It's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."

So I turned the show on right at 8, and the first thing I saw was Gokey's smug/smarmy smile. A little part of me died right there.

Last week it was FRC, and this week Gokey. Is Idol bringing back all of the creepy singers from years past? Was some of the Idol eye candy not available? Where's Kimberly Caldwell? Becky O'Donohue? K-Mac? Heck, I'd settle for Lindsay Cardinale.

One nice thing about the auditions this year is that they're not being mean. Yeah, I know that some people tune in just to see the delusional trainwrecks, but I appreciate that they're showing more of the good singers than the bad. One side effect is that there seems to be a concentration of what our friend Beckeye calls "Very Special Contestants". These are the sob stories who tend to get extra TV time because they are a miracle baby (Anthony Fedorov), their spouse recently died (Gokey), they're a single mom (Fantasia) or their parents fled the remnants of war-torn Yugoslavia (that girl from last Wednesday) just so their daughter could audition for Idol.

I just wish they'd show singers, instead of handing votes to some people at the expense of others. I know I harp on the thing about face time, but it does make a difference. It's no secret that Idol pimps some of its singers ahead of others (Archuleta, Carrie, Gokey, et al), and to think that early face time in the audition rounds doesn't make a difference is sheer foolishness.

Another complaint I have about the show is the age limit of 15. For example, that girl who drove her family just after getting her learners permit will get chewed up and spit out by the show. I'll bet she doesn't make it past the first day in Hollywood. Her problem is that she's got all these dreams, her parents tell her she's good, but she has no frame of reference and no past failures. Idol will crush her. And not just a little. We're looking at a Leah LaBelle-level meltdown.

If you're crying in the auditions for any reason, you're 1) not mentally tough enough for the show, or 2) just mugging for the camera and trying to farm sympathy from the viewing public.

The minimum age should be 18, and the upper limit should be 30. Yeah, I know that most "Idols" get started young, but if the object is to find someone with staying power (something the show has repeatedly failed at--7 of 9 times), 15 year old kids are not the way to go. Of course, the show only cares about ratings this season, and if the "American Idol" vanishes from the scene, they will just be replaced next year.

While the show wades through the crap, check out this Lord of the Rings Online fan video.

In other MMO news, it appears that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be coming out later than we had been led to believe. A part of me is disappointed, but I'd like the game to be good, so I don't mind if they're tweaking the content. On the other hand, they can only back the release date up for so long before people decide to stick with WoW, DC Universe Online or LOTRO.

Another wish I have for the show: No one in a costume is allowed to audition!!! Just effing sing.

The rest of the auditions have been pretty meh for me. Aside from the young woman who got whacked by the Big Dawg, they were all pretty blah (she was actually pretty good, but where was her family? Are they all Republicans?).

Also, since I'm bored, check out the funniest TV spot of the football season.

Another thing I like about this season is the way Steven leers over all of the jailbait. While it's kind of creepy, he's at the point in his life where he's a dirty old man, not a perv. I can only hope to live that long. Maybe when he dies, we can dry him out and smoke him.

I think I'm going to try and rustle up a group for Hall of Crafting.

High Lord. Victorious Hunter of the Sword-Halls. Out.