One thing I’ve noticed about J-Lo - she doesn’t seem to have Kara Diwhatever’s insecurities with the female contestants. That was extremely unflattering to Kara, that she felt she needed to compete with teeny-agers.
I’m delighted with the panel so far. I never was a huge J-Lo fan but I’m gaining respect with each episode. Occasionally I miss Simon’s caustic wit, but not as much as I thought I would.
Thanks to the Australian Open, this was the first episode I’ve watched with the new cast. I have to say that I feel like the rest of the posters – pleasantly surprised.
Tyler seems like a really nice chap – who knew? – and I love how he closes his eyes and tries to focus on their voices and get into their rhythm. It was really sweet how he teared up along with the black farm girl (incredibly great story) and the last 15 year old girl who sang his song. I also thought it was a great moment when Tyler whispered to Randy, “You can’t tell them that they’re not good.” Aww, a rocker with a heart! 
J. Lo is distractingly beautiful but very fair. She’s blunt without being cruel. I can appreciate that she recognized Miss Teen Beauty Queen, Stormy’s, beauty but that she didn’t have the pipes to become a professional singer. Unfortunately, she couldn’t convince the two penises next to her.
Randy is Randy but more relaxed without the constant tension of Simon and whoever he was flirting with that week.
I’ll be very disappointed if that’s how she spells it. If that’s the case, then my quipping to my wife “And I’m appalled, with two 'p’s” made no sense.
It went over her head anyway…
First, thanks all for attempting to explain the process of AI. I never believed that the 3 judges listened to everyone, but with maybe 3 levels to go through before getting to the judges, it helps explain one part of the program to me.
The other part that someone mentioned is what I was thinking… that they have talent scouts, radio station contacts, or whatever in each city, looking for someone who could be a contestant and those people start the process of getting that person in front of the right people.
No one can convince me, for example, that Adam Lambert waited in any line to see the judges. That guy could flat-out sing, and even my tin ear could tell. He also had a stage presence. Then, we come to find out he is a professional performer on or off broadway, and his polish makes sense. But he’s not random, and I expect most of the ones who make it through Hollywood are not random.
The other part of this equation is the rejects. I think many if not all of these people are plants, in years past for comic relief (Simon can blast them). It looks to me like they are trying to make Randy the bad guy now (he sits in Simon’s old spot, he’s the only original judge left), but he’s not very good at it. I find it very hard to believe that soldier boy was a real contestant. He could have never made it through any pre-screening. And wasn’t his father the one that said his favorite baseball team was the Milwaukee Braves? That team moved in 1965.
I hate this show, but I’ve agreed to watch it with my wife since it’s her favorite show, and I rarely watch anything she watches. So, AI is quality time. But I hate every minute of it. I’ve tuned out of reality shows since the first Survivor, and haven’t looked back. They are all bad. They are all set up. But AI does have an interesting process of choosing the winner.
To echo some others, the judges this year have made the show 10 times more watchable. Simon’s act wore very thin, his constant flirting was pathetic (especially for, IMO a closeted homosexual), and first Paula then Kara were just awful.
I really like Steven Tyler, and J Lo is more than beautiful. She’s also intelligent and thoughtful, something I didn’t see her as. I really don’t have anything negative to say about any one of them.
Finally,
I agree with this completely. Miss Teen Boobs WAS lousy, and got through for her eye candy appeal, especially to the 12-15 year old male population. As for the last girl, meh. Either that auditoriums acoustics were incredible, or they were all going deaf. She was average at best.
Hell, if I’m going to watch it, I might as well pay attention.
Boy, is THAT an obscure reference, tiny hiney!
(And a great one.)
I feel much the same about Simon. I wish he had been there for the girl who sang the Beatles’ “Oh, Darling.” I think her name was Haley, or Haliee, or something similar. The panel loved it, but it was, in one of Simon’s favorite criticisms, truly “indulgent.”
Ryan really should have called the Whaaaa!mbulance for the pharmacy tech sobbing guy.
The caption said “Stormi.” I wonder if she dots the I with a heart.
Younique certainly had a unique squeak.