American Idol: A Couple of Favorites Emerge in Omaha

Maybe it was just me, but I felt like last night's episode just wasted a lot of time.

I'm not saying the episode itself was a waste of time because, during the show's first trip to Nebraska, I saw two of the season's best contestants, but there were definitely a few times during last night's episode when I found my eyes drifting down to the VCR clock (yes, I still own a VCR!). And I'm a patient viewer and don't consider myself a clockwatercher — mostly because I stubbornly refuse to wear my reading glasses at home and trying to read the time hurts my eyes.

For example, I couldn't help but notice that the show dedicated the first 10 minutes — or 1/6 or (lemme get the calculator out) 16% — of the episode to "American Idol/Kelly Clarkson" fanatic Chris Bernheisel. I get that he was amusing, he seemed like a genuinely sweet guy and maybe the presents that he brought for the three judges (though Paula was absent) endeared him to the show's producers who granted him more screentime. Still, the segment went on WAY too long, and by the time he actually performed — a ridiculous-yet-forgettable screechy rendition of "Since U Been Gone" f. A Handstand — it all amounted to waste of time.

I mean, if we're going to dedicate a decent portion of one episode to one guy, have him be REALLY funny, or a really good singer, or a really bad singer. Bernheisel was none of those things and, unfortunately, I suspect we haven't seen the last of this gentleman because Simon all but decreed that he would be covering the finale for the local Fox affiliate.

Things didn't really get much better later once Paula joined them, and Simon stopped "flirting" with Randy via a mildly funny, but unnecessary bit where Simon complimented Randy's purple glasses (I get it — it's funny because they're talking like they're gay).

Sure we saw a couple of successful auditions, but I found each to be completely underwhelming. For example, before Paula rejoined them, I'm still trying to figure out why the judges let Jason Rich through to Hollywood after he gagged on the lyrics to "When You Say Nothing At All" multiple times. Actually, I know why they let him through — because he's good looking and very marketable as the hot country guy. Still, once he got his act together, it's not like he blew anybody away. Same deal with the over-the-top Rachael Wicker who seemed to want to arm-wrestle everybody (including Seacrest and Paula) looked like a weird cross between Erin Brockovich and Angela from "The Office" and, as Simon pointed out, sounded like someone who was 50 years older than her actual age of 23.

After glancing at my clock again, I noted that it was the 30-minute mark and I didn't care for a single one of these contestants. No one was either truly great or truly terrible. Fortunately, the show slightly snapped me out of my haze when Seacrest and Paula swapped places (I loved Simon telling Paula "Go be insincere for five minutes").

Turns out that while Ryan was judging the producers sent in Samantha Sidley (pictured, left), the first knockout performer of the night. She sounded great, silky smooth and fresh singing Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" that it actually annoyed me a bit that her audition may have gotten lost in the middle of all the judging shenanigans. After Ryan suggested that she work on the way she swung her arms from side to side during the performance, he was ridiculed by the judges, who went on to tell Samantha that she needs to work on her performance skills.

Of course, that was followed up by glimpses of three successful and promising-sounding successful auditions — Denise Jackson, Elizabeth Erkert and Michael Sanfilippo — I wished I'd seen instead of Johnny Escamilla and his gold shirt. As my girl Erica pointed out, his first note was fine — everything else was a disaster. He should've quit after that first note.

Just as I was drifting away again — we sat through a truly weird performance from former pro-wrestler "Lady Morgue" Whitaker (who is a screamer) and talented mimic, but okay singer Angelica Puente (the token "my family doesn't believe in my singing dream" girl — I snapped back into it again when David Cook showed up.

Sure, he was another Idol archetype — the rocker who auditions for "Idol" while risking ridicule from his bandmates — but his clear, fresh take on "Livin' on a Prayer" was a definite highlight last night. If I had to actually put money on any one guy making it to the top 24, my cash would be on this guy.

The show closed with the extremely likable (even Simon couldn't help gushing about how likable he was) Leo Marlowe turning in an extremely likable rendition of "A Song for You." His performance wasn't mind-blowing, but I can certainly see people warming to this guy. Also, Marlowe won the coveted "Coolest Name of the Night" award (he sounds like a private eye.)

So what'd you think of this episode? Could YOU beat Ryan Seacrest in an arm-wrestling match? (Actually, who couldn't?) Did you see the same star potential I saw in Nebraska? Did you notice how the show didn't really suffer at all when Paula wasn't there? (what would've happened if Randy and Simon disagreed on a candidate?) Finally, what other not-quite-a-metropolis city should "Idol" mine for talent?