JLo looks amazing on Idol. I have to admit that aside from the big booty, she never did much for me, but the bitch must be drinking virgin blood or something because oh my word! She's luminous on the show.

New Orleans did me right talent wise. I can't gripe about any of the 7 Golden Tickets we saw. Except for how I totally live to gripe about this show. Jaycee, the 15 year old kid? Shouldn't have gone through. First of all, he looks 12 and Hollywood is going to mess him up as he's not, how do you say? A traditional looking pop idol. And I think his voice is probably still changing. Sure, right now he sings like an angel. What's he gonna sound like once he gets through puberty. Down with teens on Idol.

Brett Loewenstern is such a special little snowflake and way too tragic to be on my TV right now. His Bohemian Rhapsody was lovely and his folks are my new favorite folks ever. The dad looks like a real life Burt Hummel. But seriously, y'all? He is way too It Gets Better to go on this show. He doesn't know mocking yet. Wait until Vote for the Worst gets hold of him. And he's so everything in your face all the time, which makes sense because he's 16, but I am exhausted just looking at him. I did enjoy him and Steven Tyler just being all freaky at each other. But in general? Nope. Don't want him on the show long enough that he'll get that John Stevens "get me out of this death camp please god no more Gloria Estefan night" glare.

Jovany could have a career in latin pop slotting in somewhere between Luis Mi and Chayenne, but his sound just doesn't work for the English speaking pop market and he's not as fine as he thinks he is. I foresee a spectacular crash for him much like Loud PR Boy from last season (or the season before? All the Judge #4 seasons blend together for me) Oh, and immediate points off for worshipping Marc Anthony. That's just wrong.

And I wasn't exactly blown away by Jacquelyn Dupree doing Carrie Underwood's version of I'll Stand By You. I'd bet folding money that girl has never heard of The Pretenders. She's not likely to make it through Hollywood though. Too generic. I did enjoy Steven Tyler drawing her uncle into a discussion on paddling the Dawg's ass. That fool is magic!

So OK, then. Of the seven that they put through, I only liked three. But those three were love. Jordan Dorsey can sing and he's fine and 6 year olds love him. What's not to like? Sarah Seller blew me away with that version of To Make You Feel My Love and she kept her poise through the awkward image of her maybe bio-dad blowing Mick Jagger (Thanks, Dawg!). And Paris Tassin made me like her through the sheer force of her awesomeness even though I really, really wanted to hate her and her special needs baby. I'm sure I will hate her soon enough, but for now, I got a little tear when JLo bestowed that magic kiss on her and her baby. And I wanted JLo's trench coat, but that's a whole other story.

Good stuff so far.

Is this where I quietly say, "whoo, New Orleans!"

This is totally a "Whoo, New Orleans!" moment. It was a great audition episode for AI. Seacrest brought his best Seacrestiana. The judges got (a little bit) tougher and didn't put through nearly as many questionable people, and the talent level was very, very high. They gave out 37 Golden Tickets in total in just a day, whereas it took them two days in Jersey to pass out 51.

Foodie fans alert.

According to my DVR, Rick Bayless is going to be on the latest American Test Kitchens show on PBS. Check local listings (in the greater Boston area, it's on today).

My favorite part of NO AI was when the mom of the 21 year old piano teacher dude told Ryan Seacrest he was shorter than he looked on TV. Comedy gold. Also I am sure true.

The fifteen-year-old boy who sang "Dock of the Bay" was fantastic, but as good as his voice is, I just can't see him getting that far -- he's a baby, for one! But talent-wise, he can SING. I wonder what he'll sound like in a few more years.

An account of "Restaurant Wars" from somebody who dined at both.

sumi, thank you so much for linking that. It was a really interesting take.

I would LOVE to attend restaurant wars all-stars or when the celebrity chefs come to play.

Do Discovery Channel's Flying Wild Alaska and Nat. Geo.'s Alaska Wing Men count as non-fiction TV? Is anyone else watching them?

Yes, they definitely count, but no, I'm not watching. Are they any good?