Hoo boy! American Idol doesn't start for another few days and already great chunks of the TV-gobbling populace hate my guts. The vitriol started mighty early this year. And you know what? I love it. All's fair, I say. I attack your dopey faves; you attack doughy bloggers. However, all my friends and enemies, the powers-that-be will delete your comments if you curse up a blue streak. So while you are free to call me fat, "Jabba-esque" even, you can't modify said zinger with any version of the f-bomb. Trust me: Your comments will have a lot more oomph if they actually stay on the page.

So now, where were we? Ah yes. Yesterday we accurately tackled the 5 Worst American Idol Top 12ers. Today, the 5 BEST American Idol Top 12ers. See? Pop Life is soooo positive! (If you're wondering who's gonna be surly this time, we should be hearing from the Claymates...right...about...now.)

5. Mandisa: With the exception of Chris Sligh, zaftig singers with gospel-kissed voices always stir my fancy on Idol. Chunky-but-funky? And how! Mandisa is my all-time fave, but Jennifer Hudson's yowza performance in Dreamgirls had everyone wondering why she didn't last longer on Season 3.

4. Fantasia Barrino: Kapow! Hudson was good, but Fantasia was the right champ for Season 3. A modern-day Tina Turner, this High Point, N.C., burner should be a bigger star today. She's funky (have you heard Baby Makin' Hips?), she's bizarre and she can showstop with the best of them.

3. Carrie Underwood: I'm still convinced Underwood doesn't want to be a country star. After all, if you've ever heard her killer cover of Guns N' Roses' Paradise City -- my oh my, Barbie will curl your toes for sure. But for someone so Barbie perfect, she has genuine charisma and a nuanced voice. Bang your head, blondie.

2. Chris Daughtry: Nobody has looked better backdropped by Idol's cheezy video flames than Season 5's Bald Wonder. I wasn't crazy about his flea-market wallet-chain, but he redeemed himself with whatever song he tackled. (Here's an interview I did with Daughtry. Like brothers, the two of us.)

1. Kelly Clarkson: American Idol is the most dominant pop-culture force of the 21st century. Kelly Clarkson -- more than Daughtry, Underwood or even Simon Cowell -- is the most important figure in Idol history. (I interviewed KC, too. Wanna see?) Hence, an easy No. 1. A huge talent with girl-power charm, she legitimized a show that didn't yet deserve it. Without Clarkson, Idol would have been done three seasons ago. So we should thank her -- or blame her for all of the world's evils.