the buzz log

"American Idol" is back on the straight-singing express, and viewers may be in the mood to forgive last season's celebrity detour. Since the show's season premiere, searches on the talent contest have been equal to, if not higher than, what they were this time last year.

Each Top 24 hopeful has developed an online following. That's markedly different from season 6, when people were still enamored with the rejects. True, ousted Josiah Leming and Reynaldo Lapuz are still the most popular Season 7 contestants thus far: They each attract more buzz than former "Star Search" winner David Archuleta (who currently leads the Top 24 crop). But still.

The slideshow here ranks the contestants according to Buzz, but there may be another way to rank the newest darlings: hometown pride. The southern states tend to be traditional "Idol" Buzz territory, and this year's no exception, with Oklahoma leading the show's searches. Southern favoritism could portend well for Alaina Whitaker (Oklahoma), Alexandrea Lushington (Georgia), Colton David Berry (Virginia), as well as a handful of Texans (both Jasons) and the Hoosier contingent.

Ah, but beware the mendacity of such hope. Ultimately talent and likeability may trump parochialism in the final stretch, as Arizona native Jordin Sparks showed by breaking the southern stranglehold. Will voters help repeat history? We'll find out in the coming weeks. In the meantime, weigh in with your own "Idol" analysis.