It was only a matter of time before it happened. There was nothing I could do to prevent it. You knew this was coming.

The American Idol review.



Every year I jump right back into American Idol wondering how it can possibly surpass its previous seasons. I tune in expecting a larger stage, extensive pyro, bigger personalities. For the most part though, it's same old, same old. The judges are still up to their old tricks: Randy throwing up his hands and calling someone his "dog," Simon dampening spirits with clever allusions or brutal honesty and Paula reaching for that silver lining in every song while desperately clinging to the last vestiges of her sanity. And who else but Ryan Seacrest, meterosexual extraordinare, could host Idol? No one else knows how to complete a suit with a five o'clock shadow like Ryan.



But that's Idol - the more things change, the more they stay the same. They have to. American Idol has that unforgettable look. Even if you're checking out its sixth season for the first time with your only reference being a quick glance from channel-hopping during season one, you know undeniably you are watching American Idol. Seared into the consciousness of American pop culture are boys and girls singing their hearts out for the votes of millions of viewers for the record deal of a lifetime. With two shows a week and over 20 million viewers each show, American Idol is an unstoppable interactive television juggernaut.



That being said, this season has been quite controversial and downright bizarre. First, controversy surrounded the producers' decision to keep Antonella Barba in the competition after provocative photos of her were discovered in cyberspace. Real or not, she was voted off the first week of March. As for the bizarre, one word: Sanjaya. The Seattle native's personality and gleaming white smile awarded him entry into the crucial Top 12 because, as anyone will tell you, it damn well wasn't his vocals. Mind you, it helps when your fanbase includes shock jock, Howard Stern, who has never held back regarding his thoughts about Idol. Together with votefortheworst.com, Idol has some powerful opposition that does not want it to succeed despite its record numbers.



While the Sanjaya scare officially came to an end with his departure two weeks ago, the season now suffers from a lack of personality. Powerhouses Melinda and LaKisha are essentially interchangable, while Chris wants to be Justin Timberlake, Blake is a "hip-Hobbitt" and Phil ... Well, I kinda wish Phil didn't look so much like Nosferatu ... Or sound like Michael Bolton. Ballad-belter Jordin is my pick, if only due to the slim pickens. Compared to last season's Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and even Elliot "I remember that guy!"Yamin, the show lacks an X-factor superstar who could win the title at any moment. Someone who doesn't endorse the "ponyhawk."



It's not unusual to have A-list celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez guest star, providing advice to the contestants, but this past week it seemed like everyone came out for American Idol: Idol Gives Back, a telethon where every vote contributed to poverty relief in Africa and the U.S. Co-hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, the telethon was part concert (Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban and Annie Lennox all blew me away), part comedy show (Ben Stiller singing for donations, Jack Black auditioning for the judges), but mostly a fundraising event with images and stories of impoverished Africans and Americans that were heartbreaking and, at times, difficult to watch. It's great to see Idol put something like this together, and no doubt it's the first of many, but please, leave the dancing celebrities at home. As Simon often points out, it's a singing competition.



Renewed through to 2009, we're guaranteed two more seasons of American Idol. Each year, the show manages to best itself be it with personality, controvesy or just good ol' fashion talent. Letting viewers play jury to the contestants has its pros (just ask Carrie Underwood) and cons (just ask Taylor Hicks), but the numbers don't lie. America worships at the altar Idol built.

The TV Guyde