Cliff Notes: Why I Hate American Idol

First off, the title is arrogant.

Like I should "idolize" someone who wins this?  Screw that.

Second, as a legitimate fan of music, I'm offended by any artist who achieves popularity this chintzy way.  The show is less about music than a sad desperation to achieve notoriety.

It's a slap in the face to serious musicians everywhere, both accomplished and unknown, who have toiled in anonymity, touring in cramped vans and playing in small sweaty bars to often indifferent crowds as they hone their craft, not making millions, but instead hoping just to pay rent and have enough cash left over for an eighth of pot.

Music is much more vital at this grass-roots level, as serious passion is required to endure the ups and downs and more downs of being a struggling musician and escape the meat grinder that is the local music scene.

American Idol?

A cheap attempt to shortcut the system by being telegenic and winning a high school popularity contest via text messages.

A more apt show title would be "Fame Cheaters."

And the judging panel?  Do any self-respecting musicians really ascribe much credibility to them.  Being judged by that panel is akin to being an aspiring novelist and getting critiqued by the editor of Mad magazine.

To be fair, I've only watched about 20 minutes of the show.  Ever.  Yet somehow I suspect that had I watched every minute of every season, my opinion wouldn't be different.