[BamaDi]

speaking of quotas, here's the breakdown for the first five years:
1 - Kelly - white female
2 - Ruben - black male
3 - Fantasia - black female
4 - Carrie - white female
5 - Tay-Tay - white male
My prediction? will be a black female this year...though I do like Sligh!!!

[over3Owithabrain]

Sligh did what Taylor Hicks did - made a good first impression on AI viewers with not only his voice but unique personality. The Hasselhoff joke was brilliance and he set himself up as someone who might just be good for a laugh or two but sings awful, when all along he knew he could sing.

Knowing how to sell yourself to the viewers/voters, in addition to pleasing the judges in the early stages, is becoming more and more an art form on the show. And I like it!