>Mike,
>
>Don't get me wrong, I waste plenty of my own potential watching the tube.
>
>It's just presumptious (sp?) that Simon and crew can manufacture a performer that Americans will idolize in a mere 12 (?) hours. There are people on this show that are extremely talented, but I prefer musicians that have paid their dues to get to the point where I'm willing to shell out $15 for a CD to add them to my collection.

Not to mention that they certainly haven't had time to learn the art. A good voice is not all there is about singing. Listen to Tom Waits - great voice? Hardly, but damn! He can sing a song.

>
>>I don't view it nearly that harshly. Probably none of them will be remembered 50 years from now but that's not the point, is it? The rags to riches story is one that never grows old.
>>
>>I suspect Idol is a poor predictor of professional stardom simply because of the format. The contestants are made to sing one style of music one week, a completely different style the next week, on and on, week after week. One very strong singer this season, Mandisa, got booted on country and western week. How fair is that? The judges were constantly on Chris Daughtry to stop singing so many rockers and branch out a bit. Does anyone say that to Keith Richards? (When he's not busy falling out of palm trees, anyway, LOL). Real recording artists don't jump all over the place in this manner. They find a style or genre that works for them and for the most part stick to it.
>>
>>Enjoy the show tonight if you go.