THE BEST: No. 5
Who says Idol's judges are too mean? Not anyone who watched this season's ''Best of the Rest'' episode, which gave camera time to two separate but equally woeful Friends of Paula, Alexander Nazario and Edward Sanchez. The former's butchery of an Air Supply ballad ended in the mercy-killing of his singing career, while the latter's pitiful take on ''Oh Donna'' also scored a thumbs-down. But no matter: Ultimately, it appeared both men craved an audience with the ''Straight Up'' singer more than they did a golden ticket. Their fanboy reward? Hugs from the clearly moved Abdul, and millions of ''Awws'' from couch potatoes across the nation.