American Idol Season 10

I wasn't going to watch AI anymore because the judges all left (except Randy) and last year was boring (but it seems like every other year is boring). I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I like the new show and have been hooked since the season started. I watched out of curiosity, as probably most of America did, to see the new judges and I like them! Jennifer and Steven bring a freshness to the show that it needed.

There are so many things I like about the show like: less swearing and stupid people, Jennifer and Steven are performers and give good advice, the contenstants are good singers!, there was only one week before the judges cut the contestants down to 13 instead of eliminating two people each week until they got down to the top 10, no small stage after Hollywood...contestants perform on the big stage, the judges actually give good advice instead of "that was the worst song ever" or "you look really great", and it seems like the judges actually care.

It was touching when Jennifer broke down after she told Chris Medina he wasn't in the Top 24 (whose single I bought and the words are very touching). She said she didn't want to do this anymore, but did anyway and showed America the true professional she is. I have never been a fan of JLo's music although I like her as an actress but I have to say she's really gone up a few notches in my book. I loved it when they showed her new video (On The Floor) on one elimination show and bought the song on Itunes. I think her exposure on the show has let America know her as a person where we really didn't know her before.

Steven is so nice to the contestants, it's refreshing! He's like their dad and the way he treats them says a lot about him. I've never been a fan of Aerosmith or his singing but I sure do like him! His expressions and the things he says are so funny - and real! It was great when Stevie Wonder sang him happy birthday and they gave him a cake. I could tell he was really surprised!

Since Randy move over to the other side of the judges table he's been more real - but not mean. I like Randy but thought he was kind of a pushover in previous seasons. With Jennifer and Steven being new I could really see that he had been on the show for 10 seasons and was used to letting people down. Sometimes when he critiques contestants and Jennifer doesn't agree it reminds me of Simon and Paula. But with one important difference, Randy's critique doesn't tear the person down.

Ryan has grown on me too and I think it's great they give him props at the beginning of the show when they announce him (even though I fast forward to the singing!) He doesn't seem annoying - I don't know if that's because they have new writers or because Simon left. If I had to say one word about those guys it would be - NICE.

Now to the contestants...

My early likes are Pia, James and Casey. I love James even though I don't listen to his kind of music. He's a good singer and a good entertainer. I hope he makes it to the finals so that Steven Tyler sings with him. Pia is a downright good singer. And she looks great too! She reminds me of Rachel on Glee and I imagine her liking gold stars too. Casey is creative! He always surprises me.

Let me just say all the contestants are good singers! But being a good singer doesn't make a person a good performer. The people I mentioned have a star quality I can't describe but I'm not sure about the rest of them. It seems like the music industry changes so fast. One day people like someone, the next day they don't. It seems pretty cut-throat too. Maybe the way Simon was is an indication of that. Whether or not a person is nice they have to be able to handle the brutal honesty of the industry. This show reminds me that most people are nice until someone dashes their dreams.