MSNBC:

Unlike the general public, which would probably be capable of trimming a list of candidates down to a serviceable pop singer by the end of a season, the People are systematically ruining it for everyone. The People must be stopped.

This article explores how the American Idol voting system can be exploited. I’m trying to come up with some way that it could be any fairer? Vote by registered, double opt-in email address maybe? Require some sort of type in the word in the picture to register your vote (to prevent mechanized votes)? Whatever they do, there is going to be some element of gamesmanship. I disagree with the article in the sense that Clay Aiken shouldn’t have had followers. He is clearly in a different league, talent-wise, than Jon Peter Lewis or John Stevens.

I’ll admit it: I’m not all that excited about any of the American Idol contestants this year and that includes Fantasia Barrino and George Huff. I think this series is nearing its end. Simon Cowell predicted it had two, maybe three more years in its run and I think he may just be right. The most interesting “star” to come along this year has been the AI reject William Hung. You can buy the William Hung new CD: Inspiration (includes Bonus DVD), BTW. Pretty soon they are going to have to switch gears, a la The Swan, and call it American Idol Rejects.