THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING IN BIRMINGHAM LAST NIGHT

It was a lackluster hour of American Idol Tuesday night. And that was odd, given that Birmingham, Ala., has produced Idol stars Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice. But Birmingham produced few stars Tuesday night.

-- Southern manners: There were a whole lot of "thank yous" and not nearly the arguments that littered last week's New York tryouts. Maybe we're just nicer down here.

-- Most likely to make the 24: Tatiana McConnico, 17 of Austell, Ga., singing Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).

-- Second most likely: Chris Sligh of Greenville, S.C. who was really funny, and he can sing.

-- Best line: "I really want to make David Hasselhof cry" - Sligh.

-- Just in case the show seemed too normal, Margaret Fowler marched in wearing some yellow Big Bird kind of blouse, claiming to be 26 and not able to sing a note. "I don't know what this show is anymore," Simon Cowell said before getting Fowler to admit she's 50. Tonight: Los Angeles.

Roger Bull/The Times-Union

VITAL RULE FOR 'IDOL' HOPEFULS: DON'T CRASH AND BURN, THEN CRY

From the top, Season 6 reminded us what it is we love and loathe about audition weeks on American Idol. Jessica Rhode made the short trip from the Mall of America to the audition in Minneapolis, only to crash and burn in front of her idol, Jewel. Rhode's genuine tears made for compelling reality TV - for about 10 seconds. After that, it got uncomfortable and turned us into voyeurs. It didn't help that there were only two or three real talents in the lot. Tonight's show from Seattle is supposed to be far worse. Oh, joy.

Best costume: The Urban Amish look sported by Troy Benham. Eat your heart out, Weird Al.

Simon Cowellism of the night: "Why do you keep saying yes? You're not going to hear it from us."

Best chance of making the final 24: Sarah Krueger from Eau Clair, Wis., sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow with great control.

Headed for Jerry Springer: Jason Anderson, the 16-year-old who tried to juggle while singing a Michael W. Smith tune. After faking some profanity-laced indignation, he got his family in on the act.

Twyla Tharp award: Tashawn Moore stretched Kiss into an hourlong performance.

Floridian with a chance: Margate's Paula Meneses earned a ticket to Hollywood by cloning Shakira. And getting Simon to wink at her.