As I understand it, each of the idols is paired up with his/her own mentor or moral support character.
Ryo has the 876 manager Okamoto, who knows Ritsuko from before.
Eri has Ozaki, the freelance producer who discovered Eri's talents.
Ai has her mother.
Good luck.
Contrary to most people, it seems, I didn't like Alive at all. I usually don't like the slow songs, and this one was not good even compared to other slow ones. But to each his/her own, and at least it's true that Ai-chan sounded a little better than she did before.

Eri's performance of Hello!! was very good I thought. Voice-wise she's already among my favourites out of all the idols.
O/T why's ELLIE filed under 876 staff on the wiki as well?
Trance Blossom put that in a few days ago.