Do you AI?

This question came up in the comments over at Diane Chamberlain's blog this week, and I decided to say more here because I think I probably surpassed the legal word limit over there for comments. I'm sure that comes as no surprise if you made it all the way through my last post. I am just long-winded and for that, I sometimes make no apology. Other times, I do because I feel shtupid for it, but certainly not last night. Maybe tonight. We'll see.

I also sometimes make no apology for the fact that yes, I do watch American Idol. Without fail. The one episode I had to miss this year, I watched over at my friend's house because she DVR'd it. Phew. Other times I do that weird thing we humans like to do. I say, "I don't usually watch reality TV, but I have to admit I watch American Idol..." as I blush. But why should I be embarrassed? I yam who I yam, right?

Why do I like this show? Several reasons.

First, I have a love/hate relationship with it, truly. I am sincerely sick of the judge's stupid bickering this year. So much disrespect going on there, I can barely tolerate it. I also hate when contestants who obviously need to GO HOME stay week after week because of what we call around our house the "hot" factor, or because silly people on votefortheworst dot com are getting their kicks by messing with self esteems.

I also feel sad, especially for the youngest kids, when they are voted off and have to sing their song one last time. I like the new way they did it last week where they sang before they found out. On the other hand, some of them have given the performance of their lives in that moment, when it's the last chance they really have to prove themselves or give a tribute to the people who have supported them.

Second, I just love music. I actually have pretty discriminating taste in music. It's eclectic, and it's off the beaten path for sure. I'm not crazy about most of the songs the contestants are allowed to sing, and yet, it's music. I've been excited this year to see a little more creativity in song choice from a few contestants who seem to be on my music wavelength, maybe for the first time since the show started. I also love that they get to use instruments this season. And Chikezie was NOT that bad on the harmonica! I really liked his number tonight.

Third, and this one occurred to me today. I opened an email from my dad, and the subject was partially cut off, so it looked like "Ted Mack Attack" at first glance. What it actually said was "Ted Mack Attachment." It was a file containing one of my dad's two performances on the Original Amateur Hour back in 1963. Yes, Virginia, there was talent before American Idol.

My dad sang Younger than Springtime, people mailed in votes to the TV station, and he got to sing a second time because he was one of the winners, I guess. No million dollar recording contract, but I'm sure it was a dream come true for him back in 1963. We had a recording of one show that me and my brother spun over and over on our old, scratchy record player as we grew up, and in recent years, my brother transferred it to CD and sent it out to all of us, including two younger siblings now.

And today, we've been able to watch it for the first time ever. It's truly funny to see my laid-back dad, who has (a little) white hair and a midwestern accent now sporting a fuller head of black hair and a strrrrong southern accent and what I like to call "Music Minister Arms" at the end of the song. But it's also truly inspiring, because he was good and he was following his dream.

I've love to post a bit of it here, but I don't know if I can legally. I'll look into that. The original file resides somewhere in the files of the Library of Congress, and one day, so will the video of all the final contestants from American Idol, and their families will be proud and amazed that their moms or dads were on the show, just like we were and are.

Fourth, and finally, here's what relates to writing. Because this is a writing blog, right? It's not a singing competition, that's for sure, and really, neither is American Idol. It's a dream maker. It's where young people literally put their lives on hold for months while they pursue their biggest dream and passion. It's probably not even really about winning for most of them--they know that only one can win, and odds are, it won't be them. It's about making a statement to the world that they are serious about their dream, and they will give whatever it takes to make it happen.

Now, I am not so naive as to believe there is not a certain amount of political maneuvering that goes on behind the scenes, and likely even some fraud, but I choose to ignore it when I can.

In the end, as writers, can we say we are giving to our dream and our passion what these kids are giving to theirs? If not, why? If not now, when?

(Here's where you stand and sing the Star-Spangled Banner. ;) Then sit back down and start writing.)