American Idol = American Duty

Love it or hate it, you can't deny it; American Idol is a pop culture sensation. Who would have thought that American Idol would be as big of a hit as it is today? When the series premiered in 2002, fewer than two million people tuned in. By the season's end, nearly 19 million viewers watched the finale. From these humble beginnings, American Idol has become a global pop culture phenomenon, which still attracts viewers today.

Americans are living in an interesting time right now. We are in the middle of many major events, two of which I would like to highlight: a new season of American Idol and the race for the 44th President of the United States.

We have been hearing about how voters have been turning out in record numbers in both of these campaigns, and I would like to take a minute to examine them a little bit deeper.

Currently in its seventh season, the typical season for American Idol runs from mid-January to late May. For those that are not abreast on Idol's format, a season begins with auditions (you probably have seen those commercials featuring embarrassing and eccentric performances by John and Jane Does from across our fair land singing Elton John and Whitney Houston songs). After a few rounds of auditions, finalists are determined and the remainder of the show consists of performances by said finalists, who are voted for by the television audience.

According to Telescope, a mobile phone and interactive TV solution company that keeps track of American Idol's viewership and features the largest phone voting system in the world, the fifth season of Idol (which took place in 2005) received nearly 580 million toll-free telephone and mobile text votes ("Telescope Announces Yet Another Huge Voting Season With FOX's 'American Idol,'" Trans-World News, May 30, 2006).


continue...

Comments