So far my favorite con-*test*-('")ant - funny, smart and even Simon liked him. So my 2 faves so far Castro and him.

Oh geez, I was already gone by that point. I can't believe this stupid show could actually make me cry. I'm such a Hasselhoff.

I liked the cousin who was like, "I'm going to talk trash about you out here, but it's just for the cameras." That was the second really genuine laugh out loud moment for me, the other being the funny Jack Osborne looking guy.

"So"

hee! Best AI quote ever. That was adorable.

I loved that guy so much I actually rewound it twice to rewatch it. They were just so tickled by it. Dude was hilarious. That was super awesome.

Did anyone else think, though, that his cousin thought they really *had* trashed him, and went in with that in mind, and started a little defensively? I was glad he ended up getting through, because I thought he was sort of borderline, but I could easily see how it would become a thing where they would just laugh at him and he would get angry and it would devolve from there.

I have finally been reduced to DVR-ing this show. For a long time I was sort of half-watching it, "if I happened to catch it," which of course meant I would be in front of the TV at the appointed time with the remote in my hand. But I went out one night and I couldn't handle the idea of missing it, so I put it on series record. Now I'm in for the season, I guess. D'oh.

My problem is, I love Ryan Seacrest. NO, I DON'T KNOW WHY. He's so tiny and jumpy and he does such a good-natured job of vainly trying to steer the trainwreck that is this show, and I just love him for it. Also, I enjoy the Ryan/Simon UST, I guess. I don't know why about that either. And, I guess I enjoy wading through the morass of bullshit to get the like two genuine moments per show that you get. Like that guy who said he was going to talk trash to the camera, and the judges' completely adoring it.

Seriously, this is like the last kind of show I would normally watch. I feel like it's some aloof boy that I love to chase because he's such an ASS most of the time that when he's NOT an ass, it's AWESOME. Which is sad.

And my sister already constantly makes fun of me for liking Ryan Seacrest, so don't worry, your job is already done. :P

Me too! I adore the Ryan/Simon UST though. No "I guess" for me.

I also have an awful, embarassing crush on Simon. I don't want to, and when he's just scowling I don't even think he's that good looking, but then he grins at something a con-*test*-('")ant or Ryan says, and I feel a bit giddy.

I disgust myself.

I have embarassing crushes on both Simon AND Ryan. I'll show myself out.

The parade of mugshot begins: Ashlyn Carr and Akron Watson

I'm kind of sad about Akron because it was four years ago and it was a misdemeanor. I'm venturing to guess that he's paid his debt to society in full by now, and should get his chance. Stupid behavior from a teenager shouldn't ban him from the show. I mean, they let Constantine on the show, and he's a crime against humanity.

Ashlyn, on the other hand, I'm not that sure about. It was more criminal mischief to someone else's property and it just happened in August. She's still in the restitution phase of paying off her debt, and she really bugged, anyway.

That article made it sound like he was un-invited, but she's still going? THAT is so not fair.

And if musicians stopped smoking pot, we'd have no blind items whatsoever.* And probably no music.

*Oh, except the gay ones.

You guys have hit upon it exactly! I've been trying to figure out why I don't skip the first auditions and just start watching during the Hollywood rounds. It's the dramatic contrast between the little golden biscuits deliberately interspersed among the rotten turds; when I find one, I'm unreasonably happy. Like a mouse who isn't zapped by electricity one time out of 76 attempts at pushing the lever! I'm a pathetic mouse looking for a biscuit. Tonight's 'best of the rest' just confirmed it for me. It felt like a plethora of talent - when in reality they showed like, two winners per half hour instead of one.

Ashlyn looks like a lot like Gabrielle Union.

She even does that annoying nose thing that GB does. Who I've long ago decided is just Morris Chestnut with a weave. They are the same person, people!

Yeah, I guess she's still going. I liked her on the show, but sugar in a gas tank is pretty immature. I think her "bad habits" are going to bite her in the ass before the final 24.

I had mixed feelings about the SAT show (hometown represent!) - I know that the judges are always mean, but I did feel kind of sorry for the con-*test*-('")ants that they couldn't stop laughing at. They had a mistimed case of the giggles, and I think it resulted in a few people making it on-air that probably wouldn't have otherwise (not being flashy or quite bad enough).

That's it exactly! It really is pitiful.

I realized last night that the themesong completely freaks me out. It's something about the combo of the creepy TRON people, the giant elevator to nowhere, the big scary runway in the middle of space, and the "nyyeeeerrrrrrr" music. It just wigs me.