AMERICAN I'DULL

Rock N Roll YAWN of Fame: It's official: my mind and the mind of EW writer Michael Slezak are basically "samesies." So, please read his post www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007164_20171835_20198220,00.html

Right down to him mentioning his love for Baby D's black-vee with seagulls to his honest review of Seyesha, the guy is dead-on. So let me add, as I've said in the beginning, Seyesha is a really good singer. And as I always say with most of the african american girls on the show, she is that GREAT backup singer who gets a solo spotlight at a Sting concert and you think "damn, was she hot!" But alas, she's just not a superstar. If she steps into the studio to record a Beyonce/Alicia-like album (see LaToya London), it'll bomb. Is she better than Vonzelle, Latoya, Tamyra, Jen Hud, Melinda? No. Better or just as good as Paris, Lakesha, Mandissa? Maybe. Now, look back at that list of ladies. Superstars? Perhaps just one... for winning an Oscar! I'm going to offer up a controversial statement or theory here: notice how the tide turned for Seyesha once she left her 'fro behind and went for the Alicia Keys straightening? Just a theory. And don't scream "racist" because Alicia, Beyonce, Halle, Oprah, Whitney - ALL straighten their hair (or wigs)! Kim Locke was on the cover of USA Today the night after she debuted her straightened hair on Idol. The cover. I do feel that the judges bashing and Castro's not-so-hot performances will still have him be in the top 3 and see Seyesha, BYE'esha. And she should immediately make a standards album (Natalie Cole) and have a life on Broadway (a great Dorothy for The Wiz). That's all I really have for Idol this week. Kinda getting yawn-like for me - especially when it's nearly predictable or has been since day one. If you note, from the first time they were down to top 12, I called Cook, Castro & Baby D in top 3 - and I might be right. We'll see tonight.

IRON MAN: Better than all the Spider Man films and right up there with the X-Men. I loved it and I love that Downey now has a whole new life, a new chapter to quite a shaky Hollywood storybook life.

MADONNA: The album sold 287,000 and enters at #1 - much less than MC. Yes they're both diva superstars, but MC appeals more to Urban radio than M does of course giving her the edge of more album sales. The choice cuts for me from Maddy: 4 Minutes, Give It To Me, Incredible, Miles Away, and Beat Goes On (w/ Kanye) -- all great for the gym.

CHER opened at Caesars in Vegas last night. Legend. Right up there with Tina Turner, nothing can keep her down (or away from the spotlight). Look for Cher & Tina on Oprah this Thursday! It'll be forever on my DVR for sure.

BROTHERS & SISTERS: I love love love it! Sally Field? Please! Anyway, the storyline of the gay couple getting engaged has me in tears the other night. Such a sap. But such a nice, real, non-homophobe, not stereotypical portrayal of a gay couple on TV. Amen!

DEXTER: Caught up on all of season one and now will watch season two on DVD this summer. So good and creepy!