Hollywood Week!

Of course I have to start by talking about Ellen. After 2 hours, I'm convinced. First the starting line she said to SImon, "So this is how it goes, I come on and you leave?" Direct, funny yet serious and you believe her - well spoken and no drama. When she took the line-up and made them all switch from front to back to side, and then the whole group went through? Funny and we need that levity. But her comments so far were real, normal, and she showed she is taking this seriously.

Second note -- this is the season of the singer songwriter which means, I AM GOING TO LOVE THIS SEASON. Not a battle of divas which can be fun, but also tiring. Not a battle of personalities or atleast not so far from what I can tell, so Soul Patrol and Glambert won't suck up my TV time.

Highlights from the individual line-ups that we heard:

Andrew Garcia -- The father who sang Paula Abdul's Straight Up in a folky Jason Mraz way. Like that they still reference Paula without a blink. Good -- she was an important part for 8 years, she should be acknowledged.

Janell Wheeler -- Orlando girl with guitar - folky guitar version of American Boy.

Haeley Vaughn -- Amazing girl with the guitar who had sung country in audition now did another pop country song

Mary Powers -- Mother who sang Sober by Pink. She looks too old for this, but great strong voice. ( I will come to hate her after group auditions)

Lilly Scott -- Ella Fitzgerald whose voice already sounds like it is on a record. It didn't sound live! That Zooey Deschanel style.

Michael Lynch -- Sang John Mayer, his wife is in labor. The crowd sang back-up.

Was sad to see Justin Williams the cancer survivor / crooner go -- it sounds like he didn't pick a good audition song.

Maddy Curtis with the Down's Syndrome brothers sang the weirdest slow song ever so lesson learned for her. Sad :(

Casey James -- who had to take his shirt off, played a blues guitar song. I loved his skill.

Didi Benami -- sang Kara's Terrified. AMAZING -- voice that is interesting and fresh and fun - a little Colbie Caillat inspired, but with a better song. Simon likes Kara's song, he is funny.

Crystal Bowersox -- Natural Woman, got the tattoo of her son. The crowd did the backup again. Such a big gorgeous voice. Simon called her infectious - she had me jumping up.

NOW, the group round begins. This is one of my least favorite moments -- lots of drama and considering they never need to compete together in the competition, is this the best way to judge them? Hopefully the really good ones above still make it through despite the people in their groups.

They find their own groups and pick their songs so fate is in their hands. I know the judges don't see these interactions, but some of these, like Mary Powers, are done in my book. And the dreaded words issue rises again. I also like that the vocal coaches were so intense. Okay, a tear did come to my eyes as Big Mike's wife had the baby and he heard her cry. I'm a sucker for that.

Group highlights:

Ashley Rodriguez who sang Irreplaceable in the groups with the blonde Charity Vance - both through

Big Mike Lynch sings Get Ready with Tim Urban who seems to always slow it down. They both get through.

The groups fighting over Bad Romance were retarded. I thought the first group was not very good but they all got through. The group that was better in rehearsal did a tacky rendition but they got through too. Can we talk about Theri in the one-shouldered leather number with her purple hair hanging over her eyes? She needs to go stat.

Then the Denver nerd group goes on - The Mighty Rangers? They forgot the words and the nerdy guy started to cry. Waah.

Now the group with the girl who went against Meghan Joy last time. They lost a member -- those 85 people who got sent home must be so pissed! She got through and decides not to sing in the group? Jermaine Sellars who had done the Joan Osborne in the first audition blew it out of the water! The whiny girl did not make it through, good riddance. After all her advice, she forgot the words.

So psyched to see Matt Morris who had been in jail. WHY would he pick Sweet Escape for their group? Ugggh these people are so dumb for picking that song!

Janell Wheeler again blew it out of the water in the group with Casey James. And Andrew Garcia hits it with Katie Stevens and JB Afua with Alicia Keys.

I wish we could just watch each group and see what happens in the judging -- Hollywood Week actual singing could be a lot longer without all the group drama. Now here is Mary Powers who has gotten the most airtime out of anyone. She looks 75 years old. She gets through so now we will have to watch her again. Arrgggh

Only 25 got cut in this round. Next week is my favorite -- each takes the stage -- remember when David Cook blew us away? Danny Gokey? Kris Allen?

Now I'm officially excited - aren't you? There are some incredible voices so far! I will try to blog properly next week but Fashion Week has taken over my life. Please don't be angry, you know I'm with you in spirit and I'll definitely give you some blogging love before the Top 24 hit the stage.

Listen people, I'm exhausted and I can still tell you not to be ashamed of your obsessions...even when you should be sleeping instead of blogging.