At 3:30 on a steamy afternoon in holly-wood, dress rehearsal for American Idol is running into messy overtime. Casey James would like to retry his rendition of John Mayers "Daughters"; Crystal Bowersox can't hear her own vocals; Lee DeWyze is upset that everyone thinks he doesn't smile. But if the show's traffic cop, Ryan Seacrest, is concerned, he's hiding it well. As sweat races down the faces of finalists and Idol'srnstage manager nervously shuffles about, the host hijacks the crowdsrnattention. Sitting behind the judges' table, he summons a pigtailed fan from the audience. She gives her best Ryan Seacrest a shot: "This is American Idol" she mimics him. "This" herncoaches her for emphasis. Her final effort draws bigrnapplause, which prompts Seacrest to say what many are thinking: "Great, an 11-year-old can do my job."
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