NIKKI McKIBBIN
The luckiest girl on television (make that the luckiest girl in America) kicked off the show with Stevie Nicks' ''Edge of Seventeen''...and that could have been great, if only she'd sounded 1/100th as good as Stevie and not like her usual off-key self. ''Very karaoke, dude,'' Randy said, while Paula proclaimed it ''good.'' Simon looked like he was biting his tongue, but all he got out was ''it was all right.'' Somebody afraid of inciting a pity vote? Perhaps he and the other judges should have chosen a more difficult song than ''Black Velvet'' for the ''judge's choice.'' Anyone can carry those notes -- even Nikki. ''The song really worked for you,'' Paula said. But Randy could only compliment himself: ''The performance was just okay, but great song.''
Grades C+ and B-
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