Having watched every season but the first, the audition part has gotten "old".
I will pay some attention to it as the top 24 start performing and will pay even closer attention to it as the numbers get whittled down.
Problem is, baseball season will be starting soon and the Phillies take precedent over any other tv show, including Survivor and Big Brother!

I have to agree that I was pleasantly surprised with what I've seen of Ellen being on the judging panel. Not that I'm an "Ellen hater/disser", I just don't know much about her and didn't know how she'd be.