Why does Audio feel the need to write about American Idol? The reason I read Audiofile every day is that it exposes me to new, interesting, and varied music. We already are constantly assaulted by American Idol and Avril Lavigne throughout the mainstream media. Frankly, we don't need to hear more about them. Please keep the focus on artists and topics that we need and want to learn more about.

I gotta say, the hit-to-miss ratio for this small batch of letters was pretty impressive.

manyctnj, you nailed it -- Idol is prime tivo material. America is in a lather over 17 watchable minutes of TV a week.

Two other letters tickled my funny bone in just the right way.

First up, from the Brad:

"I want to be entertained, and watching some well-meaning schnooks deliver songs with the panache of a piece of wonder bread doesn't cut it."

And to think, if you'd realized this a couple days earlier, we might not have read the Avril interview!

[insert smiley face]

Second, and this was just a really well-delivered e-raspberry from the marvelously named "Denting monitor screen and forehead with violent banging":

"So with the contest down to its final nine performers, you can expect more frequent "Idol" observations coming from Audiofile."

Oh, motherfuck me, WHY??!!

I will send you five dollars American, Marchese, if you will let me linger a bit longer in the illusion that you are minimally credible.

I do not need that shit, David. I am here to avoid that shit."

Careful, Monitor. I might just take you up on that.

Never having watched American Idol, I decided to see what it was all about, and took 10 minutes out of my life to see Sanjaya performing on YouTube.

OK, he can't sing at all, but he has nice teeth and would appeal to young girls. When Beatlemania was at its zenith in England in the early sixties of the last century, girls would go to the shows and scream continuously, and wet their pants, so they definitely were not listening to the singing.

So there is no mystery, he is just getting the votes from young girls and their grandmothers.

And to think, if you'd realized this a couple days earlier, we might not have read the Avril interview!

[insert smiley face]

It's a show tailor-made for TIVO. Zip through the introduction and the endless commercials on hyperspeed. Linger for a moment on the star of the week (I have new admiration for both Diana Ross and Tony Bennett for their turns). Catch Sanjayah's hair style in fastforward mode (you're better off with the sound de-activated anyway), spend 15 seconds on Blake and a few of the other wannabe's (no need to linger the entire 90 seconds, it can seem like an eternity). Not the bald guy, however, who is positively creepy. Watch, rewind and repeat the performances of Melinda (always), Lakisha (most of the time -- but is she fading?), and Jordan (a marvel at 17).

If you choose to watch the end of any performance, nake sure to have your thumb poised on FF to assiduously avoid every stupid, pointless word starting with "Yo, yo check it out man..." and ending with the very last seconds of Paula sobbing, blithering (or both) or lusting after the boys. Only Simon's comments are worth watching.

Avoid the second weekly episode altogether, only a fool would participate in the mock drama of the elimination.

I've reduced 1 or 2 hours of abysmal television to 17 minutes of farily enjoyable entertainment and also managed to keep up with what passes for pop culture these days.

Oh, motherfuck me, WHY??!!

I will send you five dollars American, Marchese, if you will let me linger a bit longer in the illusion that you are minimally credible.

I do not need that shit, David. I am here to avoid that shit.

So I haven't watched Idol in years, but I was curious about this Sanjaya guy, so I tuned in. Oh man these folks are awful! With the few exceptions. I totally agree that the show would be a little better if more people were axed in the beginning and the next shows are where the better people can sing 2 or 3 songs.

i still haven't watched a single show - five minutes is more than enough to offend and you get more than enough of "idol" the so called "news" programs.

selling a mcdonald's hamburger requires infinitely more art and finese than the lowest common denominator rush to be the most ordinary, blandest and talentless kareoke singer in the country for the purpose of glorfying mindless product and the process of hype over both music and talent.

creativity MUST BE DESTROYED!!!

all hail the riaa, ascap and bmi.

Last night was the first time I've tuned in this season. I didn't watch much but I was lucky enough to hear Melinda Doolittle (wow, she was wonderful!) & the guy who sang "Mack, the Knife" who was good. I enjoyed the short bits with Tony Bennet, wished I saw more of him. But the constant commercials and the useless stuff in between the singing was too annoying for me to stick around for the next song.