Recently, a 17-year-old fan of Jason Castro's tried to get an important message delivered to her favorite American Idol, through a contact she had made on an AI forum. Despite promises, her letter never reached Jason. Then she connected with a close friend of the Castro's, who was deeply moved by her story. I am told the letter is now en route to Jason. The young fan also agreed to share her letter openly, here, (though I have removed her name).

The young fan writes: 

I am writing you, hoping to bring you some encouragement. I am a 17 year old (will be 18 in 1 month!) from Omaha, Nebraska. I was born three months premature, weighing only two pounds, and because of this I have the physical disability, Cerebral Palsy. It is a disability that affects my leg muscles, so I lose my balance easily. Sometimes having Cerebral Palsy can be discouraging, but you have brought so much joy into my life.

I have been watching Idol since the very first season, but I have never felt so much love and compassion for any of the contestants before you! It's great that you have an amazing, unique voice, guitar skills, and a cool look, but what means the most to me is that you are a Christian and proud of it.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Tony-winning actress Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza) and screenwriter/executive producer Dawn Prestwich at Hockaday School's Alumnae Day. Both were in town for their 30th reunion and spoke to current students about their lifelong friendship and their experience in the entertainment industry.

Since this blog is about television, let's get down to business.  

Aside from her impressive work in theater, Clark has worked in television appearing on both Law and Order and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and has a role in the upcoming M. Night Shyamalan film The Happening.

Prestwich has written and produced television shows including Chicacgo Hope, Picket Fences, Judging Amy and Carnivàle and is currently working on The Riches. She and her writing partner, Nicole Yorkin, created the series The Education of Max Bickford which starred Richard Dreyfuss.

Take a peek at my interview with them here.

It's been years since I last heard from Neil Diamond. The last time I was interested, I was holding a cassette player next to my console stereo. Now, I can turn to iTunes.

I'm glad he's back. Will Farrell had ruined my Diamond memories with this, although it was pretty funny.

And now, I'm not sure whether he was serious when Ryan asked, but he might be someone who doesn't care for Simon. That club is really growing.

I know. Bad headline. I regret it. 

Brooke was inconsolable while trying to sing "I Am, I Said." Her voice cracked throughout. David Cook tried to lend comfort, but she went on. When it was over, Ryan tried to console her, but she turned away.

Man, shouldn't there be some kind of addendum to the Geneva Convention for this kind of treatment?

So Simon Cowell's first crush calls in and asks him if their first kiss at nine years old was more memorable than when he kissed Paula. (Nine years old!) I enjoyed seeing Simon smile with that call. How sweet. And he did that antler thing with his hand on his head.

And finally, Neil Diamond takes the stage. Really, he's about the only one who can pull off a Neil Diamond song. But is he singing, or talking?

We heard from Natasha Bedingfield sing. She's good. She's likes David Archuleta, who might ask her to the prom. 

This really is some Idol chatter that's going on.

Randy shows off Ryan's commercial obligation to Coke: The new fancy plastic cup. 

On the taped call-in portion, Simon hears from a childhood sweetheart now living in California. They kissed when he was 9.

Asked Paula: "Tara, are you over the rabies?"

Paula also is asked why she's the kindest judge. "Someone has to be be," she replied.

OK, how else can we kill some time.

While we're waiting for the payoff, it would be a good time to hear Dawn Redig's interview on KRLD from this morning.

Listen up.