the sweety who writes for the sanfran rag doesn't get that people like what they like. no fruit from ca understnds that we do not have to like anything other than what we like. the writer belongs in osamas reelect comm.

I have watched American Idol since its inception, and II probably won't watch it next season. The real talent on the show never wins--maybe this is due to the median age of the people voting, but I am getting tired of the "boy or girl next door" type with their bland or sweet or, very often, country, voices ending up winning whem they don't deserve it. Also, I don't think religion should be in the mix or religious songs either. Haley and James should be on the stage next week--not Mr. and Mrs. Goody Two-Shoes. It appears that most American Idol voters live in Nashville and surrounding areas. The edgy talent, the controversial talent never seems to win; yet in the "real" world, it is the controversial, outrageous and extremely talented people like Lady Gaga that are the most popular. Maybe they need to produce multiple American Idol shows--one for the kiddies and one for the grown-ups. One featuring only country western singers, one featuring rock, one featuring blues, jazz, etc. I am a 68 year old grown-up and right now I am just plain fed up!!

I have seen loaves of Wonder Bread with more character than these kids.

The real issue is the stupid voting scheme that rewards people with unlimited free time and the enthusiasm to sit down and waste 2+ hours of their lives calling and texting votes in until their fingers drop off.

Now, I'm sure that somewhere, somehow in that mix with this voting scheme AI's corporate sponsors are getting sacks of cash, not to mention that AI can report McDonald's-like numbers ("over 6 billion sold...") every week. Nonetheless, it does not make for a true representation of how the voters feel about the music. "Vote early, vote often" used to be a joke about corrupt election fraud.

Of course, maybe the theory is that the tweens with ever-increasingly-developed thumbs are the target audience for the show, since they will eventually drive the sales of the "artists" in stores and online.

In any case, the result is the same. I gladly bow to the victors and leave the field of battle with my self-respect intact. American Idol isn't that good or important that I want to waste my energy and time agonizing over an outcome that really makes no difference to me. There are politicians out there who are bent on making citizens' lives miserable, crooked elections, war, hunger, disasters, even impending raptures to worry about, and this fluff TV show is not up there. If and when AI gets around to revising its voting to make it in some fashion fair, I will reconsider, but for now I can think of better things to do with 5 hours a week.