Elise Testone - Vienna

' 'Idol' will be on the downslide unless they can find a way to replace all of the energy and enthusiasm Paula generated,' one reader says.
By Kyle Anderson
Two episodes of the ninth season of "American Idol" <link> are already in the books, and while the narrative about it beingSimon Cowell's final season <link> has yet to really emerge, there is one story line that has been front and center: the absence of original "Idol" judge Paula Abdul <link> .
Wednesday on the MTV Newsroom <link> blog, we asked readers whether they really missed Abdul's presence <link> on the...

So, we've just finished the performances from week two - "70s week" - of the 7th season of "American Idol". What I want to know is: what the hell is going on this season?? Usually I try to write even-handed articles, but today (28 February 2008) I'm going to get up on a soapbox and rant about this.

Granted, the issues I'm seeing aren't unique to this season...but I think they're meer pronounced than they've ever been. I see the following problems, presented in no particular order:

Dichotomy between live and TV
This is an issue with any of the performance shows, even the generally superior link...