It's SUNDAY BEST y'all - BET's gospel American Idol

This is, I think, the best reality show on TV. Anybody but me watching?
General quality of performance is vastly improved from season one, though they've pruned out at least four super-quality singers in favor of serving the demographic.
Current frontrunner is clearly Y'anna Crawley who did THIS last night and killed it:

Well clearly I am going to start watching this, if it's on in my market. Y'anna can SANG.

For those unfamiliar:
It's standard eliminate-till-you-get-to-the-winner music competition. Host is Kirk Franklin, judges are BeBe Winans and the chicks from Mary Mary. Part of what makes it stand out is that people are judged on whether or not they are "anointed" and BeBe occasionally gives feedback in tongues. It's a great show!

Y'anna's great but also check out Dontavius Boatwright and Zebulon Ellis who (in addition to having the blackest names in the history of reality television) have fucking AWESOME complex and unique baritone and profound bass reach.

Last year's winner, Crystal Aiken (who had fans holding up unforgettable "I'M AIKEN FOR CRYSTAL" signs) sounds and looks like Jill Scott and is a pretty cool lady:
http://gcmwatch.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/bet-sunday-best-winner-performs-at-gay-church-dedication/

They're big on not putting people down or being shitty on this show; the losers get hugs and told what wonderful people they are and how they're going to move on to brighter things glory to god. I love the up with people vibe.

Zebulon DESTROYED last night with a Donny Hathaway song:

No idea why they dumped Dontavius and I'm getting annoyed that they're hanging on to the cute girl who can't much sing.

my god that last series of notes that zebulon hits are so gentle and clean and easy

Looks like they only have "episode highlights" online (alas no TV), but I will check those out! Also, I may name one of my future children Zebulon.

Full length performances here:
http://www.bet.com/onblast/default.html?chan=3&id=2996&i=17&sub=&itype=e

Latice Crawford was great on the last goround

They seem obsessed with this Jessica Reedy chick and I'm not impressed. She's okay, nice lower register but too frilly and trying too hard to work for me.

I mean, you tell me; this seemed fine and certainly is as good as anything she's done, but not as awe-inspiring as they want you to believe:

worth noting here that the sound levels on the performances are inevitably fucked; BET has some real shitty production quality. Best thing you can do to win this competition is do something where the band and backup singers can't overwhelm you.

She's solid and all, I just don't see her on the same level as Y'anna or Latice or even Zeb.

Y'Anna ended up winning this.
They're well into the third season now. This year's gimmick is that they're pulling one contestant from Senegal and five apiece from Detroit, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
Of the three locations, Philly had by far the strongest representation.
A bad trend going on with this show is that they're copping to more "LOL listen to this schmuck" stuff and it tends to be with people who have genuinely interesting voices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t54tAsSdoSc
Though there were certainly a few clear comedians jumping on board too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUZ_LOLkBE
Some real solid vocalists crept in tho'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_30Ri5cXBFE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ticDWFfpNM

philly audition here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/cacazitino#p/u

aaaaaand, every episode is online here:
http://www.bet.com/video/shows/SundayBest