'Idol' Comes Roaring Back

It started off with a bang in a self promoting but really great taped segment showing America how many stars have been made out of the show from Kelly Clarkson to Carrie Underwood to Katharine McPhee. Then immediately the show took a nose dive into boringville setting up guest judge, Jewel, and then spent a ridiculously long five minutes on the first singers audition. Get on with it!

SIDE NOTE: I hear that during the Minneapolis auditions Paula and Jewel got into a major blowout battle which had Paula ripping her microphone off and storming out of the room. Why didn't that make it into the show?

Snooze-o-rama continued as the show kept spending way too much time on each audition. Where are the funny montages of bad singers? Where was the compelling back story?

Finally, enter 16-year-old Denise Jackson who called herself "a crack baby". While she was no Jennifer Hudson, she belted out the song "I am Telling You" and the judges sent her through as the first person to Hollywood.

Now I'm sitting here watching the girl who can't remember her words thinking I know what the problem is. This show is lacking energy. A turn around is coming though.

It's a few minutes before six o'clock and the show finally starts to pick up steam with Naval Officer, Jarrod Fowler, who we had actually met outside the Minneapolis auditions. Of course, I already knew the outcome. I had some inside information this week that Jarrod would make it to Hollywood. I actually have in my hot little hands a copy of Jarrod's audition for 'Reagan Idol' on the USS Ronald Reagan.

Hour two and the show has gotten its spunk back with the girl who imitates the cowardly lion.

At first, I'm thinking that the boss, Garry, who flew his employee, Dayna, out from LA wasted his money but hey you can't buy that type of publicity. Look how much air time they got in front of an audience of almost 40 million.

SIDE NOTE: Within minutes of the segment airing our crack research staffer and a producer had tracked down Garry at the copy shop he owns in Playa Vista, California. We sent a camera crew to find out what they thought of the segment this morning.

Our producer, Nick, spoke to both Garry and Dayna. Garry says he had all good intentions, nothing shady. He has known Dayna for five years. She came from Loyola Marymount University whose campus is across the street from his copy shop. As usual this is a reality show, so creative editing on the producers part made the story seem more PG-13 than G. Here is the inside scoop. Dayna told us that during the entire audition process before she got to Randy, Simon and Paula she went in front of the producers and the executive producers who never once tried to focus on the boss. They just kept telling her what a nice story it was and how kind he was to do that. It was only after she got in front of the fearless foursome (including Jewel) that they brought up the boss and him maybe being sweet on her, catching her off guard. According to Dayna, Paula actually changed her vote and tried to convince the others to change theirs too which was not shown on TV. Also at one point, Dayna tried to get Randy to call in and listen to one of the demo records she had cut (apparently she has a CD). The number didn't work though. Moment lost.

Garry wants people to know he did not do this for the money or publicity. He simply asked that if he helps Dayna out that she eventually one day "pay it forward"

Just twenty minutes left to go and I'm thinking they should have flip flopped hours one and two. The second half has better pacing, better stories and better Simon insults.

Ten minutes left and Prince just cancelled his appearance at the Super Bowl after listening to his songs get mangled. I kid. I kid.

The show ended on a high note with rocker Josh. I give the guy the award for having heart.

Back to my sidenote. Did anyone happen to catch at the end when Simon kissed everyone goodbye? Paula got right up and ignored Jewel when she left. I think the look on Jewels face said it all.

The best thing in the show hands down was the promo for Seattle! I'm looking forward to that one.

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