American Idol

I can’t believe I’m about to discuss this topic, but I have something to say about American Idol – the ridiculously popular television show engaged in finding, via popular vote, the next big singing sensation. On Tuesday night Paula Abdul, one of the judges and the object of infinite ridicule by Kathy Griffin, seemed confused when she started to critique one of the singers for his second performance after he’d performed only once. Apparently there was great media outcry about this – some accusing Abdul of being, let’s say, in an altered state. Some just accusing her of stupidness. And some accusing the show of underhanded tactics.

Then today comes a revelatory story – in the New York Times, no less – that she “acknowledged on Wednesday what some ‘American Idol’ viewers have long suspected: The show’s judges sometimes see portions of the dress rehearsal for the show and use that to help formulate their comments on the evening’s live performance.” For god’s sake. (You can see I’m not even alarmed enough to give this an exclamation point.) Who in the world would have expected them to not watch dress rehearsal.

I’ve been watching this show for only this season. Quite literally, I have never before seen a single episode – although I’ve been listening to people talk about it for years. But even I know – the judges having mentioned it – and would expect – how could they possibly make those judgments on the fly on live television – that they see dress rehearsals. In this single season I’ve been watching (just, mind you, to get a sense of what this cultural phenomenon involves) I’ve heard them make reference to having seen the dress rehearsal. Has the rest of the viewing – and critiquing – public not heard these comments? Made, as they are, on the air and in front of millions.

And why, why?! (there’s your exclamation point), is it a big deal? Why is it a small deal? Who in the world could care about this? The “judges” don’t even judge the competition. They evaluate people’s performances. But the “judging” – the evaluating that results in elimination and/or victory – is done by the voting public. So why would it matter if Randy, Paula, and Simon get to see dress rehearsal?

Baffling – the event, the response, the attention. Another example of an out of control media response, fueled by bloggers and lapped up by the public. Oh my.