The surveys are out, literally. "American Idol" may still be number one in its time slot )as well as number one and two in overall primetime ratings(, but viewership is down 7%, and that means endangered profits . According to Entertainment Weekly , the show is bypassing feedback on its message boards and is now resorting to the tried-and-true market research survey. As the questions casually propose possible changes )e.g., axing host Ryan Seacrest (,

Here's a depressing fact of life: Everywhere you go, people are silently judging you. Even if you have nothing but good intentions, a bit of poor etiquette will send your social stock tumbling faster than you can burp the ABCs. Fortunately, according to Search, more folks are becoming aware of the importance of good etiquette. To wit, we noticed a slight uptick in "etiquette" queries this week. Perhaps the rise is due to the coming summer wedding season? After all,

Over the past several days, Jeremiah Wright has been talking a lot. He's chatted with Bill Moyers on PBS, lectured reporters at the National Press Club , and addressed thousands of listeners at the NAACP . On Tuesday, Barack Obama responded by denouncing his ex-pastor's words. But the next day, Search revealed that the religious leader's language continues to echo with the American public. Over the past week, lookups for " rev. jeremiah wright " surged 782%. On Tuesday,

Amidst the frantic April searches into tax filings and rebate anticipation, people paused to search for tales of sports superstitions and scientific oddities. Digging Up the Past One of the month's fastest rising searches involved a tattered Red Sox jersey. A plotting contractor Gino Castignoli planted the offending David Ortiz No. 34 in the new Yankee Stadium. Alas, his telltale heart and lips revealed the plot to the New York Post,

Some have already withdrawn their name from consideration. Others are relative political unknowns. And two are too busy tussling over their party's presidential slot to consider a No. 2 placement. In the coming days, Republican presidential candidate John McCain will be picking his running mate. And as soon as Democratics choose, either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will consider which running mate will fare best on their buttons, bumper stickers, and posters.

And the hits keep on coming. Not for country crooner Mindy McCready , who last topped the charts in 1996, but rather for pitcher Roger Clemens , whose reputation continues to take a beating in the press. Mr. Clemens, already in hot water for alleged steroid use, has been accused of additional off-the-field shenanigans. Earlier this week, the New York Daily News reported that Mr. Clemens had a decade-long affair with Ms. McCready. Ms. McCready,

Is this Mileygate? All day, articles, searches, and outrage related to " Hannah Montana " star Miley Cyrus have bombarded the Buzz. What about? Not a wardrobe malfunction or a cheap paparazzi shot, but a studio portrait of the Disney mega-star by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz . To quickly recap the rumpus: The 15-year-old TV phenom posed for the A-list shutterbug for a feature in June's Vanity Fair . Now, the images are out"and Miley doesn't like what she sees.

Feeling like the world is passing you by? Wondering what the heck happened on Monday? Take a look at our Buzz recap and you'll have plenty to talk about at the water cooler. Slow Down, Save Money Yes, yes, we know. Gas prices are high. Many have been vocal with their displeasure, but we haven't seen a lot of solutions floating around. Well, here's one: Slow down!

Anticipation is tepid for this week's multiplex deliveries, as most eyes )and searches( look to May's " Iron Man ." As for the eclectic offerings this weekend, expectations are highest for expecting women. 1. " Baby Mama " )PG-13(. The odd couple/buddy movie takes an ovarian twist with Tina Fey as a businesswoman hankering for a little one, and Amy Poehler as the blue-collar surrogate. Maternal instincts have been a growing cinematic storyline recently,

Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in the country. People of all ages travel to the California desert to see the biggest acts perform. In other words, it's kind of a big deal. And it all happens this weekend. As you read this, the young and fearless are loading up their cars for three days of rock, roll, and overpriced bottled water. Searches on "coachella" recently jumped 31% and will continue to climb through the weekend. Not surprisingly,

Will gas prices make Asia travel a boon or a bust ? The Beijing Olympics 2008 will bring in spectators, and inspire a flood of Asian travel features. Business Week highlights boutique hotels and yoga centers . Time.com takes a "best of" approach, touting Hong Kong's "haven in a sea of change or India's most salubrious leafy brew . If that tempts you to country-hop, Cathay Airlines has returned with its All-Asia Pass .

Monitoring gas prices, Democratic votes, and marathon numbers has made for an exhausting week. It's time to freshen up the gray cells with a quiz based on what's spiking in Search. Your reward if you get them all right? A deep grunt of self-satisfaction. Select the correct answer. Which show may be moving back to television? A. " The O.C. " B. " Beverly Hills 90210 ." C . " Twin Peaks ." To qualify for low-income housing, Chicago families must compete in the following: A.

Forget about the eyes"Search is the true window to the soul. We see what folks are interested in, and can also deduce what searchers don't care about. For a classic example of the latter, check out " National Turnoff TV Week ." The movement to get people to turn off their TVs is admirable, but most folks don't seem to care very much. True, searches on "national tv turnoff week" are on the rise, but that's to be expected when you're starting from nothing.

Pretty much anything can become a metaphor for the political process during an election year. The reality program " American Idol ""multiple voting and lack of age restrictions aside"yields readily to a civics lesson. Traditionally, the Fox show's searches rises as the season goes on, but they narrow in demographics. This year's "Idol" core group is no different: females 30-54. But what about geographic appeal? Every single state in the union monitors the show.

Sometimes things just click. Such was the case when Star Wars and LEGO hooked up a few years ago. The two very different brands produced toys and video games that combine the best of both worlds. People ate 'em up and asked for seconds. Of course, LEGO is happy to oblige. A slew of new LEGO-themed games is causing a stir in Search. LEGO Batman and LEGO Indiana Jones will hit shelves this summer. Anticipation for both video games is running high in the Buzz. Right now,

As Pope Benedict continues his tour of the U.S., searches for the Catholic leader have swelled. Over the past week, lookups for " pope benedict xvi " picked up more than 670%. Searchers have turned to the Web to find out where the pontiff is )" pope in new york ," " pope in dc ," " pope in america "(, what he looks like )" pope benedict xvi pictures "(, who he's seen )" bush pope "(, and what talk show hosts have been saying about him )" bill maher pope "(.

Each week we take a look at the Hollywood's new releases and rank 'em according to their popularity in Search. Does "Sarah Marshall" draw more buzz than a Jet Li-Jackie Chan combo? Can a tired looking Al Pacino keep audiences awake for 88 minutes? Read on and all your questions will be answered! 1. The Forbidden Kingdom "A martial arts romp tops this week's multiplex. The film is among the week's top 1,500 searches and is hugely popular with kids 17 and under.

A man gets into an elevator. He pushes the button for the floor he wants. Maybe the elevator starts to move; maybe it doesn't. We're not sure. But we know from the condensed security camera footage on this New Yorker blog post that 40 hours later, the man was still there, caged inside the steel box, waiting for the doors of car 30 to slide open. If you missed this astonishing video montage in its Buzz debut , it's not too late. Here it is again. We recommend it.

Step right up for Thursday's Buzz. In this round-up, we recap several stories that got people buzzing. The Democrats debate The day after Wednesday's standoff between the two Democratic presidential candidates, a herd of recaps and retorts stampeded upwards in Buzz. Among the most widely voted on, a Yahoo! News item provided a general overview of the verbal skirmish and a Time.com piece served up more in-depth analysis . In Search, " democratic debate " drew a 1,871% rise.

In the end, "American Idol" is no mystery. Only one singer survives, and every week another roommate leaves the "Idol" dormitories. Of the past four cast-offs, Chikezie didn't register online except after his rousing bluegrass number . Ramiele Malubay didn't live up to her maturity, and her enormous online appeal dwindled. Talent and judges' adulations aside, Michael Johns never drew much interest. The latest chalk outline belongs to Kristy Lee Cook .