TVSquad

Watching American Idol this season, I've come to the not-so-astute realization that we can't all like everyone who makes it to the top ten each season. There are different musical styles, personalities and, let's face it, some pretty crappy singers who make it through.

So I've begun to fantasize about an all-star AI top ten. Imagine if everyone that you really liked from the top ten of all the past seasons of AI were in the top ten together. I know the top ten can't be all the handsome rocker men I so adore, but it can be a good mix of good music, memorable personalities, and lasting talent.

If memory serves me correctly (and we all know it probably doesn't), these are the contestants that I'd pick, in no particular order:

1. Brooke White, season seven, fifth place
No, I'm not a sucker for a crier. I simply love her singer/songwriter style, something we really haven't ever seen in Idol and something I hope we see more of. When AI started, it was the boy-band voice, then it moved to the rockers; hopefully Brooke has started a new force of no-nonsense talent coming through.

In the DNA of all soaps is the idea that every story reflects the morality of the times. There are lessons to be learned from both the good characters as well as the villains. This is Soap Opera 101. Lately, though, I've noticed a nasty streak of overt righteousness and insufferable superiority creeping into some of the most complex, morally challenged characters ever on The Bold & the Beautiful – Brooke and Ridge. It's gotten so bad that I've had to wonder, what's going on with Bradley Bell and his staff of scribes? Is this the residual effects of the Writer's Strike because a few of the core elements of B&B are out of whack and need to be addressed?

I guess it says something about the power of American Idol and how much it has seeped into our culture that I can just mention the first names of two contestants (one from the past) and everyone knows who I am talking about. US Weekly says that Kellie Pickler met Constantine at an Idol party last month and are now dating. For the record, Pickler says that they aren't dating, and that she's still "on the market."

I love it when a woman refers to herself as being "on the market," like she's a sack of oranges. If I used that phrase I'd get slapped.

Oh, and please, please, please let this be the first and only time that someone refers to her popularity as "Picklermania." Jeez.

I liked Bo and Constantine. They brought a rock element to American Idol, and I dug it. Little did I know that their success would bring an onslaught of rock n' rollers/out of controllers auditioning for AI. Awesome. Now, instead of simply listening to wannabes slaughter great pop songs, we're also treated to the torture of rock hits as well. I use to like Bo and Constantine. I now love them. It's because of them that I got to see a punk kid breakdance tonight...and I think he meant it. Plus, we got the satisfaction of seeing Seacrest flash the rock sign. But instead of flashing devil horns, he actually said 'I love you' in sign language. Amateur mistake, but appreciated nevertheless.