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American Idol is pure fluff. The definition of American entertainment television. The worst of that category actually, and that's saying a lot. It's not doing anything for society at all, despite its grandiose title, it's not producing any rock stars, it's only generating revenue for the Fox Network.

Besides watching the World Series, an occasional History Channel show or the Weather Channel, I watch no TV. I gave up the talking head shows after impeachment and I gave up prime time TV about 15 years ago.

Along comes American Idol. My family which also watches very little TV started watching it, so I sat down with them to have a look. What I found interesting was individual competition -- people competing as individuals trying to obtain their individual dreams. And the best part of it was that these people weren't doing anything for the sake of "society", whatever you think that might mean.

All the while people are tuning in in droves, most foolishly believing they're witnessing the genesis of an actual rock star, instead of watching something intelligently entertaining, more informative, or (gasp!) reading a book!

Hey at least these people watching American Idol aren't watching the Sci-Fi channel.

You on another thread:

Last week's was great, thanks for the reminder to tune in tonight! It's been so long that I've watched Enterprise with any regularity, my "default" for Friday nights is to tune into the Sci-Fi channel! I know I would've forgotten if it weren't for this ping.

Sounds like you are a real TV watcher. You actually have a default channel. Why don't you go -- "gasp" -- read a book. BTW why the heck would anybody watch Sci-Fi, fiction science TV when there is so much real science that they can read about?

LOL!

Read.

Along comes American Idol. My family which also watches very little TV started watching it, so I sat down with them to have a look. What I found interesting was individual competition -- people competing as individuals trying to obtain their individual dreams.

I watch Jeopardy, 24 and American Idol. That's about it. however occasionally I catch an episode or two of Blue Collar TV. American Idol is really what America is all about. Intense head to head competition. And America gets to vote. It is democracy and capitalism at its best.