Not all ‘Idol’ fans are imbeciles

An Opinion Line comment in today’s Eagle has this to say about R.D. Liebst’s letter to the editor about the WE Blog meet-up:
“I am a regular blogger on the WE Blog site, and I still have time to be a fan of ‘American Idol.’ There is room in my life for both. Don’t be so judgmental. Not everyone who likes to watch ‘American Idol’ is an imbecile.”
Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post made a similar argument in his column:
“Please hold the high dudgeon about how a cheesy television show isn’t sufficiently grim for op-ed pontification. An astounding 41 million viewers watched the last hour of Wednesday night’s over-the-top finale.”
I don’t happen to watch “American Idol,” but I admit to watching a couple of equally mindless reality television shows. I agree with Robinson that Americans should be able to enjoy some “good, cheesy fun” every week without being judged for it. But I also think that if Americans care more about “American Idol” than the real issues facing this country, we have a serious problem.
Posted by Melissa Cooley

5 Comments

  1. Bernie
    Posted May 27, 2006 at 7:49 pm | Permalink

    Maybe the next Presidential election should be set up like a weekly American Idol episode. Each week, Americans could oust the candidate that doesn’t meet the criteria set up for that week’s competition. In the end, we have a president. Everyone can vote multiple times fr their favorte presidential candidate. What do you think?

  2. Ian Santiago
    Posted May 27, 2006 at 8:00 pm | Permalink

    The next election should be set up like a Survivor episode with unworthy coconuts being “voted off the island”,permanently!

    V.L.R.B!!!

  3. J R
    Posted May 27, 2006 at 10:04 pm | Permalink

    Hmmmm

    Musta missed this one.

    Guess everyone else did too.

    I also missed that opinion line comment.

    Wonder who made it?

  4. flike
    Posted May 27, 2006 at 10:06 pm | Permalink

    I heard on the radio today that some guy has proposed that all voter registrations serve dual purpose: in addition to qualifying the registrant for voting, it would also serve as a ticket in a $1 million dollar lottery drawing. His theory is that Americans need more incentive than merely breathing lifeblood into our social contract. After Americans are “in the lottery,” he hypothesizes that we’ll naturally be dragged into learning about “the issues.”

    Interesting if sad theory.

  5. J R
    Posted May 27, 2006 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    I’m all in favor of anything that gets people voting. But this proposal would no doubt draw out more of the uninformed crowd. The very good folk who SHOULD vote Democrat in their own best interest, but listen to the calls of the flag wavers and bible bangers and vote Republican.

    And yes it is sad.