'American Idol' hits a sour note in season 7

' American Idol": Can you think of any two words that spark greater debate - with the exception of " Mets" and "Yankees?" This season, ratings are down (a bit) and passions are high. Is this the most boring season ever, or is this the best? TV editor Andy Edelstein and TV writer Verne Gay square off over the most Important Question on TV (at least for this moment).

I used to be an "American Idol" fan, eagerly looking forward to each week's shows. But now I watch it solely because of professional obligation. And that's no way to watch TV.

This season, the show has become, to borrow one of Simon Cowell's pet put-downs, "predictable." And that's putting it charitably.

After seven seasons, the judges' shticks - spacey Paula, crabby Simon, incoherent Randy - are getting way tired. Maybe for one week, they should switch personalities. Hearing the word "dawg" come out of Paula instead of Randy might actually waken me from my stupor. In fact, to keep from getting bored, I watch the show with a legal pad in hand, tracking the number of times Randy says "dude" during the hour. That's become the highlight of my "Idol" viewing.

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