You might think someone who, to this day, has yet to see a full episode of American Idol (like me for instance) has no right talking about what a disgrace it has become over the past 6 years.

But before leaping to such conclusions, sit back and think about it--it makes me the perfect anti-Idol spokesman. Any of the show's former contestants who have crossed over into mainstream enough that they are remembered for more than the show are few and far between. So, someone emotionally removed from the show can truly gauge on whether major season contestants have become real American Idols. Let's plow through the first 6 seasons, and see what's resulted, shall we?

Kelly Clarkson - okay, off to good start. Although have we REALLY cared about her since "Since U Been Gone"? I haven't. Amazing voice though.
Justin Guarini - All I know is he had a cool fro, and disappeared about 4 days after the contest ended.
Ruben Studard - Headlines the other week read "Former Idol gets dropped by record label." And they were about this soulful teddy bear. Before that, I hadn't heard his name in years. Sad.
Clay Aiken - Besides the weird cult of women he's fostered, he gets made fun of a lot and puts out records ripe with soccer mom music. And he had a creepy hit about spying on girls while being invisible. Simon kicked him off season 1 for being ugly. And he lost to Ruben in season 2, btw.
Fantasia Barrino - I've never heard this name in my life. But, somehow, she won season 3?
William Hung - This guy is probably the most well known non-winner of Idol. And it's not like he had any hits. He became more famous than the good singers of Idol by being an awfully bad singer.
Carrie Underwood - Until last year, I didn't even know she WAS an American Idol, and to me, that's the ultimate American Idol--when you can be a star and not be known as "that" star. But she won season 4, and rightfully so.
Bo Bice - He lost to Underwood, but I've heard his name around, and when he was on Idol, friends told me he was the first cool rocker to make it on Idol. Yea, kinda, but he looked more like he belonged in a Lynard Skynard cover band playing in a small bars in Iowa than 'cool'.
Taylor Hicks - I think most people laugh when his name comes up. Yeah, and he doesn't have a record deal anymore either. Good riddance, Hickster.
Chris Daughtry - Ah, Daughtry. Didn't stand a chance against Hicks, yet he's one of the best sellers of all the Idols yet. Hasn't impressed me any, but some of his songs on the radio were a bit catchy. Makes you wonder what Idol judges were thinking, picking The Hickman over this dude.
Jordin Sparks - Youngest Idol winner ever at 17, I know that. So she's still to young and fresh to write off, but... I got nothing special to say about her either.
Sanjaya - Then there was this guy who looked like the lost third member of Milli Vanilli and got Idol some extra attention for being absolutely terrible, ala William Hung. And did you see those eyebrows? Wow.

So besides Clarkson, Underwood, and Daughtry, Idol has given the music business a treasure chest of bad jokes, and that's about it. It's like the new concise way to have become an 80's one-hit wonder in the 21st century, without the hit.

Think about it. Do you watch American Idol because you're a music connoisseur? Or for the comedy of the first few episodes where people try to get TV time for being awful instead of incredible singers. Exactly what I thought. So what's the point after so many seasons? Eventually, it all becomes the same thing--Bad singers trying to sing bad and Simon Cowell telling them they suck. The buzz has worn off America. It's time for Idol to go.