The only conflict of interest I'm aware of is in my PANTS!

(what?)

I could think of a few people with recording experience who would kill for a chance to give their career the defibrillator paddles through an AI stint: that guy from the band that sang that song "How Bizarre", lesser known Jacksons, Vitamin C, any of the dudes from All-4-One, etc.

Congrats, Seth! "Some people might call that a conflict of interest." It's about time people realized this show has been a scam the entire time. Except for Paula's incoherency, Randy's Lipo and Simon's pit stains-- those were real!

If pro basketball players can lose in the Olympics i see no reason why we shouldn't let failed pro singers lose on AI. Then again, I could be biased by my complete inability to give two-tugs of a dead dog's dick about that show...or baskeball. When they start making "Thunderdome" a qualifying round, that's when I'll start watching.

Yeah, "Idol" hasn't gotten me hard yet this year. I must've sensed the "amateur contestants only" insincerity of it all. Whatever happened to Melinda Doolittle? Now she could sing.

@Superstarsteve: she just self-released her version of 'my funny valentine.' she's also been in some ads for a southern fast food chain:

+ Watch video

No contestant worthy of the title "American Idol" can be called an amateur. They've all "worked" at it and the only stipulation in AI's rules is that the contestant does not have a CURRENT recording contract.

So while they might be stirring up controversy, by their own admission, no rules have been broken.

@Maura Johnston: I can't tell if the dead look in her eye stems from the fact that she's shilling chicken fingers and fries or from the impending cardiac arrest from the grease therein.

Whoa whoa whoa. Are you saying this contest is not based on purity of heart and treasure troves of untapped talent? Next thing you'll try to tell me is that the "Iron Chef" contestants know the secret ingredient ahead of time.

i like the part where they all fight in spandex and then plunge into the water when the ex-Colt model knocks them off their perch. oh wait... American Gladiator.

never mind.

Two words: Bathroom Divas.

Oh Canada.

(see: Ovation channel).

Hey, as long as the Land of the Free and the home of the marginally talented needs a unending stream of Mariah Carey clones (but with less saggy boobs), AI will go on forever.

@Truculent: Wha? Mommy? There is no Santa Claus.
(sheds tear)

the minute i heard that carly girl sing and then the reason they gave for her not making it last year, i thought "PLANT!" i'd be curious to see how quickly the plants get voted off. i suspect it'll be quick.

@SteamyMcFirecrotch: true, but there's a difference between being given a 2. something million dollar contract by a major label as a teen and recording demos for a songwriter or even getting a recording contract by a gospel label.

That's the first investigative report the NBC News division has done in a decade that didn't involve a "predator".

Ok. I'm officially done with this show. I kind of noticed they were focusing too much on some of the contestants this early in the game and these reports take credibility away.

Thanks for the good times, Idol.

@rod: Yeah, no kidding. NBC have become bottom feeders, haven't they?

The losers should be used as flotations devices on Deadliest Catch

@Truculent: I heart you.

You know what's tacky about it? Well, everything.

It's perfectly fine that they've had record deals, but frickin' TELL US. Be upfront about it. Don't act like this is your one big chance when YOU'VE ALREADY HAD ONE.

The most disgusting one of all is the kid, David Archuleta, coming on with that cutesy act, being the adorable brat with the big voice when HE'S ALREADY DONE that tired routine on Star Search. AND WON. That is a very significant detail to gloss over.

And damn, there's like 10 of them who've had records deals this time around. But it's only going to kill it for these phonies, because no one is going to vote for them now.

Personally, I'm not really impressed with anyone's vocal ability, and whether or not they've had contracts, they all seem so "polished" and "poised" and "already conveniently packaged for a demographic" that they bore me. Completely.

"...a tride and true gimmick..."

Whaaaa? Grambo, have you been dipping into Paula's 'Elvis drawer' again?

@dandles: Aww, do I have to hate David Archuleta now? It's going to be tough, because that lil' face is like an oven-fresh muffin!

Is anybody making a graph showing the increase in Small Town [Teen] Gays over the 7 seasons of Idol? Why don't they just rebrand it as Disney Idol already and get those adorable twinks into job placements right away?

My American Idol controversy is that my DVR is set up to record House every Tuesday night and hasn't recognized the discrepancy yet.

One thing I can guarantee is that all of them will be pitchy, have more chance of following a line of crumbs on the floor than a melody, and do that fellating-the-microphone thing that they've been told is 'sexy'...

AI has not only jumped the shark, but is taking on the epic proportions of a Titanic scuttling...

@Maura Johnston: Thanks Maura. God bless her heart. At least she's doing commericials. I want to hear her do something (singing). I would buy it. I don't care if she's not a Miss America (that would be boring).