Is there a human emotion stronger than love? Love or lack of love is the subject of most songs. It‘s what makes the world go ‘round. On Idol, Denial rules the emotional roulette wheel. You know how it feels. You’ve played the If I Won the Lotto contest. You can toss that possibility around in your head until your cheeks are glowing with the promise of the Powerball. It’s the same sort of thinking. Maybe you’ll wake up able to sing tomorrow. Maybe everyone will think you’re great, even though you’ve shown no prior signs. Weirder things have happened. Maybe just being on television is enough. Maybe just being on television. Maybe just. Maybe. Not. In chorus, dawgs. No. No. No. No.

LL Cool J brought some love and laughter to the auditions, making the losers feel like winners, even when saying No. He was a force stronger than Denial. Still, the losers cried or cursed outside the door more often than not. Brandy must have listened to mom when told not to say anything if she didn’t have something good to say. She mostly passed on the hard decisions, chiming in when there was something positive to say. Simon seemed constrained and fairly accurate, possibly medicated. Paula seemed normal, which has come to mean unstable and definitely medicated. Randy was digging the rap about his weight loss, and just digging having a cool job.

The slow grind toward this year’s American Idol continues. It’s all about filtering at this point. The judges are filtering through contestants and the contestants are filtering what the judges say. It’s hard to take no for an answer. Next week is Hollywood and there aren’t going to be enough seat belts to go around for this bumpy ride. Previews look like…previews-with few real clues as to what’s going on yet. Some good stories, some interesting possibilities, something to look forward to next week. More denials from both sides of the judges’ table. I probably won’t be here next week. I’ll be busy. The Lotto is Saturday. I’ll collect the check on Monday and be in Jamaica by Tuesday just in time to tune in for the next episode of Idol. Got to shop for suits. Wonder who sells swimsuits online in January? Should I buy a boat or just rent one? How big? Can you get internet on a boat? Like I said, I’ll be busy…