In its seventh season, American Idol is still TV's biggest draw. Maybe it's the razzle-dazzle, Vegas-on-steroids staging of the big-voiced amateurs that makes it all so appealing. Or perhaps it's the supposed power that viewers have in deciding the fate of pop-star hopefuls.
But with the exceptions of Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino and Carrie Underwood, few of the show's winners have made memorable impressions. And there doesn't seem to be a thriller among the contestants on the current season. None of this year's crop of singers seems to exude that certain "It" factor all great pop artists possess.
"They're all forgettable. If I strain my brain, I may remember one. But I don't," says Dominic Patten, an author who writes about music and pop culture. "The show this season lacks any inspiration."
Once an unstoppable force, American Idol's influence has been waning lately. Its rating are down about 7 percent from last season, and it's showing larger declines among key demographics like women 18 to 34 and kids 2 to 11. Meanwhile, album sales of the last two Idol winners have been underwhelming at best.
Taylor Hicks, the affable blue-eyed soul singer from Season 5, was dropped by Arista Records when his self-titled debut didn't meet sales expectations or generate big hits. It took several months for Jordin Sparks, last season's winner, to reach gold sales with her mediocre self-titled debut, though "No Air," her smash duet with the uber-hot Chris Brown, undoubtedly boosted Sparks' CD sales.
But the very premise of American Idol - where viewers select a pop star with mass appeal - seems backward and antiquated given the rapid irrelevance of the record industry and the almost hourly fragmentation of today's pop audience.
"The show gets bogged down with what would make a traditional pop star - another Whitney Houston or Rod Stewart," says Sean Fennessey, music editor of Vibe magazine who writes regularly about Idol. "The show's producers and judges are searching for an '80s or an early '90s pop ideal. It's amusing to see them try to make that happen."
As on past seasons, the show's producers continue to focus on musical-tribute themes that ultimately disserve the contestants and the artists they salute. Last week's Idol spotlighted Mariah Carey, whose appearance just so happened to coincide with the release of her latest album, E=MC2. The pop diva, who after 18 years of stardom still sorely lacks presence on screen, lifelessly coached contestants through songs that even she doesn't perform anymore.
