American Idol

When I first came to the USA, I had never even heard of this show called "American Idol". Later, I learnt that it was this singing competition which was also a popularity show since the audience voted for the contestants. (Meanwhile, there was the Indian version "Indian Idol" that was grabbing viewers and spawning multiple look-a-likes on almost every channel on Indian Television. I came to know of them on my next visit to India)
Anyway, so hubby and I started watching the show only last year when we followed it from maybe 6 or 7 contestants to the top 1. After one episode, we were hooked. Yes, it's hugely hyped and occasionally a contestant keeps going on due to looks/glamor and not genuine talent but even then, we kind of got attached to the young people there. We were rooting for one talented girl, Melinda Doolittle, last year and got the shock of our lives when she was eliminated at 3rd place. That was proof enough that it not just talent that mattered on this particular stage. Anyway, the winner, Jordin Sparks was good too...so...
This year, we started at the very beginning, right from the auditions held in various towns/cities across USA where thousand of aspiring singers/musicians came to try their luck. Then slowly, they came down to 24, then 12 and now it's that time when one person gets eliminated every week. We decided that this year, we would vote for our favorites too. No point liking someone if we cannot show them our support in the one way that matters.
One of my favorites was Ramiele Malubay, the pint-sized Filipino girl with the mature, powerful voice. She (sob, sob) was voted off last week. But I was still OK because it was kind of justified. The really strong contenders were still there...Michael Johns(my fave!!), David Cook (my other fave!), David Archuleta(Everyone's fave!) and others..
Last night, which was the elimination episode, we mistook the time of telecast and switched to the channel right after the show concluded!!! We were devastated!! We missed it!! I ran to the computer and logged on to see who was gone...and was SHOCKED!! Michael Johns!!??? The velvet-voiced, good-looker(understatement!) with hordes of girls screaming after his every performance? How could it be? This Australian singer had it all. Great voice, great looks, stage presence, fan following... How could he not get enough votes??
I still feel a pang whenever I think of him. But at least it's not guilt, because I did vote for him.