I don't spend much time at the water cooler anymore.  I'm too out of touch with the topics of discussion.  Case in point: "American Idol."  I guess last night was the final episode.  They were cackling about it on all the morning news shows.  The L.A. Times had team coverage with photos and articles splashed throughout the paper.  As far as I can tell, the winner was the girl from "Ugly Betty."   Good for her - I've liked her ever since "Real Women Have Curves."



I've tried to watch "Idol", but after a couple of minutes I can't hear the people singing.  They are drowned out by a voice in my head shouting, "This is so fucking Junior High!"  And I'm not talking good, private school Junior High.  It's lower middle class, chipped paint, broken toilets, female teachers sleeping with students Junior High. 

I've heard the show referred to as a high class "Star Search."  Nuts.  "Star Search" dominates "American Idol."  They mixed in singers, comedians and models.  And it was always one-on-one.  Lose and you're done.  The only weak link was the kids competition.  They overestimated how many times we wanted to hear a little girl belt out, "I love ya', tomorrow..."  But we sat through it because the payoff was the spokesmodel competition that followed.  "American Idol" has no payoff. 

So as my colleagues gather round the Sparklett's bottle and rehash last night's show, I stay at my desk and put the new coversheets on my TPS reports.