American Idol has always been my reality / talent show of choice and thus year is no exception. After Simon Cowell‘s departure, I was unsure how Randy Jackson would manage to keep it going, especially with two new judges. I seem to be one of the few people that enjoyed Ellen’s turn but I wad never that taken with Kara so I wasn’t particularly sorry to see her go. Whoever was going to join Randy needed to have bags of personality and oodles of credibility. I was really surprised when it was announced that Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were becoming Idol judges but now we have completed the initial auditions and got through both Hollywood week and the new Vegas section, I am so very happy that they have because I love them.

Steven Tyler is a little bit crazy, a smidge lecherous but shares with J-Lo a really appealing facet – a big heart. And this is why I am loving season 10: all three judges are firm but fair and it is now up to softie Randy to be the one to play hard-ball.  I have yet to be blown away by anyone in particular, despite the oft-repeated assurance that THIS season, the competition is Tougher Than Ever (isn’t that what they say every year). Thinking about it though, this does not necessarily mean that the contestants are all excellent, it could just mean they are equally mediocre. Anyway here is my quick run down of the Top 24:

Ashton: I have a soft spot for Ashthon (though her name has one too many h I think!) – she has a great voice, superb hair and slamming body that can pull off skin-tight dresses like nobody’s business! Not sure her voice is sure enough to carry her all the way through but I like her.

Brett: I find him a little annoying, I have to say.  He is a bit of a drama queen and a bit pointy-of-face and curly-of-hair.  He can sing though, no doubt about it.

Casey: Love love love! Great voice and lovely bass work! Is he America’s next Idol though? Not sure.

Clint: Intensely irritating, a total bitch (he rejected poor Jacee!) but he really can sing which is annoying.

Haley: I do really like her voice although I am not sure she is terribly consistent.  I keep flip-flopping about whether I like her.  I am reserving judgement.

Jacob: I don’t get it.  Sure he has a great range but that’s not everything.  Am I the only one who thinks his voice is just a bit weird.  I am sure there is a plce in the music industry for him but I am not sure I can stand hearing his runs for the rest of the season.

James: I want to like him – he does have a sensational voice but I worry about his compulsion to wail in every part of the song rather than showcasing his amazing high voice once in a while, which would be much more effective. I worry that the fact that he has Tourette Syndrome will be abused my American Idol producers who love a sob story. And the similarity to Adam Lambert does nothing to endear me to him – Adam got on my last nerve.

Jordan: A diva but undoubtedly a good singer.  Can’t say I find him that likeable but he has pipes, for sure.

Jovany: Nowhere near as good as he thinks he is, and nowhere near as good looking as he thinks he is.  He’s just aiit for me, dawg.

Julie: Lovely voice, lovely girl, lovely dresses, lovely shoes.  Probably one of my favourites.

Karen: I am not really sure about Karen – a little inconsistent but inoffensive.

Kendra: So blah, it is not even funny.  I liked her Beatles performance though, so there is certainly potential.

Lauren A: Very talented for such a young girl – she is only 16 – but I fear she is not really going to last the distance as the pressure could well get to her.  Her sycophancy with Steven Tyler is a little creepy too.

Lauren T: A good rocky voice but again, I am not sure about her consistency.  I fear she will be found out once she is having to sing different themes.

Naimi: Unusual and a superb voice.  I worry about her ability to handle the pressure but I suppose the same could be said for a lot of these contestants.

Paul: Another one of my favourites, he is the type of artist that would make records that I would want to buy.  Will be interesting to see how he manages the different themes, though.

Pia: I like it when you listen to a singer and feel confident that they will hit those notes 99% of the time.  Sadly, this doesn’t happen when I listen to Pia sing.  She is often pitchy but she has a nice tone.  Hopefully with some voice training, she will improve.

Rachel: A little bit weird but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – at least she is memorable.  I do worry that her actual tone will get on my nerves but she is definitely talented and deserves to be in the Top 24.

Robbie: A very talented singer but I can’t help feeling he has time travelled from 1990 directly from the set of Saved by the Bell.

Scotty: I am really worried that he is a one-trick pony who thinks that he has to sing in his deep baritone voice for every song, despite the fact that when he sings an octave higher it sounds amazing and is much less annoying.  Just like James Durbin will be screeching each song, Scotty will be booming and both should try to rein it in. I hope he does because I have a soft spot for him.

Stefano: Another favourite, he has a great voice but despite being a favourite, I can’t really think of much that he has sung.  He needs to work on his showmanship, I guess?

Tatynisa: I didn’t think she should have been put through to the Top 24 because I don’t think her voice is strong enough and in tune enough.  I’m not a fan.

Thia: Another young contestant, she has a sweet voice with an interesting tone.  She could be swallowed up whole by the experience though.  I hope she isn’t as I think she’s pretty good.

Tim: Great singer and talented pianist, I really like Tim and will probably rooting for him, along with Julie, Paul, Stefano and Casey.