Simon Cowell is Lost

I'm sitting here watching American Idol, and the first male contestant of the night just finished. I thought he was pretty darn good. He joined the military after September 11th, and seems like a really likable guy. Plus his voice was really good. It kindof had a Sting-like quality. Randy and Paula gave their typically banal reaction, though they were positive responses, and then Simon described him as a good karaoke singer. Hmmm... if this guy's karaoke, I'm going to start going to karaoke concerts, cause he was pretty damn good. But I think Simon has lost touch with what it's going to take to win. Apparently he hasn't been watching his own show, cause it has little to do with the best talent, and more to do with who connects with the audience, or who has something "freakish" about them that voters can exploit and force the general public to see week after week.

Simon is apparently under the impression that talent has something to do with winning. This can't be the case. Other than Kelly Clarkson (who is talented - but also a pretty hot chick who undoubtedly won on her looks too), the others are all kindof freakish. Rueben Studdard is the incredibly fat black guy (or incredibly black fat guy?), Fantasia is freakishly, uh freakish, and Taylor Hicks has GREY HAIR and is also really weird. Oh yeah, I forgot about Carrie Underwood, who won in a particularly un-exciting fashion, and is pretty darn forgetable. She also won on her looks. Who was she up against? Some ugly dude? I don't even remember!

So Simon, get a grip. This contest has nothing to do with who is most likely to be a pop star. Or a rock star. Or any kind of star, other than perhaps freak show. None of the current contestants is outwardly freakish - maybe something will show up over the next few weeks. Perhaps "Beatbox dude" will wow us week after week with his beatboxing... which might be weird enough to keep him around forever - getting rid of better singers. I think Simon believes he's still on Pop Idol - but American's like to support weirdos, and I almost guarantee that another weirdo will win this year.