This weekend DirecTV gave us a free weekend of "Starz" channels.  That includes a western channel.  That channel has today been running a 24 hour marathon of The Big Valley.  I have been watching it since about 10am and my daughter joined in when she got off work at 5pm.  I didnt realize she'd never seen and episode of The Big Valley.  She at least knows a little bit about most of the great old shows,  but somehow missed out on The Big Valley.  The episodes in this marathon feature guest appearances by the likes of William Shatner, Charles Bronson, Johnny Crawford, Adam West, Cloris Leachman, and more. 

Mood:  quizzical

Well, I'd never have figured Chikezie would be the one to go out this early.  Though I didnt expect him to go all the way, I figured he had two or three more weeks left.   My pick would've been Jason. 

I'm still hoping Brooke goes all the way. 

Well, we're down to the top ten.  Did you watch last night?  What do you think?

The whole show last night just seemed lacking to me. However (dont you love ‘howevers’?) with that said ….

I thought Michael John’s performance last night was the absolute best performance of the season (not just his best, but THE best). I always knew he had it in him, and like Simon, I’m glad he finally let it out last night.

I thought Kristie nailed her performance as well.

Brooke, is still my favorite, there’s an “honesty” about her that you dont usually see on Idol. (Not that the others are dishonest, but there is no “performance” in Brooke, she just is who she is. She sings. Period.)

Not typically one of my favorites, Chickeze did good last night.

In the beginning I really liked David Cook and thought he was top of the heap, but not so much last night.

I typically dont know the songs they are singing (unless they are country, or were top 10’s in the 70’s) so I dont (cant) compare them to the original. I just listen and decide if I like them or not. And, I try to listen to the ’singer’ as much as the ’song’ because if they ‘make it’ they will have someone helping them pick the right songs.

I’m rooting for Brooke to take the whole thing. However, if she hangs on til the top four I think she’ll have enough exposure that she will do just fine. It’s not always the winners that get the best deals out of it.

Ok - I dont agree with some of the choices, but I dont get too worked up about it until we get down to the final 12 (or maybe 8 in a bad year.)  Except, they just sent home the ONE guy that I REALLY liked!!  And they kept the worst one!  Even my daughter (23) agreed that the "cute" one (really cute) should've have gone home.  It's just crazy. 

The girls are way better than the guys - as a whole - and they sent home one really good guy and left two sucky ones (two really sucky ones).

 Grrrrrr!!!!!  

I cant believe I actually watched AI again tonight.  And my daughter wasnt even here to force me!  Actually, I was in the other room doing some bookwork for my dad's business and so I turned it on to listen.  Wow, was I surprised!

I had to come back into the living room when the first girl started singing.  Powerful.  The second girl was equally as good.  Both had very strong, very wonderful voices.  I wasnt so crazy about the song the second girl sang, but she did it beautifully.  The third girl was also very good.  It kinda went downhill from there.  The fourth girl was pretty bad (though she does look like a twin of one of the guys from last night - and he was definitely the worst guy!)  The fifth one was just downright awful.  And what was up with that hair, and those zebra pants?  Ugh!

The others were so-so; nobody else really stood out as especially good or bad.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow night which two guys and which two gals get sent home.  I usually dont pay it any attention at all until they are down to about the top ten or so overall. 

So, what are your opinions on who was good and who was bad?  Be sure and leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Mood:  not sure

Watching American Idol.  I dont usually do that.  At least not until there's been enough elimination so that it's all down to one night, guys and gals together.  But my daughter loves it, and there wasnt anything else on, so here we are.

It always amazes my how awful some of them really are.  How in the heck did some of these guys (and gals too I'm sure) make it through the tryouts to get here?  I'm probably more critical than most because I go to a lot of live shows and hear a lot of new music and I analyze (and over analyze) everything, but gee whiz people, these guys (so far) cant sing.  One of 'em was pretty good (better than the rest) but even he wasnt all that great. 

And of course, my daughter and I totally disagree on who was good and who was not (I think she just looks at them and forgets to listen, LOL). 

Ok - so who watches Idol?  What do you think?