Hokay … so maybe it’s not exactly a “love/hate” relationship I have with Harry Connick, Jr.

To be more precise, it’s more an “annoy/enjoy” sort of thing. Because there are plenty of instances when the guy is dead on when he critiques some of the American Idol contestants.

And then, moving around to various performers, he might do a complete about-face — sometimes he gets too technical to the point a review can go over a contestant’s head. Other times he’s exactingly critical and it appears he out-and-out hates a performance. Still other times, he regresses into the usual judges’ go-to M.O. of kowtowing … because there isn’t anything really to say about what was just played out by an Idol on the stage.

And here’s the thing: I get all three modes of feedback. But in the first two instances:

When He’s Too Technical: Harry should be talking to them in specifics when a glazed look comes over a performer’s face. They’re not “getting” it. The information he’s imparting just isn’t comprehended. You know that saying “You can’t fix dumb?” This isn’t that but in the same vein you can’t hand somebody something meant to assist them if they have no point of reference. Right? Right. Remember: Many of these kids are kids, they’re not seasoned. (Case in point: Alex Preston will understand the technical stuff out of the sheer abundance and familiarity he has with the bevy of instruments he manages. MK Nobilette probably will not.)

When He’s Pointedly Critical: Nothing wrong with being pointed with regard to what an Idol-wannabee puts out an act. But such assessment would be better served if, again, it was given a point of reference. Tell him/her how to infuse that criticism into future performances in a manner which might benefit him/her positively. Explain it in such a way it doesn’t just hang there in the air with no purpose other than to appear as a put down. As an Idol observers, don’t you believe a contestant would better receive such pointed critique and might better adapt with such instruction? I do.

Here’s another thing: Want to know what I really hate about the judges this season? They’re wimping out when it comes to hitting the contestants where it hurts. Crappy performances result in a judgments which oft-times ring out with some innocuous comment about how good they look that evening. Or one of those “You know what I really like about you?” lead-ins resulting in follow-up blather. Or some other throw-away quip on how they “like the energy of a performance.” (Don’t misunderstand me: This is something that’s been going on for a long, long time, way before the current line up of Urban, JLo and HCJ graced your flat screens.)

Where’s the harm in socking it to them? Tell’em their performance was as bad as a wrong turn away from an appointed destination. Then follow it up with an explanation on why that can’t or shouldn’t happen in future outings. That would be refreshing … and more honest than “those shoes are so cute with that outfit!”

The truth hurts sometimes. But, as I’m apt to repeat: “You learn from your mistakes not from your successes.” Right? Right. Additionally for kids who simply don’t know any better, there has to be definitive direction, a solid game plan put in place for them to shoot for. Judge them that way.

Don’t get me wrong: I love HCJ as a performer and (a lot of times) as a judge on American Idol. But the corny comments he makes either at the expense of or in camaraderie with Keith Urban can get tedious … and it has time and again. But, overall, he’s (mostly) been a breath of fresh air on the show.

One last thing a lot of you may have noticed that I’d like to call out here (my “a little bit of jaw drop” moment during last Thursday’s telecast): Remember Harry calling out about what he would do if he were a mentor on the show?

“I was not hired as a mentor. I am envious of Randy (Jackson). If I were a mentor … guys? I would be at the hotel ’til 5:00 o’clock in the morning working with you. I would give everything to that …”

How did you read that comment as HCJ talked to all the contestants at the start of the elimination show? Because I read it as a direct slap to the puss of Randy Jackson. Granted … Jackson is pointless as a mentor. The kids might look up to him, but there was immensely more direction given by his predecessor Jimmy Iovine in the couple of years he held the mentor position. So the mentoring “doled out” by Jackson isn’t worth much. And Harry called Randy out on that fact. That was a kick and a half.

Additionally, a few other statements included:

“I think you’re all incredibly talented … I think this is the best group of talent since the first season (and) I’ve watched every year …”

I call horse puckey. Did he really dismiss Idol seasons 2 through 12 and their groups of talent? It could be summed up that way. I took it as exactly that, though I know he didn’t precisely intend it as such.

The female contingent this season? There’s not a single girl who is tripping my trigger. With the exception of Sam Woolf (who needs to be dismissed soon), there is no female contestant who can stand toe to toe with any of the males. (Several girls can out perform him without problem.) But this season is an all guy shindig. My point? It’s a year where I’m completely at odds with HCJ’s statement above, that “this is the best group of talent since the first season.” No … it is not. It’s not the best group since Season One, not as a whole.

And not by a long shot. Want proof? Two elimination shows thus far without a single guy being included in either of those airings’ Bottom Three contestants. Enough said.

Yeah … I’m glad Harry is in the mix. But he annoys me week in and week out more than I enjoy him so far …

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(Not So Much Of A) News Flash: Whether the American Idol faithful want to hear it or not (and many do not) the show, right now, IS about the judges.

Let’s face facts: After the debacles aplenty the powerhouse duo Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey foisted on us last season, there’s a lot of damage control that needs to be attended to by the current panel.

(Wait … wait … wait … did I really just toss a “powerhouse” reference in there with regard to Mariah Carey?!? I’m sorry. She might be a powerhouse on the music scene, but she was anything but that during her Idol stint. What I meant to state was that she rode the coattail wave of lunacy Minaj forged. There. All better.)

You know the tales of Minaj and Carey, the complaints up the wazoo about them. Their antics turned viewers off. They took away from the focus of the show which should always be on the contestants. Season 12 was often a circus freakshow. And that’s precisely why the season 13 trio of officiants are being scrutinized so closely.

Or, rather, I should state that’s why all eyes are on Harry Connick, Jr. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. To many the dude is easy on the eyes (so I’ve been told), has an engaging personality and is mixing things up with not only some pretty pointed critiquing but with (sometimes) razor-sharp wit and sarcasm. So, great … he’s “all that” right now.

As it was, the person I was watching Idol with couldn’t stop gushing over how much the man was loved, how refreshing he was, how he makes Idol “watchable” again. I’m not in this person’s camp in the least — I’ve been familiar with Connick’s career, both musically and on screen, since the beginning. I own all his albums and have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) listening to his body of work. 20 is the first album I purchased of his (and it continues to be one of my favorites) and I was surprised by his take in the film Copycat with Sigourney Weaver. (He was out and out chilling as Daryll Lee Cullum.) Additionally, I’ve seen him in concert and he puts on a damned fine show.

But … he’s not the savior the show needs. He’s just a piece of the puzzle in the grand scheme of things. Granted, his presence fills a nice chunk of that puzzle but, given the steady decline of Idol viewership over the years, there are quite a number of things beside the judging panel in need of a makeover.

So let’s enjoy Connick for the contributions he’s making currently. For me, I already have my cynicism gage at half staff when it comes to hearing him jabber and joke … and we’ve only just passed the second episode of the season.

But that’s okay. While he may be “all that” to some folks, he isn’t to me. It’s not that I exhibit any ADD tendencies when it comes seeing or hearing him on the show, but I’d rather he be on a short leash when it comes to what I’ve seen thus far. I’m well aware, however, the shortening of that leash may be a long time in coming …

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