Phil Stacey's Idol Thoughts

It’s hard to get too excited about the first few nights of “American Idol.”

For one, the contestants are virtual strangers to us. We don’t yet really know who they are, what they can do or whether the reason they just butchered that song was more due to bronchitis, nerves or just good old fashioned suckitude. That’s where I sort of am with the top 12 girls, who performed on Wednesday night.

Some of them were good to partly brilliant. But most of them were just kind of. . . blah. There were some decent moments, but no LaKisha, belting out that Jennifer Hudson number. “AND YOU! AND YOU! AND YOU!”

That said, at least there are no truly yukkos among the ladies, so Wednesday was already an improvement over Tuesday’s often icky buffet of boys.

Let’s break them down into categories like we did the guys.

JUDGES FAVORITES: Randy and Paula loved ‘em all, of course, but only a few female contestants earned unanimous endorsements.

The judges were pretty enthusiastic about 16-year-old Alaina Whitaker, who was perky and cute and fresh. But in my opinion, she was good only compared with the two snoozers who preceded her.

They also liked grieving singer Asia’h Epperson, who lost her father to an accident right before her audition. Thank goodness Asia’h nailed her delivery of “Take Another Little Piece of My Heart” because how painfully awkward would it have been to watch the judges rip her? For her sake and ours, it’s time to leave her personal tragedy behind — at least on the show. (I’m also rooting for her, btw, because she’s from my parents’ homeland — Joplin, Mo. Go Four-States!)

Also getting praise was Ramiele Malubay, who sang “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” Well, I know that, but I will anyway. I love her, and let me count the ways. 1. She’s adorable. 2. She makes Ryan Seacrest look positively tall. 3. Great singer. 4. Knows what’s important about her idol experience. “Hair and makeup!”

The judges were also into Syesha Mercado, who was energetic and on-tune during her performance. But “Tobacco Road?” Didn’t Phil Stacey JUST sing that song last season? Are there so few good songs from the 60s that we’re repeating already? Don’t answer that.
JUDGES FAVORITES BUT I DON’T GET IT: Amanda Overmyer. Really? I mean, REALLY? I don’t get this girl, from her little blond bangs to her big Lisa Maria Presley snarl. And if you ask me, her singing is a garbled, unintentionally funny mess. But for some reason, the judges are into it. I think I’m gonna have to suffer through a lot more of Little Miss Rocker Pants.

I’m also not that into Alexandrea Lushington, who sang “Spinning Wheel.” Simon wasn’t as excited as his colleagues, and I could see why. She was a little off tune and a lot boring.

JUDGES DON’T LIKE HER AND I DON’T GET IT: Brooke White is, I admit, a little too sweet and sugary. But in the land of “American Idol,” we are whatever The Clip Editors say we are. I like her, I liked her throaty yet playful take on “So Happy Together,” and I predict she’ll do better with the judges in coming weeks.

Same goes for Joanne Borgella, the sassy plus-sized model who seemed paralyzed by fear on Wednesday but who I hope will emerge from that fear and at least MOVE her feet a little.

BORING PRETTY GIRLS: Appearing to suffer from the Antonella Barba curse (though no nekkid pics, so far) were Kristy Lee Cook, Amy Davis and Kady Malloy. I predict that one if not two of them are toast on Thursday.

CARLY SMITHSON: Not sure how to feel about her. The tattooed one took quite a beating this week when it was discovered that she’d had a major record contract in her teen years. Now, fair or not fair, she’s enduring more scrutiny than any of the other contestants. (And apparently has bronchitis.) Frankly, I thought she was boring and a little hard to watch. Her own hype might just do her in, if her compromised air passages don’t get her first.

So what did you think? Was Simon particularly cranky on Wednesday night? Was Paula particularly incoherent? Were the girls better than the guys? And who will get the high heeled boot on Thursday?

Discuss.