On the show, each contestant gets to sing and then “America votes!” Thirty-five million people do so each week. Frankly, I would eliminate Ryan Seacrest, the host, but that’s just me. The judges add their critiques, which run from “Dawg, you’re dope,” by Randy Jackson to “Cruise ship-karoke level,” by Simon Cowell. I agree mostly with Simon, but then I understand what he is saying.

It appears to me that song selection is key, the young singers need to pick a song somewhere between “Titanic” and any song by The Fray. “Making it your own,” seems to be the pathway to Idol Heaven. Whatever.

Net, net,….it is all about presentation, song selection and vocal ability. As Susan Boyle just demonstrated, a “surprise,” just like those in every good presentation, works in a gigantic way, even Seth says so. Her surprise was the voice that came out of the stereotypical, English frump. Her presentation was awesome (I’m shocked, said one judge), and the song “I Have a Dream,” fit perfectly because the song matched up her dream with the dream of Britain’s Got Talent; lastly, her vocal ability caused more people to cry in the last two days than who cried at “Sophie’s Choice.”

So, Adam needs a surprise. He should select the best song from Les Miserables’ “Do You Hear the People Sing.” It is a very moving song, seems to fit our own times right now, and NO ONE in the mostly Gen X and Y audience would expect him to sing it, IF they have even heard about it. I can only imagine his take on it, his costume and the outcome. Done right, Susan would become a mere footnote to Adam’s Performance.

Judge for yourself, here’s a random guy singing it in a stage production. Adam, who would be much, much better should go for it.

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I hope I get invited to the show.

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A common question I get, especially from frustrated job seekers, is “How can I maintain a positive attitude, which I know I need, when nothing is going right for me?” Tough question, that. Point 2.

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Far too often all of us judge a book by its cover..we overlook the commonplace for the next shiny penny. We don’t give the average guy or gal an opportunity to really show us what THEY have…we think we already know. Point 3.

You may have seen these two videos, both from a British TV Show called “Britain’s Got Talent.” It is basically an amateur talent show, not unlike “American Idol,” or the American version of BGT, called cleverly “America’s Got Talent.”

If you have a few minutes to spare, please watch these two videos of unlikely contestants Paul Potts and Susan Boyle. If it is the first time you have seen them, and you don’t have either chills down your back or moist eyes, check yourself in at Urgent Care.

I am pretty confident you might have both. Point, game,match.

Last point: I am NOT a musical sort of guy. Hated Cats, fell asleep in Phantom. But Les Miserables, I’ve seen it at least twice, and I’d even drive downtown again to see it.