Remember the Idols
Nearly two months ago millions of Americans cheered
enthusiastically (or rolled their eyes) as Taylor Hicks was crowned the 2006
American Idol. Brace yourself: the silver-maned Doobie Stepbrother and the nine top runners-up in the
hyper-popular televised singing competition are coming to town Friday, July 21,
at Blue Cross Arena.
The question is: Do you care?
Let’s face it, America has moved on. We’re busy
rooting for/hating on fashion designers named Alison, Malan, and Vincent. Or gleefully dancing around the apartment to that new Christina
Aguilera song. Or trying to work pirate-speak like “savvy” into everyday
conversation.
Which one was Lisa Tucker, again?
But you should care, people. Reality TV has trained us to
dispose of our pop-icons-of-the-moment with alarming quickness. Our Idols
deserve better. Twice a week for five long months we welcome them into our
homes, and they work so hard to win
your approval even as they choke down the attendant humiliation heaped upon
them (Kellie Pickler having calamari shoved in her
face by Wolfgang Puck; Chris Daughtry wearing a pink
golf outfit in a Ford commercial; Mandisa’s entire
wardrobe; the list goes on). These are the hardest working people in faux
business.
So, yes, you should care that they’re coming. You should
shell out your $20 to sit through hopelessly cheesy musical montages dedicated
to, say, Lionel Richie. And you should squeal with delight should a single drop
of Ace Young’s sweat find its way onto your person. These are your American
Idols, and it is your job as Americans to keep them in your hearts.
At least until next year’s crop gets picked in January. Then
you can forget about them all you want.
This article appears in Jul 19-25, 2006.
