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Why We Watch American Idol?

 Whatever formula FOX is using with “American Idol,” it seems to be working.

I didn’t think that the televised singing competition/circus sideshow could ever maintain or surpass the success it has realized in the past. However, this year’s ratings numbers reveal even more “Idol” fascination than ever.

About 37.3 million viewers watched the show’s opening telecast on Tuesday night three weeks ago. That is nearly 2 million more than last year’s premiere and almost 1 million more than the 2006 season finale, according to Eonline.com.

So, why is “American Idol” still rising in popularity? Do the executives at FOX know some magic recipe for what consistently attracts viewers? Maybe. My guess is that we just love “people-watching,” and the show gives us a chance to see a variety of characters.

Mary Evans, a senior majoring in nursing at San Jose State University, thinks viewers tune in because they like to judge the contestants for themselves.

“People watch because they have their own opinion of what a good singer is,” Evans said.

“American Idol” captures the extremes of human behavior. Great voices contrasted with tragic and often hysterical singing – if you can call some of those auditions “singing” -are endlessly entertaining.

This year’s array of the talented, mixed with the not so talented, is making for some good television. Of course many of us enjoy the great singing, but the plug-your-ears chalkboard-screechers and seemingly delusional contestants can sometimes be the most memorable ones.

I thought I had seen it all until last Wednesday’s Los Angeles audition. A guy going by the name “Eccentric” was one of the most out-of-this-world human beings I have ever seen on the show.

He was not only convinced that he was the most talented person on the planet (of which planet he speaks, I do not know), but he also imitated a panther, complete with the growling and clawing.

A pre-audition interview with Eccentric gave viewers a glimpse into the mind of a man not short on confidence, but maybe not too keen on reality either.

“I’m very fiery. I’ve got fire equaling three men � I’m an athlete,” Eccentric said. “I will get into acting as well. I will get into modeling, and I will get into being an author as well as a singer, songwriter, rapper, choreographer, producer and composer.”

Despite being in Los Angeles, Eccentric was not “going to Hollywood,” where judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson send the better singers to be judged further and then narrowed down to the final contestants.

Eccentric’s performance was unbelievably bad. He crawled, growled, clawed and even convulsed while muttering some unintelligible singing. I could not keep myself from laughing because this character was convinced that he had “it.”

Another performer gone bad, William Hung, now infamous for his comical rendition of Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” on a past “American Idol,” has opened the door for a slough of non-talents to be able find success through the show.

However, the thing about Hung is that he is likable, unlike many of today’s contestants who are simply full of themselves with no justification.

SJSU student, Triscia Martinez, a senior majoring in nursing, has been captivated by the “America Idol” talent and comedy show.

“It’s funny to see all of the horrible people,” Martinez said. “How do they not know they are that bad?”

Besides the William Hungs of the world, “American Idol” has led to the career birth of other non-winners who can actually sing. Jennifer Hudson, who finished in seventh place during season three of the show, is nominated for an Academy Award this year for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the movie musical “Dream Girls,” a part she probably earned because of the exposure she received on “Idol.”

Other former “Idol” hopefuls who are making a musical career outside of the television show include Clay Aiken, Kellie Pickler and last year’s runner-up, Katharine McPhee, according to VH1.com. All of them are legitimate, if not tremendous talents, but they should owe their current successes to their appearances on “American Idol.”

“American Idol,” particularly in the opening weeks of the show, has hardly ever had a dull moment. The producers seem to select only the most entertaining auditions for television during this time. The “real” competition does not begin until the chosen few audition again in Hollywood, California where there will be more cuts until the remaining singers must survive each week’s television audience voting.

“There used to be this thing called ‘The Gong Show,’” said Allison McKee, a television, radio, film and theatre assistant professor at SJSU, referring to a 1970’s televised music competition. She said people have always enjoyed watching a spectacle.

Whether spectacle or spectacular, “American Idol” has not yet seemed to reach its peak. With millions of Americans interested in the show, I’m sure more and more will be inspired to audition each year, and the geniuses at FOX will create the episodes that will outdo the previous season’s.

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