Cultural Arts and Entertainment

American Idol

I have to confess something that I'm not too proud of as a male. To be honest, I'm a little ashamed to make this public knowledge, but here goes anyway:

I have officially become a fan of American Idol.

I've watched the show from time to time in the past, but never followed a season all the way through as I have with this season. I know 'em all -- David Cook, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro. And just for the record: Cook rocks. So does Syesha. Archuleta sounds the same on every song. And Jason is boring.

So how did I get sucked into the popular addiction of American Idol? Easy -- I got a girlfriend. For the first couple episodes of this season, I humored her by ALLOWING her to watch the show (hehe) and not turning on some men kicking or hitting a ball somewhere -- after all, the relationship was new at the time, and I was still trying to get on her good side. Even though we're past worrying about all that crap, I still find myself turning on Fox every Tuesday and Wednesday nights to catch the action.

But what's up with the teeny bopper fans keeping the contestants in who should have gone rounds ago, and forcing off the talented ones? Has it been like this every season? My girlfriend informs me that yes, it has been this way from the beginning. Eventually the show becomes a popularity contest, and unfortunately, because the majority of the fans who watch the show and vote are pre-teens to young teens, the heart throbs stay longer than they probably should. Apparently even a guy with dreadlocks halfway down his back who shows all the characteristics we normally see in a pot head can become a heart throb. How the times have changed -- and I'm only 23.

Jason hasn't sang a decent song in weeks, probably since his version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow." Archuleta has proven that he only sounds good on sad ballads. He has no strength behind his vocals whatsoever. There's no way that Michael John should have gone before some of the others. Do I really have to listen to Archuleta sing another sad song? Is Jason really going to get up there again with his acoustic guitar and whisper another song? Did he really attempt "Memory" and not put any effort into it? Can I get a witness?

As most fans of American Idol have already decided, it probably will come down to the two Davids. But, I'm tellin' ya, if there's any justice in this world, Cook will win it all. Talent-wise, contestants like Michael John and Carly Smithson should still be in the running, but I suppose it's too much to ask for the most talented people in the contest to continue moving on. That would be just silly. That would fulfill the point of the show -- and THEN what would America do?

Oh, and on a final note: Get Paul Abdul out of there. She has no idea what year it is let alone who is a talented singer. Get somebody who knows what she's talking about and isn't an 80s burnout.