super group), Jimmy McNeal: To me, these cats are the cream of the entire crop right now.

I noticed petty cab driver Tami Gosnell survived. There have been few female singers this season so far I have been able to jibe with. She's one of them, so I'm hoping they give her Carly Simonesque ways a chance to perform in the Top 24.

It's hard to say what will happen tomorrow, but we do know we'll have our Top 24. Finally. And, I'll be back here to break it all down, complete with my picks for the Top 12.

Holy moly, this video camera has unleased my inner ham. At work, my colleague Rick was showing me how to manipulate Windows Movie Maker, and I was pleased to learn how similar it is to Sony Vegas in terms of editing. I'll practice quite a bit over the next few weeks.

However, I won't let a little thing like mastery and competence get in the way of posting. I wanted to experiment tonight with a little live music.

How well could this little device pick up music. Well, it did a bit too well, and I had to play my Yamaha S90 pretty low to keep it from being too distorted.

This tune I play is an original, kind of a jazz pop tune. It's about a guy who lives his life upon a philosophy of good times and fun, always noting to people how they shouldn't "miss life's grand parade," when in reality, he's pretty much the attraction.

The exercise, I hope, will serve to get me more comfortable in front of the camera and to help me get rid of my dorky mannerisms when I play music. If I ever want to play live anywhere, I had better not come off as a complete dork. Well, I do realize that I might just have to embrace at some point because there are some mannerisms that aren't going anywhere.

Aw, heck, maybe the art will speak for itself. I'm pasting the lyrics underneath the video. Enjoy.

The Parade

© 2007 William R. Welton

verse 1:
-----------
ridin' the school bus, goin' to class
smokin' some pot, expelled on my ass
hidin' at home, away from my folks
alone to my thoughts, here's what they evoke ...

chorus:
-----------
my life and times
are highly uncertain
it's sweet sublime
pull back the curtain
my life and times
i consider surrender
the magic of the seeds we sow
is we might never know
what they will render

verse 2:
-------------
missin' the meeting, callin' my phone
sleepin' it off, i shoulda stayed home
i'll file unemployment, i'll find a new wife
i'll move to bermuda and start a new life

chorus:
--------------
my life and times
are highly uncertain
it's sweet sublime
pull back the curtain
my life and times
i consider surrender
the magic of the seeds we sow
is we might never know
what they will render

bridge:
---------------
I'll push for an early retirement
spend my days under the sun
at least if i'm never successful
i'll go for some visceral fun

verse 3:
---------------
drinkin' mohitos, smokin' some herb
enjoying existence away from the burbs
if I could advise the kids of today
I'd tell 'em don't blink, you'll miss the parade

Here's my first video-blog entry, thanks to a gadget from Pure Digital -- the point-and-shoot video camera. It's a genius product and damned inexpensive, too.

Man, who would have thought anybody could have stolen the 49th Annual Grammys from the brilliance that is The Police, who opened the show with a terrific but subdued rendition of "Roxanne?"

But, the Dixie Chicks found a way, and good for them.

I didn't love their album, "Taking the Long Way," as much as the Grammy voters did, obviously. I love the Dixie Chicks when they're doing Texas music, like "Long Time Gone." However, the vote for the Dixie Chicks by the Grammy committee is as much as statement on the importance of their recording as it is about the quality.

Make no mistake: This was a political statement on behalf of the entire music industry, and I loved it. Those women have more cahones than anybody in entertainment, and while their brass balls were developed by accident, they were strengthened through real persecution.

Like any brilliant artist, Emily, Martie and Natalie (with the help of Dan Wilson) turned their pain, the death threats, probably a ton of depression into music. When the trio won the Grammy for best country album, Natalie chuckled.

Country? They abandoned the Dixie Chicks, and no way should that vapid industry, that lot of followers, that group of "yes men" be allowed to sniff the air these Grammy winners breathe. Natalie felt the same way, I'd imagine, as she invoked The Simpsons when accepting the country honor.

The Dixie Chicks are masterful musicians, tremendous country-folk-bluegrass artists and politically active heavyweights -- arguably the most important music group of the past decade.

Good for them.

Those women had the chance to raise their middle fingers at country radio, the president, the idiots who told them to "shut up and sing," everybody. But, they didn't, proving that channeling anger and frustration into something that's creative truly is the best outlet for such feelings.

Everybody, everywhere should take note of their example.

This is the brilliance of SNL's Feb. 10 skit on sloths, which I noted late last night/this morning. Kind of a digital short, it was featured at the very end of the show, and it had us in the fetal position about halfway through.

My guess, my gut hunch says this was written by Andy Samberg, who right now, I think, is the most talented thing going on the show.

Enjoy.

I have been a staunch supporter of SNL over the years, noting that the show has always been 60 percent unfunny, 20 percent mildly funny and 20 percent genius.

Saturday's show with Forest Whitaker was no different. For most folks, the fact that most of it isn't really funny just turns them off to the whole thing. For me, on the other hand, I live for the 20 percent that's really funny.

"Dick In A Box" from earlier this season is one such gem.

However, tonight, we had to wait until the very end for possibly the second funniest thing I've seen on SNL in years. It was a public service type of segment from the Staten Island Zoo, and the woman representing the zoo noted that some students had made an educational film short about sloths.

On the face of it was something akin to really cheesy viral video that makes its way across YouTube every day. However, the words to the little music video they made were crude and brilliant. My buddy T and I laughed until we hurt. Until tears were flowing, and to think, the writers left this until the very last skit.

As soon as it's on YouTube, I'll post it. It was genius. Genius. Genius.

But, in the interim, as a segue from my last post, here's the genius of Phil Hartman in a video collection from NBC's hit show of the mid-1990s, "News Radio."

Like you didn't know by now, but Anna Nicole Smith is among the deceased.

Am I surprised? Well, she was only 39. On the other hand, my good friend J noted to me a week ago that she had a specific, detailed dream that Anna Nicole had died. As freaky as that sounds, perhaps subconsciously it reflects just how fragile we figured the model's life was.

While she was no Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn, with all due respect, had talent), Anna Nicole was still a figure with whom many folks could at least sympathize. Furthermore, in an age of models starving themselves to look "good" for the industry, the Texas beauty was an eater.

But, are we shocked? Saddened? Umm, not particularly. Like other celebrities who live turbulent lives, the individual's demise is somewhat expected. We find ourselves questioning, "Wow. How did she actually survive this long?"

On the other hand, Anna Nicole's value as a symbol of American pop culture is legitimate. From a fried-chicken palace worker to exotic dancer to Playboy Playmate to widow of some old rich guy to a reality show maven to the butt of jokes about the drug-induced to celebrity martyr, Anna Nicole's wild ride was ours.

Somehow, she made us all feel damned normal. Not that she meant to and not that this, in and of itself, lends real cultural value to our lives; however, it's all sort of an appropriate eulogy for somebody who, in this day and age, is about as close to Marilyn as we'll see.

Now, for some celebrity death shockers, I present my Top 5 shocking (and indeed truly saddening) celebrity deaths of my lifetime, in order. I should note that, for me, Elvis doesn't count. I was 7 when he died, and as an artist, the guy never meant a thing to me, one way or the other. Heck, I was considerably sadder about Thurman Munson's death in 1979, which I consider to be the first shocking celebrity death of my lifetime.

1. Princess Diana. I'll never forget being at Razoo's in Richardson, Texas, eating dinner with friends only to come home and see a British flag on the television screen with sounds of "God Save The Queen" playing. Eerie. Very somber and stunning.


2. John Lennon. I watched Monday Night Football the night Howard Cosell made his infamous announcement. While Elvis might register higher on most lists, I think Lennon's death is the most significant "surprising" or "shocking" music-related celebrity death in my lifetime by a mile.


3. Phil Hartman. If ever there was a place called Hell or in Hell for any person, it's for his wife. Hartman was absolutely beloved, and only did the public realize it and acknowledge it after he died. My absolute favorite Phil Hartman moment was a scene from "News Radio" in which he was smoking and playing a piano in the radio station's elevator. Don't remember all the details but it was terribly funny.


4. Stevie Ray Vaughn. For my taste, he's the greatest guitar player who ever lived. The right mix of blues, rock-n-roll and soul, Vaughn's work didn't register with me until my 20s. But, when it did, it really did. Now, I'd add George Benson and Charlie Byrd and Prince to my list of favorites, but Vaughn was the master.


5. John Ritter. I don't know anybody from my generation who wasn't at least a bit bummed out for like two or three days over Ritter's death. It was a surprise, although it shouldn't have been given his family's history of heart trouble. However, Jimmy Kimmel himself got all choked up when talking about the guy days later, and I have always respected him for that in an odd way. Ritter was one of the good guys in entertainment.

Well, our final auditions show of the season is over. It's on to Hollywood, and before you know it, we'll have our Top 24.

But, who's in? Who's out?

The latter might be easier to figure out than the former.

According to BuddyTV.com, Arkansas native Sean Michel has been booted for refusing to cut his Fidel Castro-like beard and mountain-man hair. It would be the first known cut made in the show's history solely on something image-related, and in Michel's case, it would be a shame because he seemed to be a very soft soul with a unique sound.

However, in the end, his dismissal would not be a huge loss because he probably wouldn't have made the cut, anyway.

Dallas native Akron Watson has been dismissed after producers learned he had been arrested four years ago on a misdemeanor pot possession.

Like Michel, Watson likely would not have made the Top 24 anyway. Purely speculative, but while Michel was like one of those NCAA Tournament bubble teams whose future was questionable, Watson was like a good school from a small conference that needs to win its conference tourney to have any hope of making the big dance.

My apologies for the Idol-sports mixture. However, it seemed appropriate given that I just watched my alma mater, Oklahoma, beat Oklahoma State 67-60 in Norman tonight. Yea, Sooners.

The surprise dismissal -- and it should be said that only Watson's dismissal is known at this juncture -- comes in the form of Nina Simone wannabe Ashlyn Carr. Producers learned that she had been arrested on charges of putting sugar in the gas tank of a former boyfriend sometime back.

Now, I think, Carr had the potential to be one of our Top 24 this season. She's a looker. She can sing, and frankly I think the sugar-in-the-gas-tank incident is innocuous enough within the realm of Idol controversies to actually work to her benefit, making her seem a bit more real, more feisty.

Next week's Hollywood rounds should bear out the collective fates of all three, although word is that Watson's dismissal won't even be mentioned. So, if you don't see him, you'll know why.

However, do we already know who's in the Top 24? If Wednesday night's auditions were any indication, then an Aretha Franklinesque singer named Lakisha Jones is likely to be a sure thing. However, my money says we'll know her only by Lakisha by the time she makes the Top 24.

For me, petty cab driver Tami Gosnell was the class of the bunch though, singing The Allman Brothers classic "Whipping Post." Although she looked a bit like she needed a bath, she also had this faint look of Carly Simon about her ... and, her voice was terrific.

However, her Top 24 future is a mid-range jumper off the iron, in my estimation. Depending on the bounce, she might make it.

There I go with the mixed metaphors again.

While next week's Hollywood round promises to be gut-wrenching like usual, I think the following male performers have sealed up Top 24 spots: Sundance Head, Chris Sligh, Brandon Rogers, Jimmy McNeal, Sunjaya Malakar, Blake Lewis, Matthew Buckstein, Rudy Cardenas, Matt Sato, Paul Kim, Chris Richardson and Mike Preston.

There are a couple Norman guys, including Tony Foster, who we haven't seen yet. Heck, we haven't seen Mike Preston yet; however, everything I've heard indicates he's in. Just a guess on my part. Nevertheless, at least one of the Top 24 will be representin' Norman, Oklahoma, USA. Yea, Sooners.

It's easy to pick which guys will make it to the Top 24 this year. I'm willing to bet I have at least eight of the 12 right. The women on the other hand, man, I'm just not sure.

Jordin Sparks is a sure thing. Baylie Brown is 100 percent a sure thing. Denise Jackson's backstory is too, too good. Lakisha's talent is too strong. Melinda Doolittle is too unique not to be in the Top 24. Perla Meneses is unique, gorgeous and talented enough to be among the last two dozen, and Porcelana Patino and Tami Gosnell are a couple of wildcards.

As I noted before, Gosnell looked like a flea-dip was in order, but she seemed to have a great spirit and a terrific talent. And, Patino is a woman after my own heart, going through the Rocky routine to get into shape for the audition, as if it were really required. Nevertheless, I admire the hell out of that.

Word in the blogosphere is that Gina Glockson gets the Top 24 call. In tonight's Best of the Rest episode, she's the one who basically proclaimed her love for Simon. Most of you will remember her as the rocker from Season 5 who plays for a band called Catfight.

Love that band name, but I'm not loving my odds of precision on the women. If I'm right on half of them, I'll feel accomplished. But, take Lakisha, Baylie, Jordan and probably Melinda to the bank.

If I had to handicap this bugger right at this second, I'd lay my money on Chris Sligh and Brandon Rogers in the finale. It's early, I know. However, Sligh's uniqueness is going to serve him very, very well in this competition, and Rogers' experience (Anastacia) and tone make for a very interesting Clay-Ruben type of matchup.

Sorry, Chris, for the comparison to Clay. Won't happen again.

Feel free to post a comment if you have thoughts on a possible Top 24.

Last week, our favorite show ventured off to Birmingham -- home of two Idols and a runner-up, so it was a propos that Texas (home of Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson) get its shot.

San Antonio, home of generic basketball and a revered monolith. Never cared for the city myself, particularly when compared to Texas' other great cities, my favorites being Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi.

The talk for weeks had been that a group of University of Oklahoma students would make an appearance. It's rumored that at least two of the five who traveled down there together made it to Hollywood -- perhaps the lot of them.

But, damnit, they weren't on. Not tonight, at least. We do know that Mike Preston makes it. We know that a guy named Foster makes it, perhaps Tony Foster?

Personally, I had hoped that Angela, a woman with whom I played music for a while in Dallas would be there. She's definitely in the age range, and she definitely would have gotten a golden ticket. No doubt. She had recently moved back to Houston to attend Texas Southern University.

Maybe she made it, and we just didn't see her. Possible.

What we do know is that Baylie Brown, from Krum, made it. Cute 16-year-old girl with a city attitude and a country twang, Brown was labeled as commercial with a capital 'C' by Simon Cowell. High praise.

She sang "Stronger," from Faith Hill, and while she didn't do much for me vocally, Baylie is somebody we're likely to see for awhile.

Akron Watson followed his tone-deaf but good-sporting cousin into the audition room, stunning everybody with what I'd call a relatively good voice. His cousin tried to wail "Amazing Grace," and it seemed the reality-TV setup was that his cousin, Akron, was just as bad.

Simon said the guy failed the necessary charisma test but voted to put him through after Akron belted Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."

Sugarland's Ashlyn Carr sang a Nina Simone tune with odd facial affectations, causing Paula and Randy to pass on the 18-year-old beauty. It should be noted that on Idol we see a ton of cute girls and good-looking women. However, Ashlyn has an incredible natural beauty.

Thanks to Simon though, the judges gave her another chance and sent her through to the next round.

However, the singer of the night and one of the best the entire season, right up there with Brandon Rogers in terms of having a pure, soulful tone was Waxahachie's Jimmy McNeal. He sang "Cupid," and reincarnated Sam Cooke right there on the stage.

After three weeks of auditions, I still haven't been blown away by anybody. Perhaps there is somebody on Wednesday who just seals the deal for me right there on the spot. However, more than likely, we're looking at two to three more weeks before I declare my musical allegiance.

In the past couple of shows, I've added Brandon Rogers and now Jimmy McNeal to the list of people I could get behind. However, I think we'd be remiss not to consider Baylie Brown as a favorite in this competition. I've heard zip on how she fared in Hollywood, but frankly that doesn't mean too much.

Oddly enough, Baylie is one of those singers who, I don't believe, would need Idol in the long run.

It's a heck of a boost, but for a show that prides itself on discovering great singers, she'll have to step up in a major way because she wasn't nearly as good as McNeal. Not tonight at least.

The good news for viewers who liked them is that they both have Web sites. While Baylie's has existed for awhile, Jimmy's is a GoDaddy landing page, Idol's ultimate hint that the Texas native has made the Top 24.

My gut hunch is that they're the only two we saw tonight who make it. My other gut hunch though is that they might also be around well into April.

Ahhhh, yeah. Got another song written and recorded this weekend, this one kind of political diddy with what I intended to be a 1970s Crusaders jazz-pop vibe.

The tune is called "Left To The Right (What Would Jesus Do?)," and it calls attention to what I think is the greatest political hypocrisy in America -- that Christianity is the domain of conservatives.

While I wouldn't say that it's the domain of liberals, I would say it's much more a leftist faith than one of the right. For many reasons. The song also calls out conservatives for honestly believing they're carrying out God's work. It's not so much that I'm asking "What Would Jesus Do," as I am noting that if conservatives are really concerned about that in terms of American policy that they should actually examine what He would do.

Enjoy. Here's a link to the song, and the lyrics are pasted below:

There used to be a time when I was a worshipful little minion on Super Sunday, organizing my routine around three hours of television, around a football game.

These days, unless Oklahoma is playing, the possibility is fair that I won't give a rat's you-know-what.

However, I'm still a sports fan, and I have a hunch about this game, namely that Chicago is going to win this bugger.

Just a month ago, we watched Ohio State swagger into the college football national championship game all but ready to accept the hardware. There was no chance that Florida could beat them, right?

Well, Florida was dominant in a 41-14 national title game win, and they did it on the strength of their defense. There wasn't a lot of doubt that the Gators could score some points against the Buckeyes, but the notion that they could hold Ohio State to just one offensive touchdown was ludacris.

Likewise, everybody expected Indy and Peyton Manning to have their way with the Bears like the Colts seem to do with every NFL team. Well, they were stymied a bit by the Baltimore Ravens, who held them to five field goals in a 15-6 Indy win.

However, the Bears play terrific team defense. Their special teams play is out of this world. The only question is whether the Indy D can render Rex Grossman completely flustered.

Totally possible given that Grossman is as fragile an NFL quarterback as I have ever seen. However, like Terry Bradshaw back in the day, Rex can go deep on you every once in a while and has Bernard Berrian, Mushin Muhammed and Mark Bradley at his disposal.

More impressively, the Bears have an effective running game with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Their grind-it-out style not only serves them well in terms of ball-control, it opens the Colts' defense to things like deep play-action passes.

Sure, the Colts can win this game. However, the only way I see this being a rout is if the Bears are doing the routing. While Peyton has the monkey slightly off his back, he ain't won the Super Bowl just yet. I'll see it when I believe it with this guy.

Bob Sanders could wreak havoc with the Indy D, causing Rex to curl up in a football fetal position by the start of the second quarter. It's possible.

But, my gut hunch is that the Bears win a surprisingly low-scoring grind-it-out Super Bowl 19-16.

Every once in a while, I'll roam through the Billboard Hot 100 chart for new music, stuff I haven't heard.

And, it makes great blog filler as I recognize the best the chart has to offer.

So, it's time for another edition of what Ryan likes on the Top 40.

1. Irreplaceable - Beyonce
You know, I don't think it's nearly her best work, and I don't care for the arrangement. However, it's totally introduced the phrase "You must not know 'bout me" to the vernacular of every hot chick in America.

2. This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race - Fall Out Boy
Love the first couple of minutes, and then it goes from Trent Reznor-ish to something more akin to Blink 182. Still, it's worth it for the first little bit.

4. Daughtry - It's Not Over
Great tune. I don't even like his style of music. However, it was perfect for his voice, and the song itself is top notch.

6. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani
Guilty, guilty pleasure.

9. Fergalicious - Fergie
My body stay vicious. I be up in the gym just workin' on my fitness. May I say that those might be the most brilliant lyrics of the past 100 years. Again, guilty pleasure.

10. What Goes Around ... Comes Around - JT
Justin Timberlake is the Michael Jackson of this generation. Just infinitely talented, and to think ... this song features only four chords: Am, C, G, D.

Now, No. 11-39 feature a ton of songs I like but that are so old, they're pretty much off my playlist at this point. The Fray, K.T. Tunstall, another JT tune. Greatness, but I'm over 'em.

Either that, or I've never heard of the songs, which indicates I might be an old coot.

40. Boston - Augustana
If you've never listened to Augustana, and you kind of dig the whole acoustic AC pop show like "The O.C." and "One Tree Hill" churned out, then you'll like these guys. They're among the best of that group.

I had an unhealthy fascination with Olivia Newton-John as a kid. Wait, that was my buddy Darren.

Nevertheless, no prepubescent boy went through the early 1980s without some sort of ONJ fantasy. No doubt. And, her music was pretty awesome as well.

Given her appearance on Idol the other day, I've put together a list of her best five songs, in no particular order.

• Hopelessly Devoted To You


• Magic


• Make A Move On Me


• Suddenly


• Tied Up

Heard on the radio this morning about some Welsh study indicating that scientists finally agree (well, to the extent that scientists ever fully agree) that being cold can cause physiological changes making people more susceptible to rhino-viruses (colds).

I could have told them that, and spared them the money. It's what we call "common sense."

However, for my buddy T, who keeps his house at 42 degrees (not kidding) and has had two colds already this year, I thought I'd share with him the BBC report in hopes of keeping him a bit healthier.

On Jan. 18, I posted this nugget of news to the ol' blog, having seen some hints in the NY Post and on a fellow blogger's site.

With a bit of homework, I was able to deduce the identity of said curly headed Chris Sligh. In retrospect, I honestly think I was the first person in the Web world or the mainstream media, for that matter, to put his name to that description.

Applause for me.

Now, how about a little applause for the man himself, Chris Sligh, singin' a little Seal.

After a day of non-stop winter-weather coverage here in Oklahoma, I was able to view Wednesday night's episode of our favorite show.

Color me still mostly unimpressed with American Idol auditions this season. Sure, we've had Sundance Head, Jordin Sparks, Chris Sligh, Rudy Cardenas, and I might even toss in Blake Lewis into that mix. However, even many of the vocalists being moved on to the next round don't inspire a ton of hope for a winner.

Would Los Angeles prove to be any different?

Yes and no.

No, it wasn't chock-full of great singers. Even the good ones, including a guy from Hollywood last season, were average at best.

Yes, it produced Brandon Rogers.

Brandon has spent the past few years singing back-up for Anastacia, a reality-show winner herself, having won MTV's "The Cut" a few years back only to become an international star. More international than national, the drop-dead gorgeous Anastacia's soulful voice has been the stuff of Europop way more than American fare.

Our boy Brandon though sang a little Willie Nelson, giving "Always On My Mind" a soulful vibe. The trick to this 28-year-old's voice is that it's rich and clean. The trick to his long-term chances on the show is that he looks fairly average and has a personable way about him without coming off as aloof (see "LaToya London").

The episode had a touching moment as Sherman Pore, 64, petitioned to get on the show so he could sing a tune for his "lady," who died of cancer two days before the audition. The petition process was his way, I guess, of making her last days a bit easier by allowing her to focus on something other than dying.

The show's producers smelled a great storyline when they saw it and allowed him to sing. And, you know what, for an old coot, he can sing. He did a little old-man justice to Jo Stafford's "You Belong To Me." Given that guest-host Olivia Newton-John was there in all her cancer-survivor glory, you might have thought it'd be the Aussie who'd break down in tears.

But, of course, it was our stoned mistress, Paula Abdul.

Sherman stole the show, but Brandon has a good chance of stealing the season.