Well it seems another season of American Idol has been completed and another winner crowned. But don't fret America, a new season will start in January. In the meantime, allow American Idol to fulfill all your vocal needs. Do you need vocal talent for your Broadway or off Broadway musical? Do you need a vocalist to sing the national anthem at your ballpark, stadium, or arena? Do you need somebody to sing at the ribbon cutting for the grand opening of a bank, massage parlor, trailer park, or bingo hall? Again, don't fear my friends. A former American Idol contestant can fill the bill. One can envision the day when the American Idol finale will rival the hysteria and overblown excitement of the Super Bowl. It will become an all day event laden with its own "pregame" activities culminating with the grand announcement of who got the most cell phone votes. And while that person will no doubt possess superb vocal skills, so do millions of other folks who choose not to subject themselves to this dog and pony show. What did we ever do before American Idol? Of course the talent was always there: in the churches, bars, honky tonks, and street corners of our land. There used to be A & R folks whose job was to seek out these individuals. And though that scenario is still true to a certain extent it is becoming less so. You see American Idol sucks all the oxygen out of the building. Even the esteemed record executive Clive Davis (who has clearly exhibited a keen eye for talent in the past) chooses to let American Idol address his talent needs. And what's worse, "Idol" has spawned similar talent shows with a similar three judge panel: the snide Englishman, the daffy chick, and the cool black guy. But don't fret America, don't fret.
