At first I looked at the article about David Cook and thought, "what a way to milk the press," but then I think about how much they have to prepare for in just a week, a live show. Poor dude. Even if he's a bit of a pretentious ass (I still like his singing, though), he doesn't need this kind of crap happening to him.

it's not just the stress of the show though. his brother, who has brain cancer, has had to start taking chemo and radiation after many years in remission. he and his brother are very close. that "AC" that he has on his guitar? it's his brother's initials and a way for him to show support to his brother without having to say a word. last night he had his initials monogrammed on the cuff of his shirt.

he's far from a pretentious ass and i really don't get where people get that or "smug". at ALL.

Brooke, my nemesis: Jolene's lyrics could not be more clear. Seriously. Same with "I'll be watching you." So why did you turn both into something poppy and boppy?

Yay! Someone else said it so I don't have to. See also her smiling all through "You're So Vain."

Poor David Cook. I like him. I hope him and his brother are all right.

Hell's Kitchen was an awful mess last night. I can't imagine even one of them running a restaurant. I can see putting a couple weird people in the competition for fun, but really all of them looked bad.

tiggy, I'm with you. I think David has a kind of mature confidence in what he does, what he *wants* to do, and how to set himself apart. There's almost nothing he's done so far that I haven't loved.

I'm positive he's going to get signed when this is over, despite the outcome of the show. Look at Daughtry.

Poor kid. That's really tough, to have your focus split so dramatically. I didn't know anything about his brother.

Hell's Kitchen was an awful mess last night. I can't imagine even one of them running a restaurant. I can see putting a couple weird people in the competition for fun, but really all of them looked bad.

Just awful. It's only about a half-step away from making fun of the kids on the short bus at this point.

I was surprised at the number of people in HK who hadn't had a lot of professional experience. I mean they usually have some (like half or more) - but given the first dishes...only 2 or them seem moderately competent.

We can likely choose the probable winner now. Although I was able to do that last season as well.

I wonder what would happen if HK were populated by Top Chef contestants?

You mean people with actual restaurant backgrounds?

Why would you do that?

Seriously. This is a bad direction to be going.

DwtS: I feel Steve Guttenberg's pain.