David Kronke: Fred: I Feel Your Pain

Though hardly in a Clintonian sense. I'm no big fan of "AI," either, though for the exact opposite reason. The contestants know exactly what they're getting into at this point, so they should know the chances of their winning are pretty weak, and that Simon's ubiquitously present to insult them.

No, it's the songs the contestants pick (or have forced upon them) that annoy me. There're so many great songs in the world and the show seems insidiously determined on making sure that television represents none of them, emphasizing instead pop tripe that depresses me so. Occasionally an R&B chestnut might sneak in there, but usually it's presented in such a polished and sanitized manner that it's actually worse than hearing the bad versions of the songs I don't like. Of course, the whole point of the show is to find someone who could sell as many records as possible, which you (speaking to Fred but also to anyone reading this blog), of course, realize doesn't necessarily have anything to do with good music.

But as Fred notes, music, ultimately, isn't "AI's" point -- it's the creation of personalities, and that drama and tension that arises in seeing them triumph and/or suffer. Still, the music -- can't abide that.