American Idol

It was a good show... but now with Ellen in and Simon leaving at the end of the year, it is no more than just another reality show.

You don't have to be able to sing to know someone sings well... but you do in order to critically judge their singing.

And yes, it is all about singing. Performance is added in, but who do you think would get a better score? Someone who sings outstandingly but looks horrid or someone who looks amazing, but can't hold a tune in a bucket? Let Susan Boyle serve as an example.

EDIT:

Seriously, the whole point of the judges on that show (after initial auditions) is to give critical judgment on the artist's performance as a singer. They offer valuable incite that the average Joe can't pick out. Ellen can pick out some things as a fellow performer, but she can't pick apart the thing that makes the person a performer. What makes the idolists who they are is their singing capabilities. Everything else is just a bonus, and the other judges can evaluate those aspects just fine on their own.

Ellen originally said that she would fulfill her role by being "the people's judge", but that defeats the whole purpose of the judges. The people already decide who advances... they don't need a representative. What they need is someone to tear them limb from limb. She has no place in the competition, and it is nothing more than a publicity stunt gone awry. Sure, Simon was contemplating leaving the show earlier, but I have no doubt that Ellen was the last straw.

So does my choir teacher... and probably a helluva lot more so. Still, you don't see him on national television making millions of dollars.