Unfortunately, I wasn't able to TiVo Wednesday's episode of LOST, as it overlapped with AMERICAN IDOL, a show so reviled by yours truly, I'll save my invective for a future review. Yes, ABC actually allowed the beleaguered LOST and its wavering fan base to contend with the ratings juggernaut that is IDOL – and the final episode, no less. I've remained loyal to the series and I watch every episode. And, I imagine for most LOST die-hards, the choice to watch tonight's episode over the blueballs-athon that is an AI season finale was a no-brainer. But for those of you whose DVRs were available to record ABC's mystery-drama, I'll make a point of keeping this review spoiler-free.
AMERICAN IDOL is just plain weird. As an easy way to fame as well as infamy, it attracts the talented, the demented and the desperate. This was a prime time celebration of all of that – through music and song and never-ending promotion. Joe Perry of Aerosmith teamed with contestant and should-be-winner Sanjaya Malakar for the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” What, does Joe have a salsa coming out? No, it’s a hot sauce. Really. It was a Jerry Springer-tears-up-to-Bette Midler kind of weird. Overstuffed, short on depth and with an obvious ending. Somewhere, Michael Bay is saying, “Now, that’s how you put together a musical showcase!”