Justin Guarini Blogs About American Idol: Show 2

The second night of American Idol came thundering in a little slimmer from its two-hour workout night before.

Will tonight focus on the good singers or the unwitting buffoons tossed to the lions for our drunken pleasure?

Our first Idol story is about Jessica Brown, a young lady who went from Methodist to meth addict. Photos of her mug shots and weathered crystal meth wrinkled face pop up to remind us why we shouldn’t do drugs, and that one specifically.

Jessica Brown is, so far (I’m watching and typing), the best thing to happen to Season 7. This is American Idol, folks. Good things happening to good people. Jessica told us her story, shared her darkest moments (photos at least) and told us of how she turned her life around, had two beautiful children…and then she proceeded to wow the judges straight to Hollywood.

When it comes to A.I., I can be cynical and crack jokes like anyone else. But Jessica is an angel who deserves praise. Everybody loves a reformed sinner -- unless of course you’re Satan.

I am truly touched by her story, and I actually feel good about watching this show. Usually the bash-the-bad-singer-audition-round shows bring up an icky feeling. We’re off to a good start.

Maybe I spoke too soon. Paul Stafford appeared next – and suddenly in my head I’m hearing Electric Light Orchestra’s classic “Don’t bring me down…”

Poor Paul. He’s a bubbly 9 year old trapped in a 25 year-olds body. I don’t know what makes me cringe more: Ryan’s patronizing interview or how truly genuine and completely unaware Paul is. It’s as though he’s stumbled into a booby trap and all he can do is comment about how he loves roller coasters.

But the judges are showing a lot of heart. I’m grateful for that measure of self-control. I wonder if this is planned or an intuitive reflection of what the country needs to hear as it goes through rough times with the economy and war. Maybe we got too rough and crude and need to be reminded without preachiness of our civility and humanity.

We’re going to see Paula, Randy and Simon laugh and cringe straight to the face of contestants and cripple their self-esteem. That’s good television. They’ll also question those auditioning in a way that puts their existence on trial. But…from what I’m seeing, this year the judges have got heart. More so than any other year.

Take Paul. In him, they see a nice, nice, genuine guy who is enthusiastic (as Simon put it) but just not cut out for the show, and they gently usher him out the door…with a smile. They also walked a genuinely sweet, and sobbing girl out the door to her family and praised her the whole way out. In years past, such an event would not have happened, or wouldn’t have made the cut in lieu of footage of a pour soul being hacked off at the knees by Simon.

Again, I am pleasantly surprised, and proud of the new angle the show is taking.

We’ll see if it lasts.

Speaking of the judges, a quick note on my feelings about them: