American Idol Wins Gold During Sweeps Month.

American Idol beat coverage of the Olympics almost two-to-one? How can that be?

American Idol is better television, that's how. I have friends who look down their noses at the show--friends who can't sing, of course, and have never auditioned for anything. But what they seem to be mocking is the show's tame, family-friendly nature. Of course, that a show lacks a shooting, a surgery, or an autopsy does not necessarily make it bad. In fact, American Idol is the absolute, bona fide king of television, a collossus no other show can touch. And though I've watched them all, Idol is the only reality television that I like (or consider anywhere near reality). Here's why:

1. The people are real and the focus of the show is the contestants (as opposed to coverage of the Olympics which has become a showcase for broadcasters and political speeches not unlike an awards show--however, with regard to this first point, the Olympics is a probably a close second.)
2. The show is about singing--and at some point during the show everyone who watches will hear at least one or two songs that they like. (And they'll be well done, now that the auditions are over.)
3. The audition shows are great because everyone loves to hear someone else sing flat--I mean, it makes you realize that you can at least tell when they're flat, right? And apparently they can't? Somehow, that just feels good to people. (Although it's painful at times.)
4. Everyone loves to hear someone sing well, too. Especially the people who have worked hard and who keep on working hard.
4. People love to try to predict the judges' comments.
5. Not everyone has skiied, or "curled," but we've all tried to sing. You can relate.
6. We know what we like in a singer, and what we don't--people who may know very little about music still know what they like. Similarly, we are no longer a nation of readers. We're watchers of tv, and increasingly, obsessive listeners. Music fills way too much of our time and attention--but we have developed a ravenous taste for it.
7. The show always has two or three surprises: people who have a sound that actually is unique (it is such a cliche). Idol has had many, but a few have been cut so early, I can't remember them. The best examples may be Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken (not just another Barry Manilow--the guy has pipes!--though no one has heard them since the season ended; all his recordings are dull compared to what he is capable of), and at least two unique voices this year that I am excited about, one an energetic rocker, the other Alabama's answer to the marriage of Joe Cocker and Ray Charles.







Given the quality and variety of singers this season, I would not expect the Idol to topple any time soon.