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'American Idol' hits a sour note in season 7

American Idol's Top 10, pictured clockwise from left: Ramiele Malubay, Jason Castro, Brooke White, Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook, Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta (center) and Chickezie (bottom center). (FOX)

Andy Edelstein | Fathering

March 25, 2008

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' American Idol": Can you think of any two words that spark greater debate - with the exception of " Mets" and "Yankees?" This season, ratings are down (a bit) and passions are high. Is this the most boring season ever, or is this the best? TV editor Andy Edelstein and TV writer Verne Gay square off over the most Important Question on TV (at least for this moment).

I used to be an "American Idol" fan, eagerly looking forward to each week's shows. But now I watch it solely because of professional obligation. And that's no way to watch TV.

This season, the show has become, to borrow one of Simon Cowell's pet put-downs, "predictable." And that's putting it charitably.

After seven seasons, the judges' shticks - spacey Paula, crabby Simon, incoherent Randy - are getting way tired. Maybe for one week, they should switch personalities. Hearing the word "dawg" come out of Paula instead of Randy might actually waken me from my stupor. In fact, to keep from getting bored, I watch the show with a legal pad in hand, tracking the number of times Randy says "dude" during the hour. That's become the highlight of my "Idol" viewing.

The decision to expand the results show to an hour really pushed me over the edge. Please explain those questions from viewers? What purpose do they serve except to kill time? The half-hour results show was already fluff-filled, but there is now more padding in this hour than you'd find at a dozen Sleepy's.

Others have said this about previous seasons, but this year's audition rounds really were way too long. It felt like watching spring training games that stretched on until July. By the time we arrived at the top 12, I felt as if I never wanted to watch the show again.

And, speaking of our Top 12, I'm not buying the hype that they are the best in the show's history. They're no more or less talented than any previous aggregation, although musical pros like Carly Smithson and Michael Johns may skew the impression that this is a particularly polished group. Any show where Kristy Lee Cook survives another week is a show that deserves to be slapped upside the head.

I'm finding myself focusing less on the performers' music and more on their looks. Maybe I'm just feeling overly grouchy these days, but why can't Carly wear a long-sleeved shirt once in a while to cover up her tattoos? And no matter how good his singing might be, I don't get Jason Castro's appeal. Whenever I see this Travolta look-alike, I can't help but think of a fictitious episode of "Welcome Back, Kotter" in which Vinnie Barbarino decides to get a rise out of the other Sweathogs by sporting dreadlocks.

And please don't get me started on David Archuleta, the presumptive winner. Are young girls in the audience really screaming when he sings, as if he were Elvis or The Beatles? I'm convinced some "Idol" producer is holding up a sign that reads "SCREAM!" whenever the teen comes on stage.

Maybe I should just start watching "Beauty and the Geek" Tuesdays at 8 instead. On tonight's episode, the men and women play flag football. Already that's more appealing than having to hear Simon accuse a singer of being a "little cabaret" yet another time.