She was from Allentown, PA.

And, according to a YouTube video, she lived in a studio apartment with her Mom and two cats. She said she was studying to be a veterinarian.

Alexis was clearly not the type of person who should be on television. Possibly in community theater; maybe a participant in a poetry slam; but certainly not on television. She most definitely didn’t have rock-star potential.

The episode of American Idol which Alexis Cohen appeared was one of the few that I watched during the series tenure on Fox. And I distinctly recall feeling sorry for her after her attempt at “making it” was snubbed by Simon Cowell and Co. after she belted out Grace Slick’s “Somebody To Love”.

My feelings weren’t because she wasn’t selected to go on to Hollywood. (She obviously wasn’t the pretty-girl that the television show seems to select.) But I felt bad for her because I just knew that she was selected purely for the necessary comedic element which often results in anonymous ridicule, berating and insults on the internet.

Poor Alexis Cohen; the shows producers didn’t even have the decency to edit out her incorrect identification of a song about her hometown, Allentown, PA. “I’m from Allentown, Pennsylvania. There was a song written about Allentown. I believe it was by Bon Jovi” she said in her pre-performance interview. (“Allentown” is by Billy Joel)

From the start, her appearance on American Idol was for nothing other than comedic purposes. But not in the “laughing with” context. The soulless producers at AI clearly had the “Laughing AT” perspective when crafting her seven minutes of fame.

So Alexis Cohen auditioned for American Idol and was selected to be featured on the show. She, essentially, made an ass of herself in front of millions of viewers. But it’s not to say that her behavior was necessarily her fault. She was merely being herself. But American Idol brass decided that poor Alexis Cohen; in her studio apartment sleeping on a couch with her mother, no father, two cats and dreams of being a veterinarian was a pure golden piece of car-crash television.

Alexis Cohen died on Saturday. She was hit by a car while down the shore in Jersey. And because of American Idol, she’ll be remembered. Likely merely as a footnote in the series bastardization of the star-selection process. But she’ll be remembered.

However…is that how she’d want to be recalled?

Rest in peace, Alexis. You’re in a much better place now, sister.

Alexis Cohen American Idol

Okay? There…I said it.

I. Am. A. Bagel. Elitist.

Grew up in the Bagel/Pizza capitol of the world…so, consider my palate spoiled.

People say that it’s the water in Jersey that makes the bagels so good.

And I’ve said it for years…with the exception of Ressler’s in Mechanicsburg and Bob’s in Lemoyne, our Bagel-options are relatively limited here in the Midstate.

That said- I’ve always had sort of a long-term goal of opening my own bagel/coffee shop somewhere in Midtown. The only problem, though, is that I don’t know how to make bagels.

Until yesterday morning, that is.

A simple Google search of “bagel recipe” lead me to a foolproof article by a guy named John Lee. There’s no need for me to re-post the how-to. Lee does a perfect job.

After two failed attempts yesterday (I used “active” yeast instead of “instant” yeast incorrectly in the first batch and then too much water in the second batch), I set out, early this morning, to get the third batch right.

And after doing so- I don’t think I’ll ever buy another bagel from Giant ever again.

Jersey Bagels coming soon to midtown?

Possibly…gotta find fifty grand first.