Idol Chatter & Voice Views

At long last, the painful audition process is over and the competition has started on American Idol.

So I’ve decided to weigh in. Not because of any musical expertise. The only instrument I ever played was a flute in grade school. And I’m told I can’t sing.

But I’ve watched darn near every episode of Idol ever aired, so I figure that’s expertise enough.

The 12 male finalists got their chance on stage Tuesday night.

Best of the bunch:

David Cook, who somehow turned “Happy Together” into a rocker; David Archuletta, the 17-year-old who looks like a boy among men, then makes you go “wow” when he starts singing; Michael Johns, the good-looking fella from Down Under who comes off as a far more polished performer than most of the other guys.

Deserves to go home:

Garrett Hailey, the Peter Frampton look-alike who got very little TV time in the audition shows, then proved why when he started singing Tuesday night. Several other guys — Jason Yeager, David Hernandez, Luke Menard, Chikezie among them — were simply forgettable.

Please keep them:

Luke for his likability; Chikezie for his charisma; Robby Carrico because the final 12 will be in dire need of a rocker. The biggest problem with last year’s show was the lack of musical diversity among the final 12.

Please send him home:

Danny Noriega, the most annoying Idol since Mikalah Gordon in season four. He’s gotta go. Soon.

Early favorite among the guys:

Michael Johns. Go ahead and book his spot in the final 12.

The ladies get their chance to shine Wednesday night. Should be worth watching. I have no idea why, but the women have performed far better than the men on the early shows in recent seasons of Idol.

Feel differently? Go ahead and comment. That’s the beauty of Idol. More than once I’ve commented about how good a performance was, only to have my wife turn to me and say, “You’re tone deaf.”