I just wanted to get your ...
Question: I just wanted to get your opinion on the whole
American Idol thing. Going into, what, the 23rd season now, the show has produced, I would argue, only one real talent:
Kelly Clarkson. I can't even remember most of the runners-up. But with millions of others, I will watch again this year in January.
INXS' reality show had better talent and music, but not many people watched it. So my question is: What do we see in
American Idol?
Answer: It's funny — as I started typing this response, the name of last year's winner (
Carrie Underwood) went right out of my head. There must be a reason for that. But beyond the individual merits of the contestants — always a merrily mixed bag — there is something irresistible about
American Idol, especially (to me) once they move past the tedious and sensationally contrived audition episodes. It's a classic talent competition, with all of the corn and cheese associated with such things. The INXS show may have featured a higher level of talent, but the range of appeal was limited (and I would argue that the search for an INXS lead singer lacks the mythic aura of what
American Idol connotes).
American Idol is unapologetically mainstream, and the masses eat it up without apology.
