Rose Flack is one of the singers I’ll be
rooting for when Hollywood Week begins.

It was an August afternoon in 1965. I was 11 years old, and I had just bought a pack of Topps baseball cards for 5 cents inside Ken’s Corner Grocery in Ashland, Ohio.

I stopped when I got outside and opened up that pack the cards and there it was — a Willie Mays. A beautiful Willie Mays card. The Say Hey Kid! After a whole summer of opening packs and getting nothing but a series of Marv Staehle, Jerry Kindall, Sandy Valdespino and other nondescript players, I had struck cardboard gold.

A Willie Mays card in way back then was like an American Idol golden ticket today.

On Wednesday night, Willie Mays returned to my life in the form of Rose Flack, an amazing 17-year-old singer who stole my heart — and Simon Cowell’s. Rose was the brightest light on an incredible night of Idol auditions in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was, by far, the best show of the season to date. And after Tuesday’s disaster in Jacksonville, Fla., it was more than welcome.

Both of Rose’s parents had died and she was living with her unofficial adopted family, who obviously adored her. Not half as much me, I’m sure, but their feelings were evident.

Rose is a quirky teenager with this great, kinky and straight blonde hair. She possesses an effervescent innocence about her, and she has the kind of voice I absolutely love. Somewhere in her family tree, it will show some day she is a distant relative of Rod Stewart. And when she smiles, it is Carrie Underwood all over again.

Rose sang “I Felt The Earth Move” by legendary Carole King from the equally legendary “Tapestry” album. A perfect choice, I felt. The judges did not agree on the song selection, but they all agreed Rose Flack is something special.

“You’re one I will remember,” Simon said. “There is something about you.”

There is, Simon. There really is.

I’m looking forward more than ever to Hollywood Week. I make no secret about it. I’m rooting for Rose.

Some other observations from Salt Lake City:

Someone with ESP could have told Tara Mathews
that the Goth look doesn’t work.
Neither did her singing.

David Osmond: He’s the 29-year-old son of Alan Osmond. Yes, THOSE Osmonds. And David can sing. And he’s talented. And he’s got the perfect personality for this competition. And he also has multiple sclerosis, which at times has put him in a wheelchair. His father suffers from MS, too. This also was a great, great story and I’m rooting for David Osmond, too. (But I still love Rose Flack.)

Tara Mathews: I just don’t get the Goth look. Too old, I guess … but that’s another story that would give Tara too much space that she doesn’t deserve. Tara said she has ESP. If true, she should have known how much talent she does not possess. Sorry, no sympathy here for someone who repeatedly flips off the Idol cameraman after the judges simply told her the truth. She sucked.

Frankie Jordan: She looked exactly like that pop tramp Amy Winehouse, only without all the baggage. And make no mistake about it, Frankie can sing. And Frankie is going to Hollywood.

Austin Sisneros: He was the senior class president from Riverton, Utah, who sang “When I Look to the Sky” by Train and “It Takes a Village” by Raffi. I had never heard either of those songs and have no idea who Train and Raffi are, but I kind of like Austin. He almost reminded me of a blond-haired David Archuleta. Key word there is “almost.”

Taylor Valfuina: Only 16 and a striking 5-foot-11, she was from Samoa or one of those islands over there. She follows in the footsteps of Jasmine Trias and Ramielle Malubay, and just might have more talent than both of them put together. Hollywood may be tough for the kid, though.

Meghan Corkrey: The most amazing smile and sparkling eyes, and a voice to match. She sang “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and the judges adored it. I can’t say it wowed me, but she has that “it” factor and with a better song choice in Hollywood she could easily be final 36 material. She’s also a recently divorced mother of one, so she’s got a lot going on in her life right now.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Wow! The new Kelly Clarkson song might be her best ever. That was pretty impressive. I wasn’t sure if it was a commercial or one of those Idol vignettes. Either way, major props for K.C.

Don’t you just love those Verizon “dead zone” commercials?

“The Uninvited” will definitely be a movie I will skip.

Did you see the teases for the New York/Puerto Rico auditions? Can’t wait for tonight’s show!

JUDGES SCORECARD

SImon: It is so nice when Simon gets to speak uninterrupted. He had some of his most revealing comments of the season. Score: 9

Kara: A total non-factor in Salt Lake City. I look for a rebound in New York. Score: 3

Paula: You never know what Paula is going to show up wearing. In Salt Lake City, she looked like a grandma. And nothing against grandmas – I’m married to one. But Paula, what the heck? Score: 4

Randy: Nothing memorable, but I’ll give him a “5″ for those boots. Score: 5

Season standings: Simon 55, Kara 45, Paula 34, Randy 31.

TOP 10

From those auditioners we have seen through the first six shows who have received decent air time:

1. Rose Flack, 17. (Salt Lake City audition)

2. Danny Gokey, 28. (Kansas City audition)

3. Adam Lambert, 26. (San Francisco audition)

4. Lil Rounds, 23. (Kansas City)

5. Emily Wynne-Hughes, 21. (Phoenix audition)

6. David Osmond, 29. (Salt Lake City)

7. Scott MacIntire, 22. (Phoenix)

8. Frankie Jordan, 24. (Salt Lake City)

9. Michael Sarver, 27. (Phoenix)

10. Meghan Corkrey, 23. (Salt Lake City)

Honorable mention: Jasmine Murray, 16 (Jacksonville audition); Leneshe Young, 18. (Louisville audition); Anne Marie Boskovich, 23 (Jacksonville); Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell), 20. (Phoenix) Stevie Wright, 16. (Phoenix); Von Lee Smith, 22. (Kansas City);  Jamar Rogers, 26. (Kansas City); Asa Barnes, 20. (Kansas City);  Kai Kalama, 26. (San Francisco); Taylor Valfuina, 16 (Salt Lake City).

Next: New York City and Suan Juan, Puerto Rico

Paula sat on Simon’s lap and then
kissed Kara as part of a weird night.

For a brief moment — or two, or three, or four — I thought I had inadvertently stumbled across one of those “Girls Gone Wild” commercials.

There they were, judges Paula and Kara — half of the Fab Four, no less — embracing and feigning a kiss on Tuesday night’s American Idol audition show from Jacksonville, Fla.

A long kiss, no less.

Yeah, that was kind of uneasy.

I’m still not even sure how it all happened. At some point in the midst of the first 15 minutes of the show, the judges were all babbling incoherently, and all of a sudden Paula leaps on top of Kara … and let the games begin.

“She kissed me,” Kara said. “… She kissed me! I thought Simon would be the first one to try and kiss me.”

Fortunately, the show moved forward, but I’m still scratching my head over that one.

Jacksonville produced a handful of memorable performances but may have been the weakest of the auditions to date. This is the final week of these things, and that’s probably just as well. It’s time to move on to Hollywood where things will get cutthroat.

Some observations from Jax:

Jasmine Murray: She sang Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” one of my favorites from the past year, and she handled herself extremely well. She’s the first Jasmine I can remember on Idol since the woeful Jasmine Trias in 2004. This 16-year-old seems mature well beyond her years, which could bode well for her in Hollywood.

Joshua Ullga: Not too shabby with Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” but I doubt if he has any real staying power in the next round. When I saw his name I started thinking about Dan Uggla, the second baseman for the Florida Marlins, which further reminded me that pitchers and catchers report to spring training in 15 days. I love this time of the year.

Sharon Wilbur: She definitely has THE LOOK, but the voice seemed a bit weak on the Carpenters’ “Superstar.” Whenever I hear that song I think about the late Chris Farley and “Tommy Boy.” I was mildly surprised the judges voted her through.

Hey, George Ramirez: Speak up! We can’t hear
you! (On second thought, just stop singing.)

Anne Marie Boskovich: This 23-year-old from Nashville might be a real sleeper at the next level. I think she’s only scratched the surface. Her rendition of Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly” was great.

George Ramirez: We’ll always remember George and his beard. He was the oldest looking 18-year-old I have ever seen. Can’t sing a lick, but he would be great to invite over for a game of Scrabble. He’s a calculus major somewhere.

Naomi Sykes: The poor girl really thought she could sing, so of course when the judges told her the brutal truth, there were tears, and then there was a group hug … and then there was the obligatory talking into the camera and telling us that she knows she can sing and she would continue to pursue her dream. Yada. Yada. Yada. See ya, Naomi.

Darin Darnell: I thought this kid would do very well, judging by all the air time they were giving him. He LOOKED like he would be a great singer and sounded like one during his bantering with Ryan. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was obvious Darin’s best bet would be as a professional lip-syncher.

Michael Perrelli: Michael LOOKED the part, too. Guitar, bandana, no job, supported by mom and dad. Time to kick this spoiled little creep out on his non-musical behind. The way he treated his mother after failing his audition even upset Ryan Seacrest. I hope the kid comes down with laryngitis. The sad thing is he was not a terrible singer. He just wasn’t great.

T.K. Hash: He sang John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Let’s just say he was no David Archuleta.

Julissa Veloz: She wore a tiara, was Miss Latino Something-or-other and kind of came off as a poor woman’s J-Lo. But she was fun. She’ll get killed in Hollywood, but she’ll be entertaining.

IDOL THOUGHTS

I liked the opening tribute to Journey, featuring footage of Randy Jackson on guitar. I also liked the ending that highlighted Katrina and the Waves’ “Walkin’ On Sunshine.”

Those commercials for the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” intrigue me. I’ve always liked Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston. Remember Barrymore in that movie a couple of years ago, the one Jimmy Fallon was the big Red Sox fan? I loved that movie. (What was the name of it?)

Hmmm … a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial. We really need one of those in Quincy.

If you haven’t seen “Lie To Me,” make sure you watch it Wednesday night after Idol. It is quality television.

JUDGES SCORECARD

SImon: Some of the spark seemed missing tonight, and did you see that T-shirt he was wearing? When he stood up, I thought he had borrowed it from Josiah the homeless kid from last year. The man makes a gazillion dollars a year, at least wear a decent shirt on national television. Score: 7

Kara: She was never the same after Paula kissed her. Score: 5

Paula: Let’s see, she kissed Kara, walked out of the room once because she felt she was being ignored … yep, the old Paula is slowly, but surely returning. Score: 4

Randy: The Dawg was acceptable. He seemed a little more upbeat than most shows to date. Score: 6

TOP 10

From those auditioners we have seen through the first five shows who have received decent air time:

1. Danny Gokey, 28, Milwaukee, Wis., music teacher. (Kansas City audition)

2. Adam Lambert, 26, Hollywood, Calif., stage actor/singer. (San Francisco audition)

3. Lil Rounds, 23, Memphis, Tenn., customer service rep. (Kansas City)

4. Emily Wynne-Hughes, 21, Los Angeles, Calif., singer. (Phoenix audition)

5. Scott MacIntire, 22, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Phoenix)

6. Michael Sarver, 27, Jasper, Texas. (Phoenix)

7. Jasmine Murray, 16, Starkville, Miss. (Jacksonville audition)

8. Leneshe Young, 18, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Louisville audition)

9. Anne Marie Boskovich, 23, Nashville, Tenn. (Jacksonville)

10. Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell), 20, Chino Hills, Calif., model. (Phoenix)

Honorable mention: Stevie Wright, 16, Phelen, Calif., student. (Phoenix); Von Lee Smith, 22, Greenwood, Mo., student. (Kansas City);  Jamar Rogers, 26, Milwaukee, Wis., bartender. (Kansas City); Asa Barnes, 20, Kansas City, Mo., band director. (Kansas City);  Kai Kalama, 26, San Clemente, Calif., musician. (San Francisco)

Next: Salt Lake City, Utah.

I had my turn.

Now it's time to introduce the American Idol Fans Tournament. You will pick the all-time No. 1 Idol over the course of a five-week period. Here's how it will work.

The top eight male and females from the recent Top 50 Idols Project that appeared over a two-month period in this space were seeded Nos. 1-8 and divided evenly into four "regional" tournaments, much like the NCAA basketball tournament.

Each week for the next four weeks, you will vote for your favorite in each of the regionals by making your choice in the poll on the right side of this blog. The top two vote-getters from each of the four regionals will advance to the championship round.

To add a little spice to the event, I have named each of the four regionals after one of the Idol judges. Here's how the tournament will unfold, beginning today:

Week 1

The Simon Regional: David Cook, Michael Johns, Kellie Pickler, Kat McPhee.

Week 2:

The Paula Regional: Clay Aiken, Jason Castro, Kelly Clarkson, Kimberly Caldwell.

Week 3:

The Randy Regional: Ruben Studdard, David Archuleta, Fantasia, Brooke White.

Week 4:

The Kara Regional: Chris Daughtry, Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood, Mandisa.

Week 5:

Top two finishers from each of the four regionals compete for the AIFT title.

Ohio has given the world some extraordinary gifts. Most notably, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and … well, me.

Wednesday night’s Idol auditions from Louisville, Ky., saw two more added to that list.

One of the best prospects and one of the absolute worst both hailed from Ohio, and both were memorable.

First, the good:

Leneshe Young: This 18-year-old from Cincinnati with the heartbreaking story of growing up homeless had an outlook on life I would like to instill into some of my friends. Her story was touching enough, but then she began to sing — an original composition, no less – and her face simply lit up the television set. She reminded me of last year’s story about Josiah, the homeless troubadour who advanced to Hollywood, only to be cut before the round of 24. I think a better fate awaits young Leneshe, who also earned a golden ticket if you had not already guessed. “You are what we need,” said Randy, easily his most poignant contribution to the season so far.

Now, the bad:

Tiffany Shed: I’m not sure if Ohio can disown her and send her to Michigan or not, but what an arrogant little bleached blonde with a weird left ear. She began by offering an incredibly awful rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” which she followed up with by copping a major attitude with the judges. It was obvious to see how she became so delusional — her parents. They had her convinced she was the next Beyonce. Simon may have never been so accurate when he described her as a “donkey” in a field of thoroughbreds. The auditions were at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Either he was being cute, or he was simply calling her an ass. Tiffany may have been even more annoying than the unforgettable Tatiana Del Toro from the previous night. (I said maybe. I need to think about that one a little more.)

Oh, and her left ear. Did you notice it was growing straight out? That might have had something to do with her being completely tone deaf.

There were plenty of other highlights from what may have been the best overall airing so far this season. This was a show that definitely needed to go two hours:

Rebecca Garcia, left: She was interesting, because she had the words to
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood written on a wrap on her arm in
case she forgot the lyrics. It was reminiscent of Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady or Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who both have their team’s
plays on wrist wraps. Rebecca’s audition was actually rather sad,
because Kara made fun of her, thinking it was all in jest. It wasn’t.
Rebecca was simply that terrible. At least Kara apologized and admitted
she made a huge error. But the bottom line was Rebecca could not sing a
lick.

Mark Mudd: Unbelievable, another unique contestant. He sang — and the term is used loosely — George Jones’ “White Lightning.” Paula thought he was threatening the judges after a unanimous “no” vote, but that was Paula being Paula. Obviously, the woman forgot her meds that day. Mark was just a good ol’ boy who had fallen off the turnip truck. He said he was 25, but he looked 45 and sang like he was 65.

Ross Plavsic: Ross may have been the highlight of the show with his attempted rendition of “Cara Mia” by Jay and the Americans, one of my all-time favorite oldies. Ross was beyond terrible, but he was mighty entertaining. Paula about had another meltdown when Ross came over and drank some of her Coke through her straw (after he was invited to do so, mind you). He said the air was dry and it was affecting his vocals. Ross, take it from me, the dry air was the least of your worries. Ross knew Chinese, too, which failed to impress Simon or anyone else. Ross was harmless, but I think he had been dropped on his head as a small child.

Aaron Williamson: Maybe the loudest contestant in Idol history. Aaron provided a screaming, foot-stomping rendition of “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, which was kind of strange in its own right. And no, Aaron is not going to Hollywood.

Alexis Grace: She was another happy story. The 20-year-old is raising a toddler alone while the little girl’s dad is completing some sort of basic training for one of the branches of the armed forces. She surprised everyone when her rather diminutive frame was able to belt out “Dr. Feelgood” by Aretha Franklin. She’s Hollywood bound.

IDOL THOUGHTS

I’m really going to have to watch this “Lie To Me” series. I really enjoy Tim Roth as an actor, and the whole being-able-to-tell-if-people-are-lying-or-not thing intrigues me.

Oh great, Steve Martin has another movie out: Pink Panther 2. The last time Steve Martin was funny was 1977.

I still love those “Bones” commercials.

The Coke Zero advertisements need to be stopped. Now.

I’m not sure about this “Ink Heart” movie, but Robert Downey Jr. is in it, and anything he touches of late turns to gold.

JUDGES SCORECARD

A pretty good night overall for the Fab Four. Paula left her hat at home, and Kara threatened to become a problem. Simon’s going to knock her on her rear end before the year’s over.

Simon: The “donkey” comment alone earns a perfect grade: Score: 10.

Kara: She was bothering me a little tonight, but she’s still a breath of fresh air. She needs to use some different product on her hair, though. Score: 9.

Paula: She actually had great hair in one of the segments. The parted in the middle look really worked, and again for the exception of a few uneasy moments, she has been reading the instructions on the side of all those bottles of prescription meds. This looks like it could be a comeback year for the queen of quirk. Score: 7.

Randy: As I’m typing this I just noticed there’s a dog hair in the glass of Caffeine Free Diet Mountain Dew I was drinking. Yechhhh. Anyway, Randy was a little above average for Randy. Honestly, he could have skipped the first four shows and I don’t think anyone would have noticed. Score: 6.

Season standings

Simon 39, Kara 37, Paula 26, Randy 18. (Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for comebacks. We’ll be doing this in stages — auditions, Hollywood Week, semifinals, etc. There will be segment champions and an overall winner.)

TOP 10

From those auditioners we have seen through the first four shows who have received decent air time:

1. Danny Gokey, 28, Milwaukee, Wis., music teacher. (Kansas City audition)

2. Adam Lambert, 26, Hollywood, Calif., stage actor/singer. (San Francisco audition)

3. Lil Rounds, 23, Memphis, Tenn., customer service rep. (Kansas City)

4. Emily Wynne-Hughes, 21, Los Angeles, Calif., singer. (Phoenix audition)

5. Scott MacIntire, 22, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Phoenix)

6. Michael Sarver, 27, Jasper, Texas. (Phoenix)

7. Leneshe Young, 18, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Louisville audition)

8. Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell), 20, Chino Hills, Calif., model. (Phoenix)

9. Stevie Wright, 16, Phelen, Calif., student. (Phoenix)

10. Von Lee Smith, 22, Greenwood, Mo., student. (Kansas City)

Honorable mention: Jamar Rogers, 26, Milwaukee, Wis., bartender. (Kansas City); Asa Barnes, 20, Kansas City, Mo., band director. (Kansas City);  Kai Kalama, 26, San Clemente, Calif., musician. (San Francisco)

Next: Jacksonville, Fla.

We may have a winner.

We’re only halfway through the Idol audition process, but I’m pretty sure Tatiana Del Toro will be tough to beat when it comes to being annoying. Of all of Tuesday night’s San Francisco auditions, I will remember Tatiana most.

First of all, The Laugh. The only more annoying nasal effort I have ever (EVER!) heard on television belonged to Fran Drescher in “The Nanny,” only Tatiana’s was not an act. If I didn’t love my TV so much, I would have gladly hoisted the laptop I’m writing this on right through the screen. (I love Lappy the laptop, too, so I guess any part of that alleged process was never a real option.)

Secondly, The Attitude. I don’t know this girl’s parents, but they have to be to blame, because I don’t think anyone in their right mind can be this blind to their own (in)ability at age 22 as Tatiana. She is convinced she is the next J-Lo, as in Jennifer Lopez. In reality she is the second coming of J-Lo all right, but it’s Jose (and not Jennifer) Lopez. Jose plays second base, and quite well, for the Seattle Mariners, and can probably sing much better than Tatiana.

Thirdly, The Responses. Did you hear this girl? This was the classic:

“(The judges) were giving me a hard time, and I’m a damn good vocalist.”

No, she’s not.

Simon attempted to put her in her place early, but to no avail.

“I think you can do a lot of things — but not sing,” he said.

Tatiana presented the judges with a gift of some of her songwriting and some photos, one of which was a rather revealing shot of her in what appeared to be a lingerie advertisement.

“That is quite naughty,” Simon said.

“Thank you,” Tatiana said.

Fourthly, The Stupidity.

“She said, ‘Thank you,’ ” Simon whispered to Paula.

As we’ve said before, you can’t fix stupid. Tatiana is living proof.

And speaking of stupid, the vote was 3-1 to send her to Hollywood. Only Simon had any brain cells functioning properly.

“You’re wild, and I like it,” Kara said to Tatiana.

And here I thought Kara was a borderline genius. Obviously not.

The rest of the night’s highlights included:

Jesus Valenzuela: He’s the guy who Simon had bring his two sons out. He’s also the guy who did a few lines of “Unchained Melody” when the judges gave him a second chance — and he sounded rather smooth, a sort of Tex-Mex tribute to the Righteous Brothers. He’s no threat to make the final 36 (but what do I know? I voted “no” on Tatiana), but I’m glad he made it to Hollywood. He seemed like a nice guy.

Akilah Askew-Gholston, left: Actually, she had one of those raspy voices I like (see any of my tributes to Rod Stewart), but she had no idea what to do with it. She also was rather scary and intimidating. Looked like she had cobwebs in her hair.

Dean-Anthony Bradford: He wore the “Jacket of Life,” a multi-colored coat that failed miserably to impress the judges. The “Jacket of Life” could not make up for the “Voice of Death.” But I do like those hyphenated names.

Dalton Powell: The only reason I am noting his performance is it was the worst of the night for any auditioner that was shown for more than 10 seconds. Dalton sang — make that tried to sing — “Ooh Baby Baby” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Let’s just say whichever one of the Marx Brothers (Zeppo?) who was a mute could have outperformed poor Dalton.

Annie Murdoch: She was cute, perky and … then she started to sing — eventually. At first, she couldn’t decide which song to sing, which thoroughly amazed me. She had probably waited more than 10 hours for the chance to perform in front of the Fab Four and then couldn’t make up her mind. It may have been better if she had never chosen a song, because “Summertime” was buh-root-al. Simply brutal.

Adam Lambert: Here we go, folks. This is a guy to watch. This is a guy who can make the finals. He’s a 26-year-old who has a background in theater, bore a striking resemblance (at least hair-wise) to David Cook and he can obviously throw down some serious tunes. He sang “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. The judges suggested he lose some of the “theatrical” presentation, which was solid advice. I also hope he loses some of the falsetto, or we might wind up with another Luke Menard singing “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”

Kai Kalama: The feel-good story of the night. He was the one with the ailing mom who takes up most of his time. Kai also can sing but is extremely rough around the edges. He has a great, soulful voice, which was evident in ”Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by the Platters. If Adam Lambert had Kai’s voice, we could end the competition right now. If Kai can show enough variety in Hollywood, he could be a player. A very interesting choice to watch. He’s also the third person I have known or seen in my lifetime named Kai.

IDOL THOUGHTS

I kept waiting for some reference to 1967′s “Summer of Love” since the auditions were in San Francisco, and finally, about halfway through the show, the obligatory hippie and Haight-Ashbury shots came forward. The background music was Scott MacKenzie’s “San Francisco,” which is one of my all-time favorites from that era.

Those “Bones” commercials are just great. I wish I had watched that show when it first started.

After a pair of two-hour premiers last week, the one-hour format left me feeling almost cheated. I wanted more!

Ryan Seacrest seemed to have a reduced role Tuesday night, which was cause for a mini-celebration.

Another show that looks interesting is “Fringe.” So much to watch, so little time to do so.

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon: Our favorite Brit is rounding into form quite nicely. By Hollywood Week he will be totally uncivil. Yes! Score: 10.

Kara: Obviously, she’s not about take any lip from Simon and on several occasions threatened to throw down with his highness. The only thing that kept her from getting a “10″ was voting “yes” on Tatiana. Score: 9

Paula: Nice hat, Paula (see pic above). WHAT was THAT! We’ll give the Nutty One a “5″ for the headgear alone and a “1″ for remaining coherent throughout the whole show. Score: 6.

Randy: Welcome back to the party, Dawg! I actually noticed Randy this show. Score: 5.

Season standings:

Simon 29, Kara 28, Paula 19, Randy 12.

TOP 10

From those auditioners we have seen through the first three shows who have received decent air time:

1. Danny Gokey, 28, Milwaukee, Wis., music teacher. (Kansas City audition)

2. Adam Lambert, 26, Hollywood, Calif., stage actor/singer. (San Francisco audition)

3. Lil Rounds, 23, Memphis, Tenn., customer service rep. (Kansas City)

4. Emily Wynne-Hughes, 21, Los Angeles, Calif., singer. (Phoenix audition)

5. Scott MacIntire, 22, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Phoenix)

6. Michael Sarver, 27, Jasper, Texas. (Phoenix)

7. Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell), 20, Chino Hills, Calif., model. (Phoenix)

8. Stevie Wright, 16, Phelen, Calif., student. (Phoenix)

9. Von Lee Smith, 22, Greenwood, Mo., student. (Kansas City)

10. Jamar Rogers, 26, Milwaukee, Wis, bartender. (Kansas City)

Honorable mention: Asa Barnes, 20, Kansas City, Mo., band director. (Kansas City);  Kai Kalama, 26, San Clemente, Calif., musician. (San Francisco)

Next: We see who gets lucky in Kentucky when Idol moves to Louisville.

Did Andrew Lang deserve a golden ticket to Hollywood?

The second night of auditions provided more genuine talent, but one singer impressed me more than others.

Danny Gokey, a 28-year-old music teacher from Milwaukee, Wis., whose wife recently passed away, should be able to sail into the finals. Gokey’s blue-eyed soul oozed from his “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” I will be shocked if he is not one of the standouts during Hollywood Week.

Two nights into the competition, here are my top 10 to date (of the ones we have seen perform on TV):

1. Danny Gokey, 28, Milwaukee, Wis., music teacher. (Kansas City)

2. Lil Rounds, 23, Memphis, Tenn., customer service rep. (Kansas City)

3. Emily Wynne-Hughes, 21, Los Angeles, Calif., singer. (Phoenix)

4. Scott MacIntire, 22, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Phoenix)

5. Michael Sarver, 27, Jasper, Texas. (Phoenix)

6. Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell), 20, Chino Hills, Calif., model. (Phoenix)

7. Stevie Wright, 16, Phelen, Calif., student. (Phoenix)

8. Von Lee Smith, 22, Greenwood, Mo., student. (Kansas City)

9. Jamar Rogers, 26, Milwaukee, Wis, bartender. (Kansas City)

10. Asa Barnes, 20, Kansas City, Mo., band director. (Kansas City)

Here are some thoughts about some of Wednesday night’s performers:

Vaughn English: He was the goof who sang, “Do You Want A Banana?” What I wanted was to reach through the television and smack him right in the face — multiple times.

Anoop Desai: The “Noop Dog” (thanks, Randy) has some serious soul — and a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Casey Carlson: She is pretty, has an electric personality and wears cowboy boots. But she can’t sing. But she made it through to Hollywood. This one still has me baffled. For those who follow college basketball, Casey Carlson going to Hollywood is equivalent to North Carolina A&T reaching the Sweet 16 in the Big Dance.

Matt Breitzke: The hard-working father of three made it to Hollywood. Good for him. “This could mean a lot of things,” he said. This is a guy we can all root for.

Jessica Furney: She really surprised me. She lives with her crazy grandma and audition day was her birthday. She didn’t “look” like an Idol. She wears glasses (nothing wrong with that!) and getting to Hollywood was probably the one big chance to make something of her life. Well, the kid’s going to Hollywood after blowing the judges away with a great voice. This is another qualifier we can root for.

Bikini Girl: Hah! Just kidding! Wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Von Lee Smith: He belted out “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” and I wasn’t sure I had heard a great version of that song or someone oversinging one of the classics. My gut instinct was the Fab Four would give him a pass simply on potential. I was right.

Brian Hettler: The former opera student sang Aretha Franklin’s “Think.” Simon ripped his heart out. Brian then tried to convince us he sounded like Josh Groban. Josh Houchins, maybe. But not Josh Groban. Oh, and then Simon ripped his heart out again.

Michael Castro: Jason Castro’s brother advances to Hollywood, weird hairstyle and all. If Jason would have had Michael’s personality, he might have been the 2008 American Idol.

Jamar Rogers: With a little help in Hollywood, this guy could become a major player. He has a great voice, a powerful voice. He oversang “California Dreamin’” but all four judges saw the same potential I did. Or rather, I saw the same thing they did.

India Morrison: She reminds me of Paris Bennett from 2006, but I don’t think she has the same kind of vocal range. We’ll see in Hollywood.

Danny Gokey: One of the true highlights of the night, and what a journey. His wife recently died … and … well, there he was. I could not do his emotional story justice, so I won’t even try. But I think Idol Nation will adopt this guy, not only because of his tragic experience, but because he can sing. Lord, can he sing.

Andrew Lang: He was the guy with the cheerleaders. I thought he deserved a ticket. The Fab Four didn’t.

Asa Barnes: He looks like a soul singer. He sounds like a soul singer. He will do well in Hollywood.

Lil Rounds: She resembles a young Gladys Knight, and we’ll be hearing a lot more from her this season.

IDOL THOUGHTS

I don’t think Simon changed shirts between Phoenix and Kansas City.

How long until Bikini Girl comes back?

Did you see the commercial for “Bride Wars,” starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway? That movie intrigues me. I love Kate Hudson. Anne Hathaway’s not bad, but she seems intimidating.

Ricardo Montalban died. I hadn’t heard. Remember him in “Fantasy Island?”

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon Cowell: Mr. Mean began rounding into form. I can’t wait until the journey reaches Puerto Rico. Score: 10.

Kara DioGuardi: It didn’t take the new kid long to start laughing at the wannabes. She’s officially one of the gang. Score: 9.

Paula Abdul: Paula seemed a bit more sedated in Kansas City. It must have been a rough trip from Phoenix. But she’s already contributed more in two shows than she did all last season. Score: 6.

Randy Jackson: The Dawg just hasn’t been a factor yet. Not sure what’s going on. Score: 4.

Season standings

Simon 19, Kara 19, Paula 13, Randy 7.

IDOL SCHEDULE

Here’s the TV schedule leading up to the finals:

– Jan. 20-21: Auditions
– Jan. 27-28-29: Auditions (yes, a three Idol week!)
– Feb. 3-4: Hollywood
– Feb. 10-11: Hollywood
– Feb. 17-18: Top 36 semifinal round
– Feb. 24-25: Top 36 semifinal round
– March 3-4: Top 36 semifinal round
– March 5: Wild card show (Another three Idol week!)
– March 10: Top 12 begins

AMERICAN IDOL WANTS STRIP CLUB TO TAKE IT OFF

From the Dallas Morning News:

FremantleMedia North America, which owns the popular TV show, has sued in federal court to stop the weekly “Stripper Idol” contest at Palazio Men’s Club in Austin, Texas. The company also wants to seize Palazio’s profits from the amateur stripping contest.

In its lawsuit, FremantleMedia calls “Stripper Idol” a trademark violation that could mislead the public to believe that the television show sponsors the event.

Advertisements for the stripping contest use a logo with a “color scheme, design and font” similar to that of the TV show. Waitresses at the club wear T-shirts emblazoned with the logo, according to the lawsuit.

Palazio managers initially thought the lawsuit was a joke, but they don’t plan to end the Thursday night strip-off.

The club’s managers say their contest doesn’t resemble the TV show. In “Stripper Idol,” the women have 60 seconds to dance topless, then are ranked by audience applause to win $500.

Next: Idol lands in Louisville on Tuesday and Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

“There is only one American Idol.” — Simon Cowell

“The beauty of Idol is the journey.” — Ryan Seacrest

Katrina Darrell auditions for
American Idol in Phoenix. (AP Photo)

The birth of your first child.

Opening Day of baseball season.

The first bite of that perfectly frosted, fresh-from-the oven glazed doughnut.

Yeah, the first night of a new season of American Idol is kind of like any of those, except better. Much, much better. (OK, maybe not the first of your first child, but definitely the other two.)

The world’s greatest television show, the one we had waited 7 1/2 months for it to return, roared back into our living rooms better than ever on Tuesday night.

Maybe I was feeling overly sentimental, but there seemed to be a new kind of warmth present. Added background on more of the participants was obvious — and a plus. You can’t go wrong with humanizing some of those characters.

Most importantly, the four-judge experiment looks like a winner. Kara DioGuardi has joined Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, and I like the feel of the Fab Four as a cohesive unit. But more about that in a minute …

OPENING NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

What would Opening Night be without auditions that make you smile, laugh, cry and cringe? Here’s a sampling of all of those emotions:

Bikini Girl (Katrina Darrell): This audition will be played and replayed as long as this show is on the air, which means I will be seeing it for the rest of my natural life. Not only did Bikini Girl state her intentions of making out with Ryan Seacrest — and did — but she got into a verbal catfight with Kara. The best part? She made it through to Hollywood, so we’ll be seeing more of her (in a figurative sense, that is). Despite her rather borderline nasty attitude, she did show something besides a lot of skin. The girl has some talent, however minimal that might be. Probably not enough to make the final 36, but who really cares if she keeps wearing that bikini?

Emily Wynne-Hughes: This year’s Carly Smithson features even more tattoos than her predecessor, but Emily appears to possess something Carly did not … a likability that that I think will pull the audience close to her (if she survives Hollywood Week, of course). I had my first goose bumps of the season when the Fab Four voted her through with Heart’s “Alone” playing beneath the judges’ comments.

Michael Gurr: “It isn’t working, is it Michael?” Simon said. That was being kind. Michael was the little guy who seemed to be speaking in a foreign language and then almost had a nervous breakdown after his audition. Poor Michael was from the same talent lineage as William Hung and earned first-night honors for the worst overall performance.

Elijah Scarlett: He had one of the strangest voices ever heard on Idol. Think Barry White. Think Barry White with a gastric disorder.

Stevie Wright: The high school girl named after Stevie Nicks was a nice surprise. Her “At Last” by Etta James was one of the night’s highlights. Paula said she has the “strength of Kelly Clarkson.” Obviously, Paula is still a little nutso, but we love her.

Michael Sarver: The oil rig worker was another of the night’s pleasant developments. I’m marking this name down as one to watch during Hollywood Week. “American Idol can change your life,” he said. It might very well change his.

Eric Thomas (Sexual Chocolate): He didn’t advance. I just wanted to type the nickname he had tattooed on his back.

Scott MacIntire: The almost-blind singer is going to be a key figure this season. You can just feel it. If he gets through Hollywood Week, you just know Idol Nation will adopt this feel-good story.

IDOL THOUGHTS

• The opening montage was especially effective. The highlights from the first seven seasons, played out in emotional form with Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” providing the perfect backdrop, was a great way to open the season.

• It only took 33 minutes for Paula to tell Simon to “shut up” for the first time.

JUDGES SCORECARD

Each night this year I’m going to grade the judges on their contribution to the show. Here’s the Tuesday report card, with points awarded on a 1-10 scale (we’ll keep a running season total to see who winds up as Judge of the Year).

Kara DioGuardi: The rookie comes through with flying colors. Kara and Paula are going to make for a nice mix, and I didn’t think that would be possible. Kara’s got an attitude, and I like it. Score: 10

Simon Cowell: The judge we love the most seems to have been recharged, and that’s good for the show. And what’s good for the show is good for us. Score: 9.

Paula Abdul: Paula was wearing glasses on the show for the first time. She’s no Sarah Palin, but the specs worked well. Paula seemed especially focused, unlike much of last season. I think she likes having Kara around. They’re longtime pals, so that would be expected. Score: 7.

Randy Jackson: Will it be Randy — and not Paula — that gets left in Kara’s dust this season? Hmmmm. Score: 3.

TV RATINGS

It will be interesting the see what kind of “official” ratings Idol pulls in this week. The continued rise in the use of DVRs is causing the Nielsen folks fits in attempting to accurately portray the true popularity of shows.

Case in point: So far this season, the only top 10 shows that aren’t down considerably are three police programs (“CSI,” ”NCIS,” “Criminal Minds”), and one newsmagazine (“60 Minutes”). ”Dancing with the Stars” (down 12 percent on Mondays; down 11 percent on Tuesdays); “Desperate Housewives” (down 15 percent) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (down 12 percent) have taken big hits, and much of that is the DVR factor, many analysts believe.

An Idol premier has not drawn under 30 million in five years, so that is kind of the magic number in one sense, but most in the TV industry are implying anything above 29 will be astounding in this day and age. No matter the final Nielsen numbers are, Idol is a lock to be No. 1.

Tonight: Auditions continue in Kansas City.

The wait is almost over.

It has been more than seven months since David Cook accepted the crown and all of the other spoils of victory that accompany being an American Idol. The journey begins anew Tuesday night, and I am more than ready, willing and able to watch this real-life soap opera begin its deliberate assault on our day-to-day lives. (Well, at least my daily existence.)

First, a few reminders on what changes to expect during Idol's eighth season:

• There will be one less week of auditions shown.

• A fourth judge has been added in the form of Kara DioGuardi, who promises to add spice to the Simon-Randy-Paula debate(s).

• An extra week of Hollywood has been added (or reinstated, depending on your point of view). We'll again get to see some of the group performances, which were eliminated in recent years.

• The semifinal field will be enlarged to 36 from 24.

* The judges' wild-card selections have been reinstated in an effort to assure no potential Idol falls through the cracks.

• In case of a voting tie between the judges, Simon is the tiebreaker — because he is king.

Secondly, a couple thoughts from the Top 50 Idols Project countdown that began in the first week in November and concluded over the weekend:

• I was surprised at the amount of interest and responses to Bucky Covington.

• I was equally surprised at the amount of disdain toward Fantasia.

Soon we'll be starting a top 10 countdown of the worst all-time Idols. Originally, it was planned to run before the start of the season, but a change in scheduling was made. I figured it would be more fitting to begin the worst Idols during the auditions. I don't think any further explanation is needed.

Like the show itself, this blog will evolve as the season progresses. Its shape and content will change on a regular basis, especially during the weeks leading up to the finals. Once the field of 24, errr … 36, is finalized, we'll resort to last year's format of rankings, heartbreak and hilarity.

I'll see you back here after the Tuesday night season debut.