American Idol 2: Mid-Season Report Card

It's the number one show on television. It's Fox's cash cow. It is required viewing on Tuesday night, but you have to watch Wednesday night for the story to be completely told. Two nights' big ratings for the price of one. Perfect. Right? Wrong. There is always room for improvement.

Plenty of controversy this season. Brutal contract negotiations. Quitting judges. Expelled contestants, contestants with records, contestants reportedly more talented than ever before, yet mired in mediocrity. Fights about the next season before this one is over! What to do about Kelly's album? And Kelly and Justin's movie? And Justin's album? The first half of the season has not been easy.

Let's take a look at the show and all involved, and see how they are doing midway through the season. What they've done right, what they've done wrong.

Name: Ryan Seacrest, Host

Grade: B

Strengths: Charm, Humor, Energy

Weaknesses: Can't think on his feet; insists on jabbing with Simon; bias?

Overall Impression: Ryan without Dunkleman is vastly improved. He looks more comfortable and serves as an excellent conduit of the energy the live American Idol audiences generate. However, the jabbing with Simon is pointless. He won't outwit Simon either. Paula hired writers last year to do it and failed. Ryan's faux vanity shtick works fine, he should stick with that. When he branches off, the results are rarely good. He tried to save Vanessa from being misjudged, but did it in about three seconds, and never very convincingly. A lot was made of his apparent plea for votes for Carmen on April 8th's show. Bad move.

That said, Ryan is doing a good job. He's bringing new meaning to goofy charm, and has almost… almost... made himself irreplaceable. American Idol wouldn't be the same without him.

Name: Kristin Holt, Hostess

Grade: D

Strengths: experience as a contestant; she's pretty?

Weaknesses: serves no purpose

Overall Impression: It probably sounded good on paper... what was written on it. Much was made that former contestant, Kristin Holt, got a gig as a hostess on the show, and that's all we knew. What exactly her job functions were seemed to be a mystery even to her. She got to watch people fume at the auditions, got some tears on her shoulders, then she was supposed to live in the mansion with the Idols and dish dirt. Problem: there was no dirt. Now she's touring shopping malls. Like Tiffany. Save your money, Kristin, you won't be back for Idol 3.

Name: Randy Jackson, Judge

Grade: B+

Strengths: speaks his mind as freely for praise as criticism; comfortable with his role; exudes actual compassion for the contestants

Weaknesses: a little too willing to fight with other judges; encourages contestants into behavior that will sway

Overall Impression: Last year, Randy was the nicer Simon. This year, Randy is his own judge. He has his own opinion of what he wants and is not afraid to say what that is. His criticisms, packed with slang as they are, are useful. Yes, he loves to boo Simon, and wants contestants to fight with him... which seems to turn people off (how many people are still mad at Kimberley Locke for telling Simon he sucked? Who encouraged that? Randy.). That backfired with Juanita Barber, who turned on him like a rotweiler. Randy's job is secure, a little less booing Simon and contributing to the delinquency of the contestants, a little more useful criticism and you'll get an A.

Name: Paula Abdul, Judge

Grade: C+

Strengths: empathy; quick with praise; genuinely excited for the contestants and what they are experiencing

Weaknesses: still somewhat reluctant to give harsh criticism; talks about backstage issues too freely

Overall Impression: Paula is Paula. You want her to make a true stand for or against, and she has improved dramatically from last year, when she acted like saying something harsh would cause immediate death. She seems to genuinely root for the contestants, and this really is a nice balance to Simon, whose mouth should be registered. In her own way, Paula has made an irreplaceable place for herself on the show. But, a judge must judge, and sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind. She will not get a better grade until she embraces this.

Name: Simon Cowell, Judge

Grade: B+

Strengths: outspoken; creative with critiques; consistent; knowledgeable

Weaknesses: proud; critiques are sometimes below the belt; inflexible; sometimes too big for his britches

Overall Impression: What would American Idol be without Simon? He's the judge everyone fears. Last year, he took America by storm. He was far more dastardly than that Weakest Leak lady. As time went on, we learned he was blunt, but he was right. This year, his hit-miss ratio has dropped. When he loves you, he loves you (Tamyra Gray, Christina Christian, Ruben Studdard), but some of his critiques came out of nowhere. Trenyce was brilliant on April 8th show, but he called it cabaret. He took a stellar performance on Disco Week from Clay and called it "terrible." Where Randy explains his critiques, Simon just gives them and tells you to sit down. This is as useless as Paula was when she wouldn't say anything bad at all, no matter what. What Simon does do is give an interesting insight to the industry, and what the winner may have in store for them if they win. And no other judge can do that!

Name: Clay Aiken, Contestant

Grade: A-

Strengths: star-quality; a phenom; an amazing voice; an unconventional look; the shock pop

Weaknesses: coasting; refuses to expand repertoire; ignores criticism (when he gets it)

Overall Impression: Clay certainly seem to have at least Top 3 in the bag, doesn't he? Does he? Two words: Tamyra Gray. But first, he is a sure-fire star, whatever happens on the show, so maybe he would prefer to lose. He gets signed to Simon's label (and he will), but he won't have to be run ragged like Kelly Clarkson. He can get a gig on That '70s Show and chill until his album comes out (much like Tamyra and Boston Public). Every guest judge who has come on has been as shocked as we all were when we heard him sing. That pop will go a long way, it takes a while to get over. It will keep him in demand. His look in unconventional (note, I didn't say unattractive, just not the standard Josh Hartnett jock hot boy look). He's got it going on.

But, there is a reluctance to really sell himself. He can hide behind his voice, and he chooses to. That may cost him. His fan want more, they want him and he's not giving it. He performed "At This Moment" with all the emotion that he did "Open Arms" and "Everlasting Love." Three different emotions, but with the same expressions, same gestures, same dreamy look on his face. He's not feeling it. It's clearly not a confidence issue, it's either a willingness or a desire issue. It can get him in the end. But, if he's stuck in one gear, what a gear it is!