It's baaaaaack...

American Idol is back!

Since there's, well, nothing else on TV I want to watch (until Nip/Tuck, but that's after the show), I'm actually watching the auditions. Accursed ongoing strike!

Ratings predictions? Last season, it arrived to its biggest opening ratings (averaged 37 million-ish viewers and almost a 16 in the demo), coming off of one of it's highest rated finales. Last season's ratings dropped heavily from there as the contest went on, which leads some to speculate that Idol will not be back as strong this season.

I'm not one of those. I think, especially for the audition phase, the ratings grow every year as people across the country become more interested in the spectacle and the car crash sensibility. Plus, there is nothing, nothing else of interest on television right now (to young people, anyway, I'm certain NCIS and Comanche Moon will have around 14 million viewers, the bulk of them 55+).

I say Idol nears an average of 40 million for Tuesday.

Thoughts on the singers... I have to say I've never understood any of the bad contestant's willingness to audition. It just doesn't make sense to me. But enough about the train wrecks... Certainly some quality in the bunch (though I've learned to never make predictions based on the audition phase, because you don't get a good look at everyone). Still, Kristy Lee Cook was something (to look at and listen to)! Very nice vocal control.

Fashion question time! On Day 1, what was with Ryan's "Monarchy" T-shirt? And Randy is now sporting a goatee?

Also... dear show: Philly is no longer "The City of Brotherly Love", it's "The City that Loves You Back". D'uh.

... not much to say about Nip/Tuck except it's HI-LARIOUS that Sean brings Gina (crazy, HIV-positive, sex-aholic) in to be the new receptionist (after Christian is, er, attracted to the previous one). Also HI-LARIOUS? She says she just passed her (California) real estate exam... and her character on Friday Night Lights just left Dillion because she passed her (Texas) real estate exam! <3 it!