I’ve always maintained a certain detachment from the show.  I don’t get emotionally worked up over AMERICAN IDOL.  I stand back, analyze everything, and have the occasional short-lived rooting interests.

Brooke White wasn’t going to win the whole thing, and it’s thus immaterial whether she goes out in second place or 12th.

Yet I’m starting to get plenty pissed that not only is Jason Castro still on the series, but he’s not even in danger.  Ever.  The only thing working against him is that eventually he’ll start splitting votes with David Archuleta for “cute” and “young” singer. When that happens, the votes will side with quality and Archuleta will pull ahead and Castro will go home. But will it be at David Cook’s expense?  Or Syesha’s?

Is Jason Castro this season’s Sanjaya Malakar, donning dreadloks instead of fauxhawks?

UGH

It seems that the rumors of Paula’s drunkenness reached Idol producers, who pushed Ryan out there to — well, profess IDOL’s love for Paula.  I think he denied them, too.  I’m sticking with my theory.  Paula is easily confused and can’t handle live television. She had notes from dress rehearsal and she went to those.  No, the show is not scripted.  If it was, how could she make a mistake like that? Duh.

Otherwise, it was a fine show tonight.  Neil Diamond’s song was a little too laid back, perhaps, but I actually like the Natasha Bedingfield song and her interaction with Archuleta.  We finally had a call-in worth listening to, with Simon’s first kiss.  He remembered her, which is always good.  Lastly, the preview for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was spectacular.  Looks like Nigel broke his right hand, though.

On the other hand, that opening Neil Diamond medley was about the most horrific thing Idol producers have ever foisted on us. Jason and Brooke can’t do choreography and are awkward to begin with.  The songs were tedious.  The staging was sad.  I would have fast-forwarded through it, but I was afraid I’d miss The One Good Part. I didn’t.

I’ll miss Brooke.  I hope Syesha survives next week, though.

Not to scare you all, but next week is the week Chris Daughtry went out.  I wonder if David Cook is freaked out by that?

Sadly, my DVR cut out in the middle of Brooke’s final song. I’m imagining she never finished the song. She was in no shape.  Sad.