Even before American Idol auditions had begun, the chorus had started: "It is a girls' year to win Idol." During the auditions, which focused heavily on the ladies, it was clear the producers and FOX were pushing hard for Idol's first female victor since season 6's Jordin Sparks. That season 9 is all about the ladies is already an American Idol cliche. The chorus has been echoed ad nauseam by the judges, who in interviews have sung the praises of the talented, sure-to-be sensational women of season 9.

So what happened last night? Only one performance really wowed me: Katelyn Epperly's bluesy boudoir rendition of "Oh Darling," but even that was nothing like the wow factor from week one of past seasons. Take last season, where contestants tackled the same Billboard Hot Singles challenge and where Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert had America dialing in in droves. Last night, whatever the chorus has been pre-season, there was no clear star. 

That's not to say I hated everything I saw or heard...just most of it. Very few of the ladies took the risks on arrangements and song choices that mark the most successful and memorable Idol contestants. Lilly Scott and Haeley Vaughn were the exceptions, as they both made Beatles' songs their own, to varying degrees of success. While Haeley's rearranging of the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was the boldest, it was Lilly's jazzy phrasing on "Fixing a Hole" that worked best.

Other than those exceptions, every other lady who took the stage basically did straight-up covers (and sadly I don't mean covers of Andrew Garcia's "Straight Up"), only adding superfluous vocal runs to make the songs their own.

Some of the these "covers" were really good, including Crystal Bowersox's folksy Alanis Morisette and Siobhan Magnus' haunting take of "Wicked Games." But I wasn't promised good, I was promised great. Perhaps it's a case of exceedingly high expectations, maybe Idol pimped the pimp spot too hard. Whatever the case, when Idol ended last night I had one truly terrifying thought running through my mind, if this is a girls' season on Idol, how terrible are the guys going to be tomorrow night?

Be sure to tune in tonight and watch along with me tonight as we find out.  Sound off and let me know what you think: Will this season go to the guys, after all?