If you saw Tuesday’s edition of “American Idol,” you know it featured a crop circle made to look like the show’s logo. Created by Swanson Russell Associates, it was seen as Nebraska’s welcome mat to the show. To find out more, go to www.sramarketing.com/americanidol

Again, it was pretty cool. (Wonder how it looks now?)

Siouxland has its first contender in the “American Idol” competition. Tuesday night, we learned — in the very, very, very last minutes — Sergeant Bluff’s Katie Admire is going to Hollywood.

After seeing a string of goofballs (most of whom sang “Stuck Here in the Middle With You”), Katie turned up in a montage of “golden ticket” holders. Good thing, too. So many nutcases were shown you kinda had to question why Omaha was chosen.

Indeed, there weren’t that many Nebraska or Iowa residents who got screen time. Two guys — Leo Marlowe and Jason Rich — however, had pretty darn good voices. Both said they were from the smallest towns in Iowa but they had vocals that were very big. Rich couldn’t remember the lyrics to “When You Say Nothing at All.” Marlowe nailed “A Song for You” and impressed Randy/Paula/Simon with his originality.

Producers of the Omaha finals, however, couldn’t resist showing cornfields or a kid in a cow suit. Hmmm. Paula Abdul was late, got the hiccups and swapped jobs with Ryan Seacrest. Randy Jackson wore red shoes and purple glasses. Simon Cowell? He turned up in that ever-present gray sweater. (Doesn’t he own another one?)
A kid from Fremont, Neb., got Simon to help him land a gig as a red carpet reporter (after giving the judges gifts) and the producers played a stupid little segment about those who couldn’t remember the words called “You Forgot the Lyrics.” Nice

Omaha’s auditions produced an arm wrestling champ, a Goth girl who used to wrestle, a girl who thought she was on “America’s Next Top Model” and a guy who tried to dance like James Brown.

Oddly, kids from Oklahoma and Wisconsin got more screentime than anyone. All those Siouxland kids? They were the ones in the huge crowd at the Qwest Center, presumably.

The show wasn’t the most entertaining of the “Idol” offerings (but the logo done out of a cornfield was pretty cool), but it did give us that golden moment with Katie.

Now, it’s time for us to brush up on our texting abilities. If Admire gets into the finals, it’s going to take a lot of local votes to keep her in the hunt.

What’d you think of the broadcast? Write back and let me know.

BTW: Congratulations, Katie. We’re really proud of you.

If you know someone who participated in the Omaha leg of the “American Idol” auditions, get to www.americanidol.com and check out the photos. There are, gulp, 515 pics from Omaha alone. Katie Admire, who was featured in The Journal today is in photo number 17. But, hey, get through all 515 and you just might see your neighbor. With that many, the guy who cleans the arena could be included.

Tonight: The Omaha auditions.

Celebs may have bypassed the Golden Globes but they were out in force Sunday night for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. A pretty good foreshadow of the Oscars, the show honored “No Country for Old Men,” Daniel Day-Lewis, Julie Christie, Javier Bardem and Ruby Dee. That makes them the frontrunners and also suggests experience is a key ingredient to winning this year.

Day-Lewis offered a touching tribute to Heath Ledger; Bardem was extremely generous to his fellow nominees and presenter Mickey Rooney all but pitched himself as a Life Achievement recipient in 2009. (Acknowledging his wife was pretty cheeky, too.)  George Clooney didn’t show but Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were there (she was nominated).
If the writers’ strike isn’t settled and the Oscars are downsized, the SAG celebration could be it. Too bad, too. Hollywood really needs a bad production number about now.

While avoiding work Saturday, I stumbled onto the reality shows of VH1. Like a car accident — you can’t NOT look — they pulled me in. All of them feature has-beens and wannabes. All sink to the lowest common denominator. They’re like a bag of chips. Hollow calories.

Bret Michaels (remember him?) still struts like he’s a hot commodity on “Rock of Love 2.” But you can’t help wonder if he and Carrot Top went to the same cosmetic surgeon. The women in the house are pretty suspect, too. The first thing you think — don’t touch anything. MRSA is lurking.

On “My Fair Brady,” we get a glimpse of fame’s constant allure. Even though he hasn’t rid himself of “The Brady Bunch,” Christopher Knight attracts attention. He’s married now (to a winner of “America’s Next Top Model”) and they go through the paces of mundane life with the patina of celebrity. He wants the simple life. She still longs to grab fame’s brass ring. Theirs is an odd mix. You just hope she’ll get over her camera fetish and he’ll be able to stay home and mow the lawn.

“Celebrity Rehab,” though, is the real collision. Dr. Drew confronts celebs about their addictions and, openly, they react. Allowing cameras into this kind of environment may tell us something particularly strong about the collection of people. They can’t let go of the spotlight. Jeff Conaway is heart-breaking as he tries to shake all sorts of addictions. The show will either cure him or kill him.

Interestingly, all four of the Baldwin brothers are employed this year.

Alec — the golden child — has “30 Rock,” a comic hit. Stephen — the braggy one — is one of the contestants on “Celebrity Apprentice.” Billy is a rich guy (with a transgender girlfriend) on “DirtySexyMoney.” And Daniel is on “Celebrity Rehab.” Kinda tells you something, doesn’t it?

The folks behind Heath Ledger’s upcoming film, “The Dark Knight,” posted a tribute at www.whysoserious.com

In the film, Ledger plays The Joker to Christian Bale’s Batman.

The black ribbon is in his honor.

Only a day has passed since the Oscar nominations were announced and, already, we have frontrunners.

Best Picture: “No Country for Old Men”
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”
Best Actress: Julie Christie, “Away from Her”
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”
Best Director: The Coen Brothers, “No Country for Old Men”

Let the office pools begin.

Heath Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for his work in “Brokeback Mountain” but insiders say his turn as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” (out later this year) could be the trophy winner. Making him a twisted, psycho-like villain, Ledger puts his own stamp on a role that Jack Nicholson redefined. The film was finished before Ledger died Tuesday and could stand as a monument to what might have been.
To see his latest work — as one of the Bob Dylans in “I’m Not There” — turn to the Orpheum Theatre this weekend. The film will be shown as part of the theater’s film series. Cate Blanchett (who plays another of the Dylans) nabbed an Oscar nomination Tuesday for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film.
Ledger, an amiable guy, said he found the film difficult and troubling. Sadly, he said it gave him many sleepless nights.

If there isn’t an Oscar telecast this year, there will be blood.
Films that could use the bump from Oscar exposure are littered among the nominees. And violence? It’s a part of several.
In “No Country For Old Men,” bodies are strewn among the Texas landscape. In “Sweeney Todd,” Johnny Depp slashes the throats of those who wronged him. In “Eastern Promises,” Viggo Mortensen wrestles naked with two would-be assassins. Death is everywhere.
Could this be a metaphor for the year?
Certainly, “Hairspray,” “American Gangster” and “In the Wild” producers are steaming — they barely grazed the nominations.
Among the surprises: Cate Blanchett got two (one for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and one for “I’m Not There”), Tommy Lee Jones slipped in (for his superb work in “In the Valley of Elah”), Laura Linney finally knocked some sense into voters (for her work in “The Savages”) and Tom Wilkinson defied the odds by scoring for his terrific work (in “Michael Clayton”).
“Atonement” did well, “Juno” did better than expected and “Ratatouille” got nods in more than just the Animated Film category (it’s also up for Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Score). Three songs from “Enchanted” are up for Best Song. And Ethan and Joel Coen could be really busy (if there’s an Oscar night). In addition to a rare dual directing nod for “No Country for Old Men,” they’re up for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and — get this — Best Editing. They don’t edit under their own name (they go by Roderick Jaynes), so it could be interesting who accepts if they win.
Still, all bets may be off if it isn’t “on with the show.”
My hunch: The Academy will reach an agreement with the Writers Guild or the strike will be over.
Hollywood’s biggest night can’t be reduced to a footnote. Even war, death and an assassination attempt couldn’t stop previous editions. Why this? Why now?

Tuesday, the Oscar nominations will be announced. Even though the show may be truncated (thanks to the on-going writers’ strike), the competition rages on.

“American Gangster,” “The Great Debaters,” “3:10 to Yuma” and “The Assassination of Jesse James” don’t appear likely to nab big noms.

Instead, look for “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Juno,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Michael Clayton” to lead the pack.

Upsets are possible — “Into the Wild” could be the wild card — but some names are locks. Daniel Day-Lewis, Julie Christie, Amy Ryan and Javier Bardem are acting front-runners.

The Coen Brothers could find their names in several categories.

The one to watch: Best Song. Several rockers could be in the mix but “Once” is the film with the most amazing music. If it doesn’t get nominated, there will be blood.