So you posted a story to say that you don't want to waste time talking about American Idol? Does make any sense?

Bo Bice is great, has an unbelievable voice (sounds exactly like the guy from King Harvest who sings "Dancing in the Moonlight"). Kerry is hot and sings country pop... good voice too, but not as good as Bo's.

"Does THAT make any sense?"

Tom:

It does in the larger sense of the issue that people are consumed with ridiculous trivia and will waste all kinds of effort on it, but are unwilling or unable to follow the REAL issues of the day. This is one of the reasons our country is such a f*cked up mess. Were people as concerned with the actual issues that matter, we wouldn't have people like Harry Reid being able to get by with labeling good judges as "extremists". This is just a "for instance" insert whatever important issue in its place.

As it is it's "wow, the Republicans are nominating extremists, that man on TV -- whatever his name is; don't know but he looks important -- says they are so it must be true. But who cares, politics is so boring. Quick, turn it to American Idol, I sure hope Bo wins!"

And as the nincompoops slobber over American Idol, our democracy crumbles around us.

careful steve, that show panders to the demographics most likely to take your side in political matters.

its a red state show. any surprise the country girl won?

Well, I certainly keep pretty up-to-date on political stories while keeping up with American Idol. The two are not mutually exclusive.

American Idol is just a form of popular entertainment. Now, if you want to talk about news coverage of the finale, that's another story. I haven't watched the news over the past couple days, but I imagine it's getting a lot of coverage. But the thing about cable and local newscast is that they've greatly increased coverage over the past decade. There's basically news 24/7, either on TV, print or Internet. We do live in the "information age," after all. American Idol coverage is just part of that. I'd have to say that as compared to 10 years ago, Americans are more politically aware.

There always has been and always will be pop culture phenomenons that people get caught up in. Life is not all about dealing with the serious issues of the day. It's not a sin to watch American Idol.

American Idol is a red state show? wtf?

.......

How the hell do you figgure the latest incarnation of Star Search has any political bias to it whatsoever? If ANYTHING I'd say it plays to the MTV crowd, people who like Eminim and N-Sync and Brittney Spears like American Idol.

Also, it plays right into the whole 'idolization of celebrity' concept. People who watch E entertainment network and can't get enough of who Tom Cruise is dating probably eat American Idol up.

I don't care for the show....never have, never will....but to claim it's a "red-state" thing and that Idol panders to conservatives is ludicrous. Their demograph is 13-30 you know, the teen and twenty-something categories, no political affiliation necessary.....and it's quite popular in non-red states like Massachusetts as well as every other state that has young people.

And yes, it IS a sin to watch American Idol. It's the cardinal sin of stupidity and vapidity.

Whatever you say, MJ.

The heathens want you to watch it so you will start worshipping the Idol....does that make 'em idolators....is that a sin? Mortal sin?

On top of that, I have evidence that Paula Abdul is the Three-headed beast whom is prophecied in Revelations as clearing the way for the Anti-Christ.

"The heathens want you to watch it so you will start worshipping the Idol....does that make 'em idolators....is that a sin? Mortal sin?"

Some people have Bo Bice as their false idol, some have Johnny Damon. To each their own.

Actually, the case against American Idol and pop culture in general has more to do with the idea of "tragic pity" that St. Augustine writes about than with worshiping false idols.

In the case of the bad singers, I don't know if it's tragic pity or schadenfreude.

I don't have anything specific against American Idol, other then it epitomizes everything wrong with pop culture in general.

Don't get me wrong: Usually that above line is how begins the rants of 'we have no morals' or some such. The problem I have with the program is that it is vapid, shallow, cliched, mind-numbing, and overly trendy.

I wish we could go back to the time when music was about the pitch and the tune of the artsit instead of how nice her boobs are or who he's sleeping with. There is no promotion of the talent, only the look or the scandal.

The only part of that show I watch is the begining of the season where they show all the truly horrid singers that washed out. The fact that these people are either completely deluded, or have a backstabbing "Support System" of friends and family who have convinced them to humiliate themselves for their own amusement fills me with evil glee. I can't help it, I'm a bastard :)

Let's see... people couldn't be watching American Idol out of a genuine appreciation of music? And how do you figure that people who like Eminem and Britney Spears are the only people who like American Idol? I hardly think a country singer and a southern rocker would have been the two remaining contestants if the fanbase was populated by Eminem and Britney Spears lovers. I suppose it's a waste of time visiting art museums too. My daughter's dance recital this weekend is probably a waste of time too, right? I guess if it's not all about terrorists, crime and government... then it's as useless as a screen door on a submarine. Let me ask you a question, did this thread serve any purpose other than to crap on the hopes and dreams of honest and good Americans? I mean, what was the point... that you don't like American Idol? So what, don't watch it. That doesn't mean you need to shit on it. Like the saying goes, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I personally enjoy watching people develop their talent... it's one of the things I like most about being a father. And regardless of what you think, it takes talent to do what these people do. American Idol harms nobody, it helps some... and for millions, it offers a refreshing, if brief, escape from the harsh realities of war, terrorism and politics. This thread belongs in a landfill along with the rest of the trash.

Uhh.....

By making fun of American Idol on Fox news, we are crapping on the hopes and dreams of honest and good Americans? Woo man! Now that's good rhetoric.

Would you defend the program so adamantly if we were trashing JAG or Night Rider? Good grief.

No no. You're right. Ever see Triumph the Insult Comic Dog?

American Idol is a great show. Great.

Great....For me to poop on!

Sarge, MJ, Steve;

What does this have to do with the destruction of liberalism?

Once these people are gone, I can retire to my rocker, drink beer and notice out of state plates.

Bill

No, I wouldn't care if you trashed Night Rider or Jag... in fact, I trash Jag all the time... it's a poor portrayal of reality in the Navy and Marine Corps. There is a difference though. If you create art, it is then open to criticism. If I paint something and show it, then it is going to be criticized. On American Idol, there is nothing wrong with criticizing the singing ability of the contestants. In fact, that's the point. Film is a form of art and is therefore open to criticism, hence the reason it is ok to trash Jag and Night Rider. Yes, there is nothing wrong with criticizing American Idol as a program. You don't like that Paula Abdul may have slept with a contestant? Fine. That's constructive criticism. What I don't like is the fact that you trash a medium for prospective artists to demonstrate their ability to perform. This program has given a number of people the confidence and desire to pursue their dreams. I like that. As an entity, American Idol is to a singer what an art show is to an artist or what a draft is to a football player. To be honest with you, football is about as useless as American Idol is. It's a form of entertainment to many and a means to an end for others. It offers no tangible or lasting benefits to society, yet billions of dollars are spent annually in pursuit of sports. But you don't go around trashing football, do you? Or basketball? Or baseball? Sports are reality television in every sense of the term. They're real. Games are often live. You see the suffering. The joy. The triumph. The agony. So if you're going to bash American Idol for the attention it gets and then turn around and watch a football game with a bunch of buddies, then you're nothing but a hypocrite. As a benefit to society, sports don’t offer anything more than American Idol does. It’s that simple. So, I go back to my original point. If you don’t like American Idol…, fine. Don’t watch it and leave it at that. If you don’t like art then don’t go into an art museum. If you don’t like sports then don’t watch ESPN. To Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood, American Idol has changed their lives. To millions of people, American Idol has provided a brief respite from the reality of war, terrorism, crime, politics etc. American Idol provides thousands of people (production crew, etc) with a job, some of which might otherwise be waiting in line for welfare. American Idol is a product, produced by a television network that helps keep the network in business. Without a large fan base for their programming, the network would go belly up. You can’t have a business without a product.

You think American Idol caters to good looks and stylish clothing? Tell that to Ruben who probably weighs somewhere around 250+ pounds. Tell that to Scott Savol who is also grossly obese. Not your typical underwear models, yet Ruben won two years ago and Scott Savol made it to the top 5 finalists. I think you’re passing judgment simply because it doesn’t fit your own taste in programming. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. End of story.

You think American Idol caters to good looks and stylish clothing?

Of course it does - look at William (well) Hung!