Obviously an eyeroll.

Of course he was, at this point in the life of the show there is never a movement or expression that is not calculated to achieve maximum voting potential. Can you blame him? Can you blame Simon for rolling his eyes? Hell-2-the-no!

I think the eye roll was a response to the guy abruptly changing the subject away from his awfulness, and not in response to the subject of the shooting. Though I also think that the shout-out was partially a ploy for sympathy.

it's so obvious... simon was, rightly, rolling his eyes because chris abruptly changed the subject while the criticism was being given. and i dont doubt he means well or does have friends there, but it totally seemed like a goodwill strategy to stay another week, especially considering how none of the judges liked the performance.

chris is hot...

but he can't sing...

it was both heartfelt...and calculated...

Chris Richardson is shamelessly using the deaths of 33 people to further his chances in a game show. I think that's worth an eyeroll or two.

I don't really know for sure what Chris' motives were but if I had to guess I'd say it was both genuine and calculated. I'm also guessing that Simon's eye roll was a sign that he just thought it was calculated.

Regardless, it was rude of Simon to roll his eyes over it.

it's clearly an eye-roll. i think that's why simon paused later on to say his own little thing regarding the VT shootings. perhaps one of the producers informed him that they caught him rolling his eyes at chris' statement, and he echoed chris' statement to cover his ass? that was my interpretation.

Agreed with others. But I'm willing to give Chris benefit of the doubt seeing as how he is actually, you know, originally from Virginia. The producers probably discussed the eye roll with Simon seeing as how he expressed sympathy later in the program as well.

I roll my eyes at that entire show and everyone involved.

And yes, it was.

I think Chris was justified in saying what he said, but I only say that because he is from Virginia, so I don't doubt that this tragedy struck him a little close to home.

Did Simon roll his eyes? Absolutely! Did I roll my eyes when I heard it also? Absolutely!

There was something in the atmosphere yesterday, I swear, everyone I know was being snippy. Then to see Ryan and Simon go at it like schoolgirls... that just clinched it. It's universal!

Yes and yes. And yet life goes on.

I think it was heartfelt but he said it at the wrong time. I agreed that it did seem a little calculated and probably would have rolled my eyes too. Here's a question tho. When would have been an appropiate time to say it? Before he sang, or would that have seemed calculated, too?.....

Remember the IMUS! Oh, wait. New breaking story-everybody switch gears and dedicate millions of news hours to the latest fear based occurence.

I go to university in Virginia, and I rolled my eyes at both Ryan and Chris last night. Sympathy cannot seem sincere if it is followed by a pause and "this is American Idol" or "vote for me".

Chris is from Virginia, and is college aged. He says he has friends at Tech, and I believe him. How could he NOT give a shout out to them? I know I would have, if I were in his shoes.

Re: the eyeroll: Clear as day. Pure, vintage Simon.

Simon should have pumped hi fist up and down for the international signal for "jerk off." First the guy was claiming his bad sining was on purpose then he quickly changed the subject to Virginia Tech.

I think Simon is a dick, but I believed him when he said he didn't hear the guy say anything about VT because by then Simon had stopped listening.

Very eye roll.

I think it's cause they know Sanjaya's going to win.

They just showed the full video on Simon from last night to prove that he was not rolling his eyes at Chris's comment, but he definitely looked up at Chris first.