My 'American Idol' Moment

Ten years ago, flipping through the channel guide to see if there was anything interesting on TV, I caught my first glimpse of  American Idol. I was hooked.

I do not like reality TV, or other competition shows, except maybe Cash Cab when I want to feel smart and Jeopardy when I want see Alex Trebec being a jerk.

I tried watching Dancing With the Stars and decided those were several minutes of my life I won't be getting back. I detest that show on principal. Those people had their 15 minutes already. There are good reasons they are "has beens."

I have not watched a cumulative total of five minutes of The Apprentice, Survivor or So You Think You Can Dance, though I do admit to finding Hell's Kitchen mildly entertaining. I remember laughing myself nearly sick the first time Gordon Ramsey called someone a donkey.

In other words, I am anything but a reality TV junkie.

Except for American Idol.

Except for this season.

I don't watch the show to see or hear from the judges, nor do I care who the judges are. I watch to catch the first glimpse of that next amazing talent.

Ten years ago when I stumbled upon AI, the theme for the night was Big Band, an era and type of music I love and admire. Those songs are incredibly difficult to sing, and to sing them well takes true talent. If you can sing Big Band, you can sing anything.

The first person I saw on that show was a girl who looked barely out of her teens singing Stuff Like That There. It was as if she had stepped into a way back machine. She had the poise, presence, range and control of a true professional. I remember thinking this girl has just made her career. Kelly Clarkson ended up winning the title, and in my opinion, deservedly so. She was head and shoulders above the pack, in a completely different league. Not that the others were all bad, but they just weren't anywhere near her level of talent.

There is so much talk about how American Idol is a set up from the beginning; how the producers decide who will and will not make it into the final 10, or 11, or whatever. There seems to be an entire cottage industry devoted to exposing the fake voting results. But that is all beyond the point.

I do believe that much is predetermined, but I do believe the voting has an influence as well. How else to explain Sanjaya?

Tuesday night, after watching Scotty McCreary and Lauren Alaina, I can't help but wonder what happened. Scotty has a terrific voice, and will undoubtedly have a solid country career. But neither of them is really all that great. They are good, but definitely not great.

In past years, I would intentionally schedule things so I could be home to watch Idol. This year, I have chosen not to watch it when I was home with nothing else to do. A few of the contestants were pretty good, but once the one or two I was really interested in were voted off, I just stopped caring.

I really don't know if I'll watch the results Wednesday night.