A Shot of Brandy in Birmingham

Alabama, the state that gave us last year's big boy Taylor Hicks, didn't provide the insanity of New York (or tomorrow's Los Angeles auditions, no doubt) but the episode ended with a bang.

We liked Brandy. Yeah, she couldn't sing, but the girl had grits 'n' guts. She's the kind of gal with gall who wouldn't take no from Simon and Randy (no Paula on the premises at that point) after her wooden "Like a Virgin" on the wooden floor. Then, she demanded to sing "Proud Mary" on the carpet.

Nervy Brand, after Simon's dismissal: "You don't know talent when you see it."

They usually do. Simon was on the money Tuesday: "You're hopeless on the wooden floor and worse on the carpet. Brandy, I like you but on this I'm right."

Alabama wasn't all bad - 20 singers made it to the next rounds.