by Rosana Modugno

Created on: April 21, 2009

American Idol was at one time a new show in every sense of the word. Different from the quirkiness of that 70s Gong Show, this was a real competition where the unknown got a chance at making it big and scoring a music contract. What singer wouldn't want that? It was nice to see a dream come true for a stranger who looked like they deserved it because deep down, away from all the clutter of our idiosyncrasies; America loves to root for the underdog. We called in that vote that only cost us $1.00 and thought it would be worth it to see that poor girl or guy get his or her chance at something good in this world.

So much has changed since then. Now that dollar is looking really desperate, especially if you're out of a job. And that's only if you still have your cell phone. Maybe you don't even have a television anymore. It's hard times for everyone. But that's probably not the reason American Idol is failing, although that does contribute to the cause.

I believe American Idol or AI, known throughout the blogging world, is failing because we have witnessed the ugliness of what the show is really about; money. Come on, it's always been about money. You knew that. But you didn't want to believe it. The show producers only want what will make them money. It doesn't matter how beautifully you can sing as long as you can rake in the bucks behind you and get people to tune in. If it means you take on two personalities, one a comedian, the other a serious singer, then you do that. If it's wearing a bikini to an audition, you will get through because many people, mostly men, will be watching. But they won't be watching for the show's singing. They will be looking for the girl in the bikini. That's sad. And in no way should any of us blame her. It's not bikini girl's fault that the world tuned in. It's the world's fault for tuning in. Without the viewing public, AI is nothing. They depend on you and me to keep watching it for it to stay on the air.

Personally, I stopped watching the show when they let bikini girl through because I remember a couple of years ago there was a guy from New York who came to the auditions wearing a Statue of Liberty costume and Simon let him sing a couple of notes and immediately kicked him out, saying he is tired of people coming in dressed in costumes. The guy could sing but didn't get a chance because he didn't have breasts. In my opinion that was not only sexually discriminating against that man it was also very unfair.

I think about the poor

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