American Idol or School Choir?

I don't watch American Idol. I just want to get that out there right off the bat. I stopped after the first couple of seasons for reasons that will become apparent below.

This year the struggling economy has claimed the show's Canadian counterpart. I know.... I know... Whatever will we do this season with no Sass Jordan, Farley Flex, Zach Wilde and that other nerdy Drew Carey looking guy? Perhaps a better question is what will they do without the show? Surely there has to be more work out there for the dregs of the Canadian music industry, plenty of mall autograph signings and what not I am sure. Despite this lame knock-off of the multi-million dollar American enterprise being in the tank, American Idol is still garnering a significant audience base.

My question today is why?

The novelty of the show, no doubt, originally brought in a huge audience starving for a bit of reality TV in whichever flavour it was served. From Survivor, to Big Brother to completely ridiculous The Bachelor/Bachelorette, North America was eating up reality TV. So when the show debuted giving ordinary people the chance at a massive recording contract and a ticket to stardom people were understandably interested. The first season gave us the incredibly talented Kelly Clarkson and a french poodle with a toothy grin named Justin Guarini who promptly disappeared off the face of the earth shortly after the first season ended. These days the only novel draw to the show is a fresh batch of horrible singers exploited in the first few episodes of each season which never seems to grow old. Does this make me a bad person? I am convinced the only reason they select these disasters to perform is to make the pseudo-talented bimbos they do select look a little more gifted. Oh, and to pump up the first few weeks of ratings so it appears to the network they are kicking ass thus avoiding being cancelled or getting less funding, of course. Clearly after eight seasons it's the same old song and dance, no pun intended.

Ok, so the novelty has worn off, perhaps it is the incredible talent that keeps people tuning in week after week. Not likely.

Since Kelly Clarkson became the first successful winner of the "Idol" title in the first season the talent has become less and less of a priority in the selection process. It is clear they are going for marketability in their contestants and not musical ability. This transition is noted in the extreme makeover of Clay Aiken from lunchroom punching bag to a soft-spoken crooner who could easily pass for the spawn of Barry Manilow. Seriously, check that out, it's freaky. Further evidence of silicone in the talent pool came just last week when the top 36 performed a rendition of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" that reminded me of my elementary school glee club. Anyone who has read my first post knows that I am a huge fan of Jason Mraz, and his blog, at least in part, inspired this one. Needless to say that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me, and so, the following rant.

The whole show has become some plastic affair featuring starry-eyed youngsters, who couldn't hold a note in a basket, with inflated egos and inflated boobs all competing for camera time while some producer in the front row gleams back a mouth full of piano keys mouthing the words "Smile" to give the appearance they are all having a blast on stage. All for what? To become another name to fade into obscurity with Ruban Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, and Taylor Hicks?

The fact of the matter is that the true "idols" can be found every single weekend slaving away in some run down bar being heckled by a drunk in the corner who is starting to grow into his seat. These artists have no professional wardrobe or makeup personnel, no vocal coaches, and no publicists and still manage to eke out a living doing what they love to do week after week. It is these people who really deserve the break.

So when you are itching for a fix of good music without the pageantry, head downtown to some hole-in-the-wall. There is a rock star who will appreciate your presence far more than the "American Idols" ever could in a bar near you.