So, a few of the really bad contestants stick out in my mind - Crystal Parizanski aka “Tan Girl” being first and foremost. And it wasn’t so much that she stuck out — she was an über-tan, over-made-up, sluttily-dressed freak, but not so much that you’d really look at her more than a coupla times. Ok, you might look a third time, but… ANYway, it was her *mom who was way more freaky. Why? Because her mom was also an über-tan, over-made-up, sluttily-dressed freak, but her mom was…her MOM. (And we got to see it all in glorious high definition!) While I find Tan Girl’s fugging a little tragic since she could be a reasonably attractive girl, I figure she has time to grow out of it. And maybe get fashion advice from someone other than her freaky, washed up, wannabe-barfly mom. Tan Mom, on the other hand…there’s just no hope. Once a woman is old enough to be a 16 year old’s mom, she’s pretty much set in her fugly ways. (I have to mention now that I’m a wee bit peeved that I can’t find pictures *anywhere. Grrr.)

Also? The grandma that went off on Simon? Cracked me up. But what made it the funniest. thing. ever? My mother calling me 10 seconds later and saying, “I would never do that. I love those kids, but I would NEVER do that.” (She’s lying. If someone was as mean as Simon was to one of her grandbabies, she’d do that. Only way louder, more articulately and more dramatically. I love my mom. A lot.)

Now that I’ve bashed some, let me say this — there were a few really talented people on the show tonight. Derek Radford from Crystal Lake, IL is a great example. Although I hear AI fans are bitching about the kid being a “crooner.” WTF was Clay Aiken?? At least this kid is *cute.

At any rate, I’m not a huge AI fan, but I really think I’m going to watch this season. If nothing else, someone’s sure to do something really stupid in the next few episodes at least. :D