I actually saw a promotional poster advertising a book signing by Randy...You know, there should really be a limit on this kind of thing. Think of the trees!

Thanks to ChunkeeMonkee for the thread title!

Randy is coming out with a new book. He's doing a book signing on January 13th at the Barnes and Noble in New York near Rockefeller Center.

Ok, everyone meet me in Rockefeller Center that day. I'll be the one dressed up as a dog, being arrested for attempting to hump Randy's leg.

Does anybody know how much weight Randy has lost since his gastric bypass?

I just saw a commercial for Monday's Oprah. Randy will be on there talking about his gastric bypass surgery. I didn't hear exactly what he said in the commercial, but I think it was something along the lines of "I had to do something drastic". So it'll be on Monday and you can watch it. Or not. It's not like you won't see him 4,000 times within the next 6 months.

Thanks, MC Sammy D. I taped Oprah. Randy has lost 100 pounds so far. He said he wasn't an emotional eater or had some kind of food addiction. He blames his sedentary lifestyle on his weight gain. He was recently diagnosed with diabetes and that prompted his decision to get the gastric bypass. He's working out every day and planning to lose more. He still looked big, though.

The other guests on the show included a expert surgeon and two other ladies who had had the procedure. They talked about the decision process that got them to get the surgery and the physical/emotional pain of the healing process post-surgery. One of the other guests was only 17 years old who weighed 250+ pounds.

Dammit, I posted it and forgot to watch. Oh well, I'll get my fill in the next few weeks, I'm sure.

I didn't think that he looked a hell of a lot different. I mean he has way less of a gut now, but other than that, still looked the same to me. He still has that roll of fat on the back of his head. They showed his wife and kids, who are all pretty cute. Out of all of the guests, I did like him the best. I think that he owned up to his problems with food and exercise and I liked how he just doesn't recommend gastric bypass to anyone who asks (I'm looking at you, Carnie Wilson). I liked him a lot more on the show than I ever do on AI.

In rewatching AI2 in preparation for AI3 (yes, I know--pathetic), Randy actually may have been the fairest judge. He wasn't so openly behind one contestant that he ignored actually commenting on the others. He was also clear about the "arrangement" (and liking/disliking it) and the performance.

And bless his soul, he was the first to call Carmen what she was ... a bad singer.

Yes, Randy was honest without being cruel. Simon was cruel and sometimes dishonest (telling Carmen she was "the most marketable", saying "everything about that performance was terrible" to Clay when he sang Grease). Paula was just unintelligible.

ITA with aiwop. It's a shame that the dawgs and such obscure the fact that Randy's critiques are the most objective and technically based of the triumvirate.

It looks like Randy has been reading this thread because it's a new season and the dawgs have left the building. He is really coming on strong this year. Watch out Cowell.

He is doing real well. Makes it easier for Simon to tone it down when the other two pick up some of the slack. They're meshing real well, the three of them - I really hope they don't bring in a new judge because I'm liking what I'm seeing.

A little known fact... the dawgs were all deeply felt by Randy... they came from the gut, well, the stomach. Staple = smaller stomach. Not only less food can go in, but less dawgs can come out.

Glad to see that Randy was back with an extended vocabulary. But while he's obviously attended the "Slimon Cowell School of Judging" to shape up for this season, is it really necessary for Randy to dress like him too? The dress shirt unbuttoned to his navel? No, Randy. Just. No.

I don't like the new Randy. He seems a little full of himself. I guess when Mariah Carey has been blocking your light with her ass all the time, you feel a little resentful. "This is MY time to fly free like a Butterfly, Mariah! MY time!"

I'm really digging the cruel new Randy. His constant laughing at the contestants with no regard to their feelings is cracking my shit up. I'm hoping he reverts back to useful criticism further along this process though.

Ryan Seacrest had a clip on his show today of Randy playing bass with Journey. I had no idea how talented he is. Does anyone know if he actually recorded with them, or just toured?

I was disappointed in him for letting the blonde bimbo in the hat through to Hollywood. Apparently, some body part other than his ears was making his decisions for him. Especially since they all turned down the African -American man in the green vest for being "too Broadway" and the other African American man with the moustache for being "too old-school". They kept repeating the mantra "this competition is about singing". Well, once you've established your criteria, have the decency to stick to it. Those guys could sing as well, if not better, than 98% of the men they auditioned.

He just seems so fake to me. The laugh is forced and unreal - it's like he's trying to be an asshole. At least Paula and Simon's reactions seem to be a bit more genuine. A bit, mind you - they come across as rather bad actors much of the time as well.

After watching all 3 nights of auditions, I agree that Randy is more critical (and sometimes downright mean) than he has been on previous seasons. The contestants, however, have been subpar compared to previous seasons on these audition shows. Maybe his disposition is warranted. Hopefully, things will improve next week.

On the other hand, as others have pointed out, he has expanded his vocablulary and is also giving the contestants more constructive criticism. As long he doesn't use the word dawg 50 times in an episode, I'll be happy!

I talked to Randy on the phone a couple of months ago. He was quite nice. But in our conversation? He said dawg. A lot.

He really overdoes that shit, but he's actually a really genuine guy. I like his new snarky attitude on the show this season. But sending Kiira to Hollywood? Why, Randy, why?

The man behind the curtain, a/k/a Simon Fuller, is most certainly whispering in Randy's (and Paula's and Simon's ear).

Which explains the advance of FakeBritney.

I agree completely. I think Fuller has always encouraged them to advance certain people (Hello, Goat Girl), but it seems more apparent this year.

FakeBritney? Made me want to hurl. I hope she is eliminated very, very soon.

Washington Post chat transcript (1/27)

IMO (see Randy??), what I can't stand about Randy is how even if a deaf person could tell a singer was amazing, he puts this "stone cold" look on his face like he's watching a lecture on the molecular structure of cheese. And ONLY when he can guess at what Cowell is thinking does he even attempt at making a decision.

I believe that's the only reason FakeBritney got through. They put him on the spot and he's all, "dah, good but not a fan of duh yodelling". WTF?

Maybe it's just the way I see it, but yeesh it's irritating. Get some opinions of your own, Randy! Cowell won't like you more or less either way.

Last night, Randy had a "Big Girls Rock" t-shirt draped over him, (given to him by the big girl...can't remember her name.) I couldn't help but blurt out "Shack's right! He really is a lesbian!" I just happened to be watching the show with my in-laws. Thank God they all agreed and laughed out loud, too.

Randy really needs a new gimmick. Cause "asshole" and "bat-shit-crazy" are already taken.

Thesaurus was a good start; now Randy needs a dictionary-- I was shocked and disappointed Shack was not all over this, because on the last show I think Randy clinched the win for the most idiotic utterance from the judges to date, when he said, in a filler commentary, that Now that is a puzzler. An unpopular idol?? Sheesh, Randy: that is an oxymoron, and you are, (in case it doesn't go without saying), a moron.

When whatever his name was auditioning to "Cold Hearted Snake," did anyone see Randy mouthing "Oh oh oh!" right before Simon cut the guy off? Heh. Cracked me up.

Rowr! Man Randy makes me mad. He did it again last night, and it was soooo obvious. I forget who was singing, but some girl came in and was really good. Maybe with a little training she'd be amaaaazing. Simon stops her singing abruptly, and rather curtly goes, "Randy?". Without hesitation (well, maybe a leetle) Randy, head down, goes, "No.". Paula doesn't hesitate and says "Yes", and Simon tells the girl she's going through.

What does Randy say? "It was a set up!".

WTF?

He thought Simon was going to find some weird reason to tell the girl no, so he decided to jump on that train as fast as he could to show he knew the reason. Only he read Simon WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Dude's not even judging! He's just doing what he thinks Simon will do!

Argh! Follower!!! I hate him. Someone please tell me I'm not crazy or projecting! He *is* doing this to some degree, isn't he?

This show is making me crazy.

I thought Randy's "What a set-up!" was in regards to Simon's crack that along with the weight, Randy has lost his hearing as well. But that's just me.

That's what I heard bamf.

I'm thinking Randy's 'affecting' a saucy new attitude this year because of his weight loss surgery. I bet he thinks he can get away with being more critical because it's not likely anyone's gonna turn around and call him something stupid like fattycakes.

I need to change my favorite judge choice. Randy-you asked for something new, exciting and different and fate gave you Matt Metzger. Instead you want us to endure the insistent screaming and bad song choice of Fantasia.

Oh that's right you only want new, exciting and different if it wasn't male.

First I hated him because he says "dog" more than a ballpark snack salesman. But now, I know he was in Journey. For a few years. And announced it in front of millions.

No more good humor. Boooooooo, Randy!

The fact that he's toured with Mariah Carey hasn't already scared you off?

He was dead on about Mehthew's mediocre voice.

Every time I see this thread, I read the title as "Life's a Journey: Bring ChunkeeMonkey"

Words to live by, people...

I thought Randy was so awesome last night when Kara asked him snottily, "If you had something constructive to say, what would it be?" and he snarked back, "Pick a better song, and sing it better." I snorted. That was all kinds of cool.

Yep, Randy really nailed all of his comments last night. Maybe the weight loss has made him more astute at judging this sorry lot.

Why are they keeping up the schtick that Randy is incomprehensible? It's bizarre - the guy uses one, kinda outdated slang word and the reaction is like Snoop Dogg just came on in full shizzle force. The worst part is Seacrest standing up there, acting like he can't understand what the hell "a'ight" means.

On a related note, just because Randy can fit into his old Boy Scout uniform top again doesn't mean that he should wear it on national TV.

Boy scouts? Maybe if he were in the gay boy scouts - and that's only if he were in the fashion-challenged gay boy scouts. That shirt was all kinds of ugly, and for some reason all the ugly got ironed only on the left side of the shirt.

BWAH

Poor Randy....Access Holllywood did a piece on paparazzi outside of The Ivy. The "reporter" went over to talked to them and they said that no one good was there. When the reporter pointed out Randy Jackson, they said he wasn't worth it. Just think - not important enough to have a single photo wasted on you by paparazzi.

BWAH!

And we all know it's really *Paula* that no one understands.

Even Simon's into it--though at least when he asks Randy to translate his commentary, he's funny. Unlike Seacrest.

That's so sad...

It's dawning on me that Randy may be my favorite judge. Okay, so that's not exactly a real great compliment, but still.... Out of those three stooges I find myself agreeing with Curly more than the other two numbskulls. He seems to have lost a significant amount of dawgs, a'rights, and feelin' yous along with the weight. Not all of them, but mind you he hasn't finished losing the weight either. So I'm hopeful. In some cases he actually had a wee degree of insight. And he doesn't recycle so much like Simon, who can only remark on potential no one else can see or blather about cruise ships, cabaret, or amusement parks. Of course, maybe Randy doesn't have as much free time as Simon does to take in theme entertainment. Heck, Randy even cracked a funny that was actually intentionally funny, unlike Paula or Simon. Who knows though - maybe the pressure of being articulate will cause a revertion to the dawgs of yore.

I agree with katie's comments. He at least tries to make a fully formed comment on each performance. It's still going to be hard for me to forgive him for his Metzger comment and the "potential" of Camile. He was at the beginning of the train--it was his job to set the tone.

I like Randy and think that he gives the most truthful criticism of the three. Personally I love Camille and think she does have a lot of potential. She just has to get over the nerves. And Matt was bleh - cute in the Michael Vartan way but his singing boring - who would buy his cd excpet to be put to sleep? I think Randy's comments are right on.