Is This American Idol’s Best Season Yet?

Ryan Seacrest has called this season’s contestants of American Idol the most talented yet. The singers definitely seem to have more ability than in the last few seasons. Could this be explained by the fact that many of them are already professionals?

My personal favorite, David Archuleta, is young, but not inexperienced. He won Star Search at eleven and is now setting his sights on American Idol as a seventeen-year-old. He is a favorite among the younger fans and the ladies. He is from Murray, Utah, and is the most searched-for contestant on the Internet according to Yahoo. Simon called his performance last night the best so far by a mile. The second most searched-for contestant is Kristy Lee Cook from Oregon. Her professional experience includes a failed deal with Britney Spears’ production company and a first album. She has popularity with male voters because of her good looks. She trains horses and plays the piano. Ramiele Malubay is also garnering a lot of attention, especially among the Filipino population. She is from Florida and no professional experience has yet been disclosed. This is not true, however, for Carly Smithson, who released an album with MCA that failed several years ago. She is a seasoned performer who should go far in the competition. She was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She has performed in Les Miserables and previously tried out for Idol but had problems with her work visa. Contestant Kady Malloy has also released an album trying to be the next Britney Spears. Apparently, that didn’t work, so now she’s strutting her stuff on American Idol. She hails from Texas and is popular among the men watching the show. They are responsible for some 73 percent of searches for her. Brooke White is yet another contestant who has an album. She is a nanny who grew up in Arizona, but now resides in Van Nuys, California. She plays the piano and refuses to see R-rated movies. Jason Castro does not have an album, but he has been on the MTV reality show “Cheyenne.” He hasn’t received much air time so far, but his dread locks are sure to capture attention. Australian contender Michael Johns has been in two bands, including one nearly signed by Madonna’s label. After his performance last night, Simon told him, “You’ve just got it.” I agree. Another Britney Spears’ connection comes with Robbie Carrico, who opened for the pop star in 1999. Some sources are saying he and Britney were romantic, but this has not been confirmed. Robbie is no longer a boy band type; with long hair and beard, he’s become a rocker. Because of all the professional experience, I’m hoping to be more enthralled by this year’s contestants than I have been in the past. As mean as Simon is, I’m usually thinking exactly what he is before he says it. I hope the talent this year will shut him up a little. Last night’s performances by the men were impressive. We’ll have to see how the women perform tonight.