It's pretty much official now: We are experiencing a kinder, gentler American Idol, the kind of season where even a hirsute man in a bunny suit is embraced with compassion and understanding by Simon. Wednesday night's Salt Lake City audition show ended -- like all the rest this yawny year -- with a weepy story about overcoming obstacles and not wearing shoes. Didn't the Idol auditions of old used to end with something mean and nasty, like making bearded loveless hobos sing Like a Virgin or parading a fat guy's severed head around on a stick? What happened to the hateful days? I totally blame Obama.

Season 8 of American Idol is shaping up to be the Year of the Osmond, literally and figuratively. On last night's show, we met David Osmond, son of Alan Osmond, "the oldest of the performing Osmonds." Not only was David hunky and talented and as pure as Uncle Donny's pearly whites, but like his father, he's battling MS. It's my job to snark, but gadzooks, that's a great bleepin' storyline!

In fact, Salt Lake City, "the happiest place on earth where 98 percent of the teen population is apparently knocked up or parentless," gave us the best talent of the year. And they were all goodie-goodies to boot. Potential Top 12ers include 24-year-old Frankie Jordan (has a kid, pronounced schnoz), 23-year-old Megan Corkrey (has a kid, divorced, bad tattoo) and young Rose Flack (dead father, no shoes). It was almost enough to make me put away the Crown Royal and straighten up. Almost.

There's a bonus ep Thursday night: auditions in NYC and Puerto Rico. The Pop Life Idol Chat will be open as always. And even if Idol is playing nice, well, we're not. See you then, boys and girls.

[Dorky Simon shirt and a big pink bunny ... loser! Fox photo]