American Idol is hogging the weekly TV ratings again, and if you saw this week’s Motown series, you know why. (Incidentally, for the rest of you who said, “No”… I say, “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire”).
American Idol cares about the environment, just not the guy who made it
No, it’s not about the show being rigged… allegedly. It’s not surrounding the jacked-up voting process and whose tail should have been in the bottom three [COUGH…Megan Joy…COUGH].
What does that chic have to do anyway to get in the bottom three? Spank a puppy on a street corner? Trip an old lady as she crosses a street? Pimp slap Simon? Anywhoo…
Nah, this country would rather rant and rave about the outward expression of faith. Figures.
This season, though, a large number of those faithful viewers have more than a casual pop-culture interest in the show: They’re Christians who are also watching because more than half of this year’s crop of finalists — including Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver, Kris Allen, Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud and Lil Rounds — either have a strong affiliation with the church or are worship leaders in their communities.
So, nicely done by MTV, right? They talk about all the Jesus Freaks gracing the sound stage and instantly there are watching parties among youth groups across the country. Not so much.
We learned two things about “American Idol” fans last week when we ran a story on how this year’s show features more Christian-affiliated finalists than ever before: Most of you don’t care what religion a singer is as long as they’re good, and the rest of you think even pointing out religion on “Idol” is “absolutely outrageous.”
Anyone remember last season when the producers of American Idol decided to make an iTunes-friendly worship song out of “Shout to the Lord”?! Well, now it seems the world’s most famous talent show is rocking like the BarackStar to shill for Christian voters in an effort to crush the competitors in the ratings.
True, this is a singing competition and not a preaching contest. It’s a stage, not a church lectern (although in some of today’s megachurches, that is interchangeable). We vote for the most talented, not the most godly.
But, what’s wrong with a vignette that discusses a singer’s faith? Are there that many folk out there in TV Land with guilty consciences? Is the conviction of the Holy Spirit spreading faster than rumors about Clay Aiken’s eh, preference? (Or that Adam Lambert with that Freddy Mercury voice).
Whatever the case, folk are irate about it and quite honestly, they need take a break.
The question is, “What does faith have to do with their singing?” Answer: LOTS!
My faith equips me to put my pants on while I’m standing up, much less write this blog. Imagine singing in front of 30 million people. You think you might ask “God” for a little help before that drop of pee trickles down your leg?! Don’t need faith to sing like that… on that stage. Puh-lease. You need faith to walk your doggy these days.
Naturally, this is just another effulgent example of America’s only permissible prejudice – Christianity.
Ah well, here’s to hoping the aforementioned “IDOLators” gather ’round their Bibles and have a Gospel night. Sure, the ratings would blow but at least folk would sing a lot more than Hillsong and Mercy Me. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. We can all only imagine.
The Writing on the Wall 