13-Apr-2006
I've Discovered this New Show called "American Idol", by Charles Pennington

Circa 1996 I overheard my graduate school advisor, a third generation professor, and at that time the senior member of the Harvard Corporation, discussing basketball with a colleague. "My son has become simply fascinated with the play of a member of the Chicago Bulls basketball team. Perhaps you've heard of this fellow, Michael Jordan."

In that spirit I offer a glowing review of "American Idol". I've always had a favorable impression of it, but I've rarely watched it. Tonight though I got to watch it uninterrupted while trying to finalize a 1040. This is truly a great show. Here's why:

1. It's innovative. There have been talent shows on TV in the past, but I don't think any really followed the full process of narrowing the field from thousands down to just one, all before a riveted national audience.
2. It's inclusive. On this show "diversity" results from merit and nothing else. Not only is there every variety of race, but there is also a heavy representation of small-town America. As each contestant is introduced, footage is shown of their hometown friends and family, and the posters they made celebrating their Idol. For some reason, almost all the contestants were singing songs by Queen tonight, and one from Smalltown, North Carolina did a country version of "Fat Bottomed Girls".
3. It's participatory. The viewer is active, not passive. The viewers votes make the difference, and their connection with their hometown idol is much more real than their connection with the nearby sports franchise.
4. Punches aren't pulled. The most blunt judge, Simon Cowell, doesn't hesitate to criticize, and some of it's not PC, as in "You're too fat." This is a real competition.
5. The stakes are high. The winner and a few runner ups will almost certainly rack up some big record sales and become certifiable stars or mini-stars. The contestants show genuine, unaffected emotion. The girls often cry. BUT..
6. Nobody gets hurt. The losers miss out on becoming stars, but they can take their memories and some continuing level of local celebrityhood with them.
7. They're good sports. The contestants at least appear to support each other. They applaud and dance and sing along while their competitors are performing. They hug and console those that get kicked out, and it's much more convincing than it is in beauty pageants. The show hasn't had its McEnroe or Nastase yet. Simon (who looks a lot like Mr. Dude here in Weston) is the only one who's allowed to say anything nasty, and everyone loves him anyway because he put the whole thing together.