I don't think it's racism, I think this proves once again that teenage females (who I assume make up the majority of AI voters) don't like voting for pretty girls. Ironically, if each of the remaining contestants released an album tomorrow, I would be willing to bet that Jessica's would be one of the top two sellers…

I disagree with the idea that Pia=Jessica. Pia had the beauty queen vibe - she came across as very polished and calculated, sort of inauthentic. Because Jessica is so much younger, she still has a much more "teenage girl" look, which makes her voice and confidence that much more surprising and enjoyable.

Maybe her unique tone can eventually lead her to becoming an interesting artist, but I just don't think she was anywhere NEAR ready to be on a nationally televised singing competition. She just doesn't hit any notes, which she covers up by doing her little runs or affectations or whatever at the end of almost every…

I agree. I also heard him on the Howard Stern Show recently and he comes across as a pretty cool, fairly regular guy.

The thing I liked about his dictator performance is that song doesn't lend itself to his usual Broadway-esque vocals, so we got to hear what his actual signing voice sounds like when he's trying to sound more rocky or poppy, which he keeps claiming is the kind of music he wants to do. The problem was he sounded a dime…

Maybe I'm being pedantic but it seems like every episode there are a couple of little things that are included to advance the storyline but are completely implausible. Example 1 from this episode: how would Mitchell kick Jay's golf ball in the hole without Jay realizing it? Wouldn't Mitchell have been hanging out by…

I thought in his rush to storm out of the room he had accidentally gone through the closet door, then was too proud to come right back into the room so he just hung out there. Kind of far fetched but it sounds like something Luke would do.

I half-remember there being a somewhat inappropriately funny line right toward the end that sort of made me wince-laugh, but now I can't remember it. It seems like it was a little more potentially offensive than most of the jokes on this show, but now I can't remember what it was. Does anyone know what I'm talking…

She is Monica from Friends if she'd gotten married and had kids instead of hanging out with her 5 zany friends. Now we know what Chandler got himself into.

You make some great points here. When I think of my all time favorite SImpsons episodes, I think of examples where the characters showed some heart: Homer and Lisa form a connection, or Homer grieves his mom when she abandons him again. The ones that blended funny lines with genuinely touching stories.

I'm pretty sure she would have been the best looking girl in my graduating class, although I am from a very small town.

Favorite line
I will not have her tunnel bandied about this office willy nilly.

Selling to yokels
I'm looking forward to the finale, just to see how America's marketers choose to advertise to the coveted Southern trail park demographic that will surely dominate the viewership. Instead of a commercial for new Ford Focuses, this week Ford will put its efforts into marketing used Festivas and…

Couldn't agree more, Dukakis. I remember thinking it at the time, and still feel the same way: I can't believe some of these songs never got on the radio. Each of the songs you mentioned is so much better than anything by Train or the other shitty bands that pop up time after time on the adult alternative-type…

The worst part is the look on his face when he makes comments like that. I can't really describe it - sort of a "I'm amazed by you and I'm just basking in your glory" look that would be more appropriate from a 60 year old woman watching the opera than a rock star watching some kid sing The Climb.

I liked when Mitchell called Cam "Bob Fussy" (as opposed to Fosse). The writers had to know only like 5% of viewers would get the reference, but it paid off for those of us who did. And it was a perfect line for Mitchell - something only a gay know-it-all would come up with.

"One of my blog's readers". So, your grandma? Sorry, I couldn't resist. I actually think that's a great point. Over the course of 10 seasons, viewers have realized it's more fun to keep the contestants who might pull off something weird/creative/different, rather than the Celine/Mariah/Whitney wannabes. Which…

I really liked Steven as a judge at first, particularly during auditions, but he is getting more and more worthless each week. All 3 judges are too easy this year, but at least Randy and Jennifer occasionally offer some useful criticism. For the past few weeks, Steven has just been a fan who tells everyone their…

The thing is, Casey still gets one of the biggest cheers from the audience when he's introduced, so I don't think he's that unpopular. I think it was a combination of him coasting a bit the last couple of weeks, his early time slot this week, and a lot of people assuming he was safe and voting for people they thought…

I think this is true in all walks of life. I'm from a small town in MN and live in Minneapolis now. I think when I talk to my friends from back home, more of the Fargo-isms come out in terms of the words I use, my accent, etc. I bet people from the south or the northeast or wherever who have moved to other parts of…