oh the woes of hollywood...

Okay, so there weren't any group numbers (bummer), but there were instruments (hmmm). And there were tears. Yay! There were plenty of tears.

Because THIS is American Idol. Season Seven.

And it's going to be a good one, I think. Or at least I hope. And while it's going to take me awhile to learn the names, the talent is impressive. And I already have my favorites, including a rocker nurse (who does need to listen to Simon and switch up her style to survive), a 16-year-old boy who I remember as a kid on Star Search and has gotten even better, an Irish belter, despite her tattoos, which I find distracting, an Aussie cutie, and the girl whose name will be tough to learn but one I still remember from Philly - the one who lost her dad just days before auditioning. (I am hoping the whining kid from the car gets a gas card East, though.)

It was a different Hollywood, certainly, devoid of the traditional group in-fighting that has become so traditional, but after my initial disappointment over having to do without, quickly faded into an enjoyment of more camera time spent on the stage than on the hotel hallways. And, while I found the instruments distracting, I'm going to withhold my condemnation of them until one more keyboard has driven me completely batty.

Maybe this show has some life still left in it. Time will tell, but tonight's elevator episode is certain to be chock full of drama, as usual.

Now if I can only learn all of these new names.

Let's see, there's Carly, Amanda, Michael and David and David and David...

Who's your early favorite?