So, this is the fifth season of American Idol. And even though some may have thought that its popularity would wane, it is still going strong. In fact, some ridiculous number of people (30 million? 40 million? Somewhere in that range...) watched the premiere last week. So not only is there an ample supply of talent (and those who think they have talent), there is an ample supply of people who want to watch it.

Which brings me to my problem with American Idol.
**Disclaimer: I love American Idol. Any problems I have with the show do not in any way take away from the fact that I have never, and will never (thank you tivo) miss an episode. 'Nuff said.**
They have simply got to find new editors. Some editors who understand that we don't want to know what is going to happen before it happens. For example, the whenever they focus on a contestant -- do an interview with them, show them at home, etc. -- you know you are going to see something amazing. Amazingly good, or amazingly bad; just amazing. If they go to their house, it's almost always amazingly good. Like the girl last night who lived with her grandfather. Or the girl tonight whose mom is a voice teacher. Amazingly good. When their piece on the contestant mostly takes place in the waiting room, it's almost always amazingly bad. Like the girl tonight that look MUCH older than she was (I think they said that she looked like a mom dressing up like her daughter...you know, the one with the hair...). Or the "all-terrrain entertainer"...oh wow.

I did love the moment when the larger girl said she had quit her job to be on American Idol. And that she just learned recently that she could sing (which was not a good sign of things to come). After she sang (if you could call it that), Simon offered to call her boss to get her job back. That was great.

The other thing that bugs me is how they are teasing one storyline or contestant through the whole show. Last week it was the boy that looked like a girl. Last night it was Rhonetta. And tonight they teased the fight with Simon for the entire hour. Why oh why do they do this? Do they think we might turn the show off? If anything, their incessant teasing makes me want to change the channel, rather than settle in for the duration. Please stop doing that!!! It's a horrible technique -- please stop.

Finally, there was a great article about AI in today's Washington Post -- if you haven't read it, you really should. (it's online -- I don't want to get in trouble for posting the link!!)

Until next time...