Finally! Oh, how I hate the initial audition episodes. I don't really need to see grown men in giant pink bunny suits hugging Simon Cowell, or probable crack whores begging and pleading for a second chance to sing some terrible song. That's not entertaining to me. And since so few of the people we end up liking in the initial audition rounds ever show up again, I always get frustrated by the ultimately wasted time. Skip right to Hollywood. I wouldn't miss the nutbags looking for attention or the sexually confused young men embarrassing themselves one bit.

Last night's episode was split between New York City and Puerto Rico. Only nine people got through PR, but you'd think NYC could have afforded its own show for sure. There was some legitimate talent on display, and a few more of those baffling thumbs up from the judges. So far this has been one of the most inconsistently judged seasons I can remember.

Jorge had a beautiful, soaring voice that Paula compared to Marc Anthony. Honestly, I think he's better than the increasingly skeletal Mr. Jennifer Lopez (but then, I never cared for Anthony or his music at all). I would argue that he's maybe the best male singer we've seen try out this year.

Melinda is a great big hippie weirdo, and normally that whole "the universe is shifting and I like to dance naked" thing would send my eyes rolling. In fact, I was almost sure she was a joke audition. But then she sang, and it was gorgeous. And she's gorgeous. I don't see her surviving Hollywood, but I really enjoyed listening to her sing.

Jackie is a rocker chick and she mangled Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" with her overly scratchy voice and cornball dance moves. But then she busted out an original number and I ended up really drawn to her. If she makes it through Hollywood she's going to have to work on those singing faces, though. Terrifying! Uncomfortable! Bad.

Monique is a wee little girl with an "adorable" (read: obnoxious) little brother who got way too much screen time. Monique has a sweet voice and you can just tell that the Disney set would eat her up. "Idol" has a bad track record when it comes to contestants this young (see half the contestants in Season 3, who kept getting pushed through because of idiot teen girls dialing their lives away), so I fear for her.

Patricia has one of the best voices I've ever heard on the show, and she held her own on Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." That's not easy! But, like most of the obviously talented singers this season, the judges saw fit to give her a hard time and basically shit on her, breaking her spirit before inevitably sending her through. (That has happened at least three times this week that I can think of, with the Osmond boy, that Anne Marie girl, and now Patricia.) I thought she was even better in the second song they made her sing, which was in Spanish. Amazing smile, too.

And then we have f'ing Norman, who gives homosexuals the world over a bad name. Norman came into his audition with a shiny plastic-looking shirt and "Let's Get Physical" headband and wristbands. He butchered "And I Am Telling You" (no, Norman, I am telling YOU: you are not in fact a strong black woman), totally incapable of finding a key. Then he smartmouthed Simon and somehow managed to get a golden ticket by oversinging "Amazing Grace." I blame Paula. This guy gets through and they "like" him despite his shit, but the judges are going to throw shade at legitimately talented performers? I don't understand this show sometimes.

Next: Hollywood week! Yay! My favorite time of the season.