Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. ET to console Thursday night's "American Idol" rejects -- Robbie Carrico, Alexandrea Lushington, Alaina Whitaker and Jason Yeager -- critique Fred Armisen's Barack Obama blackface for "Saturday Night Live," and wonder if it's better to go on "Dr. Phil" to try and save your marriage, or to go on "Moment of Truth" to raze the sucker and earn some scratch in the process.

The transcript follows.

Lisa Watches So You Don't Have To: "American Idol" | TV columns | On TV discussion transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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Washington: Lisa, I am so relieved that one of the Totally Interchangeable Blondes is gone from "Idol." Seriously, during the group Muzak-sing last night I thought it was the same girl and she kept changing clothes. Look! She's in pink! Now black! Why on earth did they cast so many look-alikes? To make the early eliminations easier?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. ... It's totally confusing when you're trying to blog the show quickly. I too am happy one of the Interchangeable Blondes is gone, but not happy she's the one. Kady the Operatic Brit Impersonator or Kristy the Deep Knee-Bender needed to go. Alaina actually was more talented than either of them, which I'm guessing is why she was so shocked she was booted.

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Mobile, Ala.: Why is it that when they show periodic tributes to dead "Saturday Night Live" stars, they always show Belushi and Gilda and Farley but never Norm MacDonald?

Lisa de Moraes: Because he's, um, not dead? I give up -- why?

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Washington: Has "Cashmere Mafia" been cancelled? It was replaced by "Men in Trees" this week? Please say that that was just a one time thing and it hasn't been canceled!

Lisa de Moraes: I think it ended its seven-episode run and yes, it has been replaced by "Men in Trees." "Cashmere Mafia" -- despite its killer outfits -- did not do well in the ratings, and I wouldn't count on it coming back next season...

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Washington: Would you have bet that "Scrubs" would be saved by ABC? And will they actually try to make it successful, or will they treat it like NBC did?

Lisa de Moraes: No, no, no. ABC Studios owns "Scrubs," so ABC would not treat the show shabbily, if this migration to ABC does in fact occur. Latest is that NBC says if ABC Studios (the TV production arm of Disney) is talking to ABC (the Disney-owned broadcast network) about moving the show, it is in breach of contract because NBC -- which has aired the show for seven years -- has right of first negotiation and refusal. I think the ABC story "leaked" so that NBC would be, once again this development season, on notice ABC would pick it up if they passed on renewing it. That said, this is a show that's looking very long in the tooth, and I'm not sure whether -- even with nurturing by ABC -- it can survive in the ratings..

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Interchangeable "American Idol" blondes: Tell me again who Alaina is? She's so interchangeable I can't tell which one she is.

washingtonpost.com: Captain of the pom squad.

Lisa de Moraes: She was the teenaged Interchangeable Blonde who couldn't stand for her food to touch each other on her plate and used to eat each food on her plate with separate forks. She was adorable and had a lovely voice, and I'm truly sorry to see her go...

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Springfield, Va.: I was just wondering what you thought of "Torchwood"? All things considered, I find it quite entertaining.

Lisa de Moraes: I think the lead actor, John Barrowman, is poorly cast. It needed a stronger actor but they clearly went for "pretty." It has a certain "Dr. Who"-sian charm -- lame special effects, etc. ... And because you seem to be a fan: Was Torchwood Institute really supposed to have been founded by Queen Victoria, like I read somewhere when it debuted in the U.S.? I don't follow the show closely enough to know if there ever has been any such reference or whether that was bunk. If it's true, I will like the show better for that campy touch.

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Atlanta: Would David Letterman's show be better if he had real producer?

Lisa de Moraes: David Letterman's show would be funnier if he had real writers ... ta dum dum. And if Paula Abdul came on the show and squeezed Paul Shaffer's head until it came off and then hung his body from her rearview mirror. (It's an "American Idol" reference, for those of you not watching that show -- keep up with me, people...)

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Falls Church, Va.: I missed last week's "Saturday Night Live," but thanks to all the hoopla about Fred Armisen's Obama, I'll have to stay up this week ... wonder if anyone objected to his portrayal of Camilla Parker-Bowles?

washingtonpost.com: Did 'SNL' Go Beyond the Pale With Fauxbama? (Post, Feb. 29)

Lisa de Moraes: Must all Caucasians be played by Caucasians on a sketch comedy show? Must all women be played by women on a sketch comedy show? Can a Hispanic comic only play Hispanic characters, or can he/she play a white person in a sketch? I know I'm being dangerously un-politically-correct here, but I think it's time to move on.

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Washington: At the end of "Idol," Ryan thanks all the judges and purposefully excludes Simon. The first time was kind of funny, but now not so much. I guess it's part of their strange repartee, but it's bothering me. What do you think?

Lisa de Moraes: The first time you tell a joke it's funny, but if you then tell it five more times, you're just being a bore. Seacrest snubbing Simon during his sign-off was funny the first time because it was unexpected and Simon's reaction was cute. Now Seacrest just looks petty and uninspired. I think he intended this bit of business to be this season's "Seacrest out!" I say he needs a new gimmick, or he never will win that first Primetime Emmy for Best Performance by a Reality Series Host, which the TV Academy will hand out in September.

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"Idol": I've noticed that this year there are fewer African American Idolettes, and two of them already have been voted off. So, we are now left with three -- Syesha, Asia'h, and Chikezie. If a couple of them get voted off next week, will Elton John be crying foul again?

Lisa de Moraes: I doubt, given that this show has been, through many seasons, one of most integrated on primetime broadcast television. I was, however, very surprised to see Alexandrea Lushington get axed last night. She has a beautiful voice -- unlike, say, Amanda Overmyer, who's a train wreck as a singer, though I adore how unawed she's been by the whole coming-to-Hollywood process, the judges, etc. (Her comment after the judges nicked her performances that "if they don't like it, they don't like it -- I'm not asking them to buy an album" was the best reax yet on the show.) Anyway, back to Alexandrea, who picked a terrible song yet made it interesting, which speaks to her talent. Loved that she called Seacrest a "freak" for promising her he'd bring her great-grandmother to Los Angeles and not delivering...

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Washington: Can you tell me when the following shows are coming back (spring, summer, fall, not at all?): "Grey's Anatomy," "Samantha Who?", "ER," "Bones" and "Cold Case"?

Lisa de Moraes: Grey's Anatomy": Thursday, April 24; "Samantha Who?": Monday, April 27; "ER": Thursday, April 10; "Bones": Monday, April 14; "Cold Case": Sunday, March 30.

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Washington: I know I'm the only one who cares (and history shows my love for a show means it most likely will get canned) but I haven't seen anything about "Reaper" coming back post-strike. Any news?

Lisa de Moraes: You're in luck -- it's back on Tuesday, April 22.

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Arlington, Va.: But Norm MacDonald did play Death on an episode of "The Family Guy"...

Lisa de Moraes: That explains the confusion...

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Alexandria, Va.: Yesterday the Victoria's Secret CEO revealed that her chain accidentally had crossed the line from "ultra-feminine" into "too sexy" land. What, Pookie, is the difference?

washingtonpost.com: Victoria's Revelation: Brand Is 'Too Sexy,' Chief Says (Post, Feb. 29)

Lisa de Moraes: That is sooo easy to answer.

"Ultra feminine" is the beautiful virgin girl with skin as soft as the morning dew, cheeks like rose petals, hair the color of golden wheat and eyes of baby blue, who is blushing prettily because you've caught her in a state of mostly-undress.

"Too sexy" is the local trollop draped across your bed, slowly undoing the hooks on her black leather bustier and giving you a come-hither-big-boy look that includes arching her well-plucked eyebrows and pouting her painted red lips.

If you did not know this already, you clearly need to catch up on your crunchy-gravel drama viewing on TV.

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Random "Idol" watcher: I suppose they think it ups viewership to maintain rivalries between judges, but when Ryan says thank you to Randy and Paula, but not Simon, it's just low class. How 'bout some minimum standards "Idol"?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, I too think it is now coming across as low-rent. ... It seemed like Seacrest was doing it in response to how mean he thinks Simon was being to the Idolettes, but in today's Washington Post Team TV "American Idol" blog there is a Totally Unscientific Poll in which America is saying in no uncertain terms that they think Simon is lovely just the way he is. I'm sure Seacrest will take note...

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washingtonpost.com: 'American Idol': And Then There Were 16 (washingtonpost.com, Feb. 29)

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Baltimore: My fear is that Kady (the naughty sorority girl) is this year's Antonella, and Danny (insert girlish nickname here) is this year's Sanjaya. Do you think these two are destined for the final 12?

Lisa de Moraes: Danny's name is Danny Noriega. Unlike Sanjaya he actually has got a nice voice, though he has picked terrible songs and focused mostly on dancing and pouting for the camera in his performances -- and yes, clearly someone needs to talk him down on that...

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Re: Fred Armisen's Barack Obama: I watch "Saturday Night Live" every now and again, hoping it will be funny, as it often was 30 or so years ago, and so saw the sketch in question. Other considerations aside, I just didn't think that Fred Armisen did a particularly good Obama. I was amazed to read that the "SNL" producer (Lorne Michaels?) said they tried out a number of different actors, and Armisen was the best. The others must have been absolutely dire.

Lisa de Moraes: No, he wasn't great, and because great riffs on presidential candidates are the show's trademark, it's too bad.

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Anonymous: Did you see this week's "Moment of Truth"? It's was being blamed for ending a marriage, and frankly I don't understand how people came to that conclusion and I really don't feel sorry for the couple. The contestants are asked the questions and the polygraph performed before they come on the show, so it's not like they are sitting there without any knowledge of the questions that may be asked. I don't know, if it were me and they asked me those questions during a polygraph, I don't know that I would stay around to answer/finish the test, much less go on the show to get asked them in front of family. Jeez. So please tell me this train wreck of a show will be over soon...

Lisa de Moraes: "Moment of Truth" is doing well on Fox and is probably around for a while. For those of you who have not watched, it's "Jerry Springer" with cash prizes ... and yes, contestants are asked questions on the show they already have been asked while hooked up to a polygraph some time before they go on the show, so why they act all surprised when a skanky personal question comes up is beyond me. In the episode we're talking about, a too-dumb-to-live chick was asked -- for the second time, mind you -- whether she'd cheated on her husband, whether she would leave her husband for her former boyfriend and whether she thought she should be married to her former boyfriends. She answered "yes" to all of the above", while her husband watched on-stage, and was on her way to winning $200,000 -- which apparently is the value she places on her self respect -- but blew the whole thing when she was asked "do you think you're a good person" and answered "yes." The Disembodied Schoolmarm Lady who announces after each question whether the answer given is True or False said that answer was "false" -- which means, according to the faux-reality of this show, that when the chick answered the question previously, while hooked up to the polygraph, she either answered "yes" then too and the polygraph showed that she was not telling the truth, or that she had previously answered the question "no" and the polygraph showed that answer was the truth. I did not see what happened after that -- I left the room to go wash my eyes out with lye...

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Halethorpe, Md.: Hi Lisa! Seriously ... Amanda Overmyer is still on "Idol"? She of the creepy, Paula-Deen-on-acid hair ... that version of "Carry On My Wayward Son" was one of the most excruciating performances ever. ... I also just realized that to vote on "Idol" you have to text the word "vote" ... is this the producers' way of skewing the results? Like, if the word is misspelled they legitimately can not count it?

Lisa de Moraes: Now she is this year's Sanjaya Malakar. Funny hairdo every week, lack of talent, exuding personality. I did not know that about the voting, because of course, I'm not allowed to vote. But seriously, how hard is it to spell "vote"?

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Skin like morning dew: Wow, can you point me to one in a darker color? The Victoria's Secret models with large wings scare me, but a blushing, innocent, ultra-feminine gal sounds great. Oh, and can you include a personality, college degree and an independent spirit? Oh, never mind.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm spitting out my coffee laughing...

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Northern Virginia: Could the Norm McDonald referencer have him confused with Phil Hartman?

Lisa de Moraes: Ah -- that makes sense. I thought I'd seen some clips of him at various times when "SNL" did its version of the Academy Awards's "Our Dead Members" video...

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Fauxbama: But it was that particular sketch that made Armisen's Obama uninteresting. The comedic moments were all from the actors playing the news anchors. I'd give Armisen more time to develop his Obama character. Remember, Dana Carvey's Bush took a while to evolve into what it ultimately became.

Lisa de Moraes: Good point. Let's reconvene after the next three episodes. Was anyone besides me amused to read Lorne Michaels gushing that they actually were going to do four -- count 'em four -- original episodes in a row to celebrate the end of the writers' strike, and the reporter noting it was the first time since like the '70s or something that the show had done four live episodes in a row? Geesh!

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Anonymous: I despise, loathe and detest "Lipstick Jungle" and all their ads. Tell me it's going away soon...

Lisa de Moraes: No, it's not ... on the bright side, "Cashmere Mafia" appears to be toast. You're half way to your goal...

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"Idol" Voting: The reason why the "wrong" people get voted off, especially early in the contest, is because we are not voting for who we want to leave. "Idol" will refuse to have people vote that way because they want to maximize the number of votes, not necessarily eliminate the "right" people. If you wanted someone to leave, the only real way to do that is vote for everyone else, which I doubt many people do. So instead, the people who tend to get voted off are not the best or the worst, but those toward the bottom of the middle.

Lisa de Moraes: My head hurts trying to figure out your logic, but I'm posting it for those with more robust brain cells than mine...

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Oakton, Va.: Lisa, is "Las Vegas" coming back?

Lisa de Moraes: Pookie, didn't you hear? Dead...

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Oakton, Va.: "Jericho" seems much better this year than last. Anybody watching it?

Lisa de Moraes: Not many. Do you think it's better because the story actually is moving along at a good-ish clip this season? That's because CBS only ordered seven episodes, and the writer/producers knew they had to hook viewers fast. I think the lesson here is that all serialized shows should be ordered this way. Just think how much better "Lost" would be if ABC ordered it seven episodes at a time...

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Chevy Chase, Md.: Lisa, did you notice the awkward high-five-then-hug moment between Ryan and Alexandrea last night? He held up his hand to get some palm and, she reached in for a hug. Ryan recovered but not after a few seconds of dead air. Watching that made me do that godawful Randy-style teeth-sucking sound.

Lisa de Moraes: I love Randy's teeth-sucking noise! I have tried to incorporate it into my repertoire of ticks, but it simply doesn't look good on me. ... I also loved the awkward moment. Don't you love live TV? It's the best, and they never should have done away with it...

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Now she is this year's Sanjaya Malakar. Funny hairdo every week, lack of talent, exuding personality: And witching trousers!

Lisa de Moraes: That too...

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"Saturday Night Live":"And the reporter noting it was the first time since like the '70s or something that the show had done four live episodes in a row ... geesh!" Can they also do four good shows in a row, or is that too much to ask these days?

Lisa de Moraes: Now you're pushing it....

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Lisa de Moraes: This just in from John Maynard, the Official Washington Post Team TV's Channel This blogger on "Jericho," regarding an earlier comment on the show. "As the blogger for 'Jericho,' I think the show has been quite good this season, although bleak with its Orwellian themes. I just wish Jake (Skeet Ulrich) would stop squinting so much!"

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De More Eyes Are Watching You: I tried watching the new Jeffrey Tambor show "Welcome to the Captain," and it was awful. Why hasn't he found a good show since "Arrested Development," where he was so hilarious? They need to write him into "My Name is Earl," "The Office" or "30 Rock."

Lisa de Moraes: He's wonderful, except at picking TV shows to sign up for. I agree with you completely -- he needs to be added to the cast of "Samantha Who?" which I think is more his style...

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Obama Armisen: I was completely taken aback by this "controversy." Twenty-five years ago, Billy Crystal was playing Sammy Davis Jr. and Muhammad Ali, and nobody complained.

Lisa de Moraes: Good point.

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Fairfax, Va.: I thought there was a "Lost" chat today? Where is it? What happened? Re: "American Idol" -- is David Archuleta the cutest or what? Gorgeous voice, stage presence and sweet as could be (he cried last night!). I just love this little guy. "Imagine" made me tear up. My 64-year-old retired patent examiner father said he would pay lots to see this 17-year-old perform in person. If he doesn't win, I'll eat my shoe (well, not really -- it's a boot, so it's probably too big to eat).

washingtonpost.com: From Liz Kelly's Celebritology blog: "Lost chatting will continue in the two very good venues which now exist -- the Thursday night live forum and Friday's "Lost" analysis comment thread. To add a discussion would only dilute the good talk that goes on there."

Lisa de Moraes: Apparently not. Here is Liz's interesting explanation:

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Harrisburg, Pa.: So where do we send our cards and letters demanding that "Caveman" be renewed? See, we think even network mailrooms deserve some laughter.

Lisa de Moraes: No! The cavemen are back on the Geico ads -- where they the writing, makeup and acting are much better. Trust me, this is a step forward for that franchise...

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Centreville, Va.: Re: "How hard is it to spell vote?" Have you seen the syntax of text messages from teenagers and twentysomethings? I doubt anyone under 25 can spell anything.

Lisa de Moraes: Randy Jackson, is that you? Do you wish we could go back to the "yesteryear" of the '70s?

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Re: "SNL" and Blackface: Darrell Hammond plays Jesse Jackson. I don't remember anyone making a stink about that. What's the problem with Armisen's Obama? I thought he was pretty good. It's not like they had him eating fried chicken and watermelon.

Lisa de Moraes: You'd have to ask someone who objected. I'm not among them.

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New York: Do you think the "Celebrity Apprentice" could get any lower? How can Trump stand to face himself in the mirror each morning?

Lisa de Moraes: He counts the money while he's in front of the mirror, that's how...

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My name is "Lost" and I will not be ignored here: Lisa: Given that you've taken no questions about "Lost" and that I've forgotten to watch or record every episode this year, is this show over?

Lisa de Moraes: No, it's not over. It's back this season -- and they're rushing to produce more episodes as we chat, because it's among the many scripted dramas that got shut down by the writers strike. It returned to ABC's lineup in January -- the network had intended to adopt the "24" play pattern this season, in order to hang on to viewers who increasingly had grown frustrated with the gaps between original episodes. Makes a show that's so heavily serialized hard to follow...

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Bethesda, Md.: Have you seen the "Pussy Cat Dolls Presents Girlicious" tryout reality show on CW after "America's Next Top Model"? What do you think? Half the girls can't sing, half can't dance. Did they not to go Los Angeles and New York for auditions? I thought we were chock-full of dancing, singing starlets. Also, what are the odds that the Somalian chick on "America's Next Top Model" with the female circumcision is going win?

Lisa de Moraes: I too have been struck by the relative totally lacking in talent-ness of the Doll wannabes, but, let's not forget how "empowering" this show is for women, as executive producer McG told TV critics when it first premiered. I'm guessing that what they lack in the ability to sing and dance, they make up for in empowerment ... and I have no inside track on the "ANTM" odds. Sorry.

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Richmond, Va.: Why won't Ryan shave before the show? Didn't anyone tell him the "Miami Vice" remake was a flop?

Lisa de Moraes: Are you kidding? Have you seen that guy's schedule? He's everywhere! It's a wonder he's got time to put clothes on, and you expect him to shave?

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"Idol" Vote: Put another way, it's the least popular who get eliminated, not the most unpopular. Not the same thing, and it tends to punish the unremarkably bland more than the notoriously insufferable.

Lisa de Moraes: Okay (faint glimmer of understanding)...

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Shh, I'm at work: Like many of your faithful followers, I catch this and your postings about "American Idol" (and the subsequent viewer comments) while in the office. I nearly snorted my soup the other day over some of the comments folks are making in regards to your TV blog postings. Colleagues are beginning to wonder what I'm doing in my office around lunch, laughing like an idiot. Can we make it less hilarious please? (Not!)

Lisa de Moraes: Thanks ... but there is no way to blog "Idol" seriously. Can't be done. Sorry...

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Woodbridge, Va.: Boo to NBC for canceling "Las Vegas." The final episode was a "to be continued" cliffhanger. The show was fun and sexy and it's NBC's own fault that the ratings fell because they moved it to Friday night.

Lisa de Moraes: Another "victim" of the writers strike. NBC reportedly did not want to take on the costs of relaunching production...

I'm out of time. Thanks for joining me...

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