Charleston, S.C., was recently named the friendliest city in America, so says American Idol host Ryan Seacrest. But might it also be the craziest?

Wednesday night's fourth episode of the seventh season of Idol -- gulp -- was by far the show's most entertaining this year. And I don't even know whether we heard a lick of talent.

I do know that Raysharde Henderson, of Atlanta, thinks he sounds like Clay Aiken from Season 2. What's weird is that he looks like a cross between Nipsy Russell and Michael from Good Times.

DeAnna Prevatte hails from the town that brought us Kellie Pickler. That's right. Crazy Town USA: Albemarle, N.C.

With anger in her voice, a drawl that makes all Southerners sound like idiots and a spelling explanation for the Brit, DeAnna (with a capital A, puhlease) sang Reba McEntire's "Fancy."

It was painful but totally entertaining.

Numbers for Tuesday night's episode of Idol were down by 10 percent from last year, which is an improvement from last week, actually. However, the first three episodes of Season 7 hadn't been worth the buzz.

Wednesday night's stop in Charleston was.

Why? Geez, we're just looking for some entertainment before the competition heats up, and while the stories of mothers having babies and fathers dying of cancer are touching, we would prefer watching crazies like Michelle and Jeffrey Lampkin.

By the looks of it, Jeffrey was going to be one of Idol's all-time greatest rejects. First, he was huge, making Ruben Studdard look like a swimwear model. Second, he wore a purplish, pink tie around his head. Third, he behaved as if he were mad. Loony.

The 24-year-old brought his 26-year-old sister in for an audition, and they sang an R. Kelly, Celine Dion duet called, "I'm Your Angel," and stunner upon stunners: The fat man could sing.

Now, let's not get our drawers in a wad. Jeffrey wasn't brilliant, but there was potential there, and he's got a solid vocal instrument. His sister wasn't really all that but got the sympathy pass to Hollywood.

Can't split the two of them, Simon Cowell explained.

What has happened to this guy? Has America totally softened him?

My favorite crazy of the night was Amy Flynn, of Tennessee, who told our fair judges that she was part of the STARS (Students Teaching And Respecting Sexuality) Program, which is a codename for an abstinence group.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

However, like with the 19-year-old who had never even kissed a girl last week, Amy's prudence came off as half-baked insanity. For anybody who has watched Mandy Moore's character on the movie, "Saved," that's what we got in Amy Flynn.

Socially conservative critics lambasted Idol last week for the show's decision to poke a little fun, and they will again this week. Nevertheless, Amy was good enough to advance to Hollywood, although Simon noted that one week in Los Angeles will change Amy's tune regarding abstinence.

Perhaps she can hook up with that little Archuleta boy and get a scandal going.

The best singer of the night was Sullivan's Island, S.C.-native London Weidberg, who's father died of cancer three years ago. What struck me about this auditioner is her mother. It's probably right for a later topic, but the mother said something like: "This has always been London's dream. It's what we want for her."

So, which is it -- her dream or your dream, Mom?

There could be an entire realm of sociology devoted to adults who live through kids. Mind you, the 24-year-old isn't exactly a child anymore, and her vocals were fairly solid on a Billie Holiday tune, which can't be all bad.

But in terms of actual talent, that was about the best we got all night.

However, the good guy award of the night went to Oliver Highman, who actually left the audition to take his pregnant wife to a hospital when her water broke. I refer to him as a good guy not because he did what he was obligated to do.

If you'll recall from Season 6, Phil Stacey missed the birth of his child to audition. Sure, Stacey made it to the final 12 last year, but there is something utterly contemptible about that to me. Hey, who am I to judge, right?

However, when Highman returned to the auditions and was surprisingly rejected by Simon, Randy and Paula (didn't you smell a sympathy trip to Hollywood coming?), the 27-year-old wasn't bitter.

Instead, he said, "Hey, you want to see my new baby?" That, my friends, is what a new father should be about.

Good father. Good guy. Good episode.