American Idle?

(CBS)  With 25 million viewers, "American Idol" is the biggest show on TV. But if "Idol" really is as its infamous judge Simon says…

"This show is about finding a star," he says.

American Idol has hit some sour notes, something that Wednesday night's two finalists understand.

"I think a lot of people see this show as a golden ticket and I don't think that's the case," David Cook said.

And David Archuletta: "You know, now you have to show how you can handle what's given to you."

Past winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood made it big - selling nearly 10 million albums apiece, and taking home Grammys. But other "Idol" winners' music careers have become, well, idle, CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reports.

---

Photos: Scenes From The "American Idol" Finale

---

Fantasia Barino's album sales have plummeted. Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks were just dropped by their record labels. So was runner-up Katherine McPhee.

---

Photos: "American Idol" Season 7

---

Last year's winner Jordin Sparks has yet to set the charts on fire.

"Once they're no longer on TV every week you kinda forget about them and then they're back on the same playing field with everyone else whose trying to become a pop star," Caryn Ganz, who covers "American Idol" for Rolling Stone magazine.

Critics say the fact that someone like Hicks won the show but flopped at the record store is evidence that it's more a personality contest than one based on real talent.

Chris Daughtry lost to Hicks, but his debut album has gone multi-platinum. He's aware some think Idol contestants get a free ride to stardom.

"A lot of it comes across as great karaoke singers, it doesn't, you know, you don't know their background, you don't know how long they've been actually doing it," Hicks said.

"Idol" producers wouldn't comment on the show's track record, but last year one judge put it this way:

"Listen, it's just a reality show, people have to get over themselves," Randy Jackson said.

Even if the reality is that a lot of the Idol fame … is fleeting.

[jboxton]

Keithle1- I can prove you are a racist. I saw you walk past 2 homeless people last night. You kicked the black guy and gave the white one a dollar.

[keithle1]

What did I write that was racist, whatithink? Please enlighten me. I was just stating the facts. Does the women have a name that would be difficult for strangers to spell & pronounce? If she was white, I would have said the same thing.

Are you one of those folks that likes to throw around the "R" word every chance you get? Prove that I''m racist.

[emmarude]

"A lot of it comes across as great karaoke singers, it doesn''t, you know, you don''t know their background, you don''t know how long they''ve been actually doing it," Hicks said. I watched the CBS News last night. It was''d'' that said the above, not Taylor Hicks. Futhermore, I would like to know where you found the cd''s of Taylor Hicks that you showed on your news show? I have looked high and low and can not find any of Taylor''s cds. In addition I wanted to know, did The Powers That Be from AI send those to you, or did you really find a music store that had those cds?

[thisandthat1]

libra127 .... I stand corrected. I meant to say "It''s appeal is aimed at little teeny boppers AND KARAOKE-LOVING MORONS" Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[usamohammed]

What a pair of flaming homosexuals. This show will be the demise of America

[tootall10142]

Holding my breath hoping american idol gets cancelled,probably will sufficate first.gave up on rap disapearing. not quite the waste of t.v time as lost but da---n close.just add commercials about pimple cream andcondoms and you have another season.

[libra127]

It''s appeal is aimed at little teeny boppers .... certainly not to anyone who appreciates really good music.

Posted by thisandthat1 at 12:40 AM : May 22, 2008

My teenybopper years were a long time ago, but I find it enjoyable to watch these talented (mostly) young people who are far less jaded and cynical than you apparently are. It''s a frame of mind to be treasured and enjoyed.

[mecury69]

SharnCedar.

With all due respect, the CBS News message board is not the location to search for thoughtful introspect. Even less would be to do so on the subject of American Idol.

Such a misguided quest is not worthy of the reward.

[sharncedar]

Posted by holyone62 : "syesha i think u are a beautiful young black women and God is watching u. so hold your head up high and allow God to guide u to your next destny in life."


I thought for a second you posted "allow God to guide u to your next life" which seemed interesting, but alas, all that you had to say was a thoughtless cliche. The "destiny" for the vast majority of the human race, actually probably all the human race, consists of more or less eating, followed by defecating, followed by a little wondering about why we are here, followed by death. For a second, I mistook the post above for something interesting that would have given insight about the "wonder why we are here" part of my life (having just eaten and soon to defecate) but no, another cliche from another minor intellect. Perhaps jellyfish have more to say than your average human.

[whatithink-2009]

Keithle1,

Your posts are at least consistently...racist. Do racists ever get to take a holiday?