Forget The Name, Enjoy The Show :: Deeper Devotion

Forget The Name, Enjoy The Show

January 2, 2005

If you live in America then you’ve no doubt heard of American Idol. It’s the search for the next singing star that has blown all other shows like it out of the water. But what is it about this “talent competition” that can turn aging moms into “Claymates” and workplaces into arenas of heated debate? The answer is easy: American Idol is good, clean, fun.

I love American Idol. I love it so much that I even waited in line for 24 hours to audition for the second season. To satisfy those of you who wonder about my experience, it was exciting, exhausting, and EWW to the bathroom situation. Other than that, I didn’t get very far. Even so, I think that American Idol is one of the few shows left on television that are worth watching.

For one thing, it’s clean. It’s all about the singing. No behind the scenes gossip about who’s been flirting with who at the house and all the garbage that embodies a large percentage of reality TV. It’s about hearing people sing and seeing them (hopefully) get better each week. This is a show that little kids can watch with their parents (and grandparents) and never have to feel awkward or change the channel.

Secondly, it brings people together. No, I’m not saying that American Idol equals world peace, but for the 5 months that it’s on (and yes, it is actually on for 5 whole months) people get together to talk about who their favorite contestant is and how exciting a certain performance was and what not. I remember my office having little chats the day after the singers performed and we always had so much fun. It was one of those things we all enjoyed at home and then could later share together.

Lastly, American Idol is great because it’s about normal people achieving extraordinary dreams. It’s so great to see a person go from waiting tables to doing what they’ve always dreamt of. It gives you a sense of success to see someone else that’s just like you in many ways “make it.” Plus, you get to be a part of them making it by voting for them and showing your support.

In this day and age it’s hard to find a good show that is safe AND entertaining. I would argue that American Idol is one of them, so if you are looking to get into it this season, tune in at the end of January and enjoy the show!