Standing in the Coke Room, waiting to line up on the stairs...It may be the most nerve-racking experience one goes through on American Idol. The stage manager, Debbie, comes out to get you in line, you hear the cheesy music start, and Ryan begins the monologue you have heard two or three times already and are reading off the teleprompter with him, silently pinching yourself to make sure that this is, indeed, real.

And, boom, the show starts. Your throat is dry, your stomach is turning, and, if you're the first one to sing, your world stops as they play the video behind you that you saw for the first time two hours before in dress rehearsal. Hopefully the video doesn't choke you up, because when it ends, you start singing. Once you are on that stage and the music starts, you're probably okay. It's the waiting that kills you.

But to make you wait now...something is bothering me. The judges, Ryan, and producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have called this year's group ''The Best Top 24 EVER!!!'' Meanwhile, none of these singers has shown the vocal quality of Phil Stacey or Melinda Doolittle; none has shown the artistry of Daughtry or Blake; none has yet shown performance skills that equal Taylor's or JPL's. Let America decide — we don't need you to tell us what we can figure out, and we're smarter than you give us credit for. End of rant.

THE PERFORMANCES

There were a handful of performances I would classify as adequate. Whereas last year's top 24 gave us incredible performances by Lakisha, Melinda, Stephanie, and Sabrina, this year's group gave us okay performances by several, but nothing I found to be great.

My pick for best of the night was Syesha Mercado. Her ''Tobacco Road'' wasn't as good as Phil's take on it last year, but she did the song justice. She's a natural performer, but last night her performing simply distracted from the fact that her vocal was way pitchy. Her final note was so under pitch that it was uncomfortable. But still my ''best of the night.''

Asia'h Epperson gave us a spunky version of ''Piece of My Heart,'' but the vocals were simply not there, at least to my ears. I think America will join me in giving her the benefit of the doubt, but I hope she can step it up even more next week.

NEXT PAGE: Chris Sligh's Best of the Rest

You Might Also Like

• Photo Gallery 'Idol': How you'd improve it
• American Idol 2008 'Idol': David Archuleta's journey | Dawnie Walton
• TV Watch ''Idol'' recap: A happy ending | Michael Slezak
• TV Watch 'Idol' recap: The final match | Michael Slezak
• American Idol 2008 'Idol' backstage Q&A: David Cook | Shirley Halperin
• American Idol 2008 'Idol' backstage Q&A: David Archuleta | Adam B. Vary