I'm not a fan of most pop music. So naturally, there's not much that would draw me to a show like American Idol. Add to that our antenna, which faces the wrong way to pick up that network clearly, and you have the fact that i haven't seen the show. But judging from the way i despised and avoided the attitude of that lady on "The Weakest Link," i don't anticipate Simon drawing me into his ratings.

Sam likened Star Search to an old-style variety show. I watched when i was a kid, and i really enjoyed it. The comedians and singers weren't always the next Sting or Robin Williams, but they could usually raise an eyebrow or jstify a few chuckles.

With regard to future fame, i don't recall a single one of the performers i ever watched on the show, except for one decet comedian by the stage name of "Spanky," who i've heard nothing about since. Spanky was good enough, i remember, that a later comedian on the show used one of his routines.

I certainly don't remember any child singers like Christina Aguilera or Brittany Spears, but since they've never made me want to buy an album even now, i guess that doesn't really matter. While the child singers work in Star Search as part of the whole display, i tend to see signing minors to recording contracts (with rare exception) as both exploitative and potentially damaging.

And while i admittedly enjoy the current Star Search, their taste doesn't always mesh with mine. One particularly young girl who has summarily wiped the floor with virtually all her competition in judging, her vocal skill seems to consist of extended yelling from the gut. It pains me (as a classically trained singer) to hear such a young performer who is encouraged strongly to persist in what will probably damage her instrument long-term. But even in her case, i guess being able to have my opinion means i'm being entertained.

Bad singing, except in short segments of comedy, is not entertaining (e.g., the Righteous Brothers cover tune in _Top_Gun_). Karaoke is evil. But that's a whole other subject.

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