As we turn our attention to less substantive matters in order to take a breather from news out of the Mideast, our minds turn to the one area where we can find release from the onslaught of lousy worldwide news: yes, 'American Idol.' We are the first to admit that we enjoyed Taylor Hicks' spirit, not to mention his spasmodic dancing on the way to winning the 2006 'Idol' crown (dancing which recalled the famous Stark Raven song written by Ron Sowell, titled 'White Boys Just Can't Dance.')

But, alas, sooner than we expected we are already sick to death of him. It's both his fault and not his fault. It's his fault that he signed on so quickly to those Ford TV commercials (a main 'Idol' advertiser'). He almost instantly put himself into Overexposure Mode, not to mention Sacrificing Any Musical Integrity to Immediately Become a Product Shill mode. But one wonders if he had much of a choice. Contracts that 'Idol' winners and high-profile runners-up must sign with the show's owner, 19 Entertainment, are notoriously heavy-handed and controlling, according to many reports (one of which described them as 'Indentured Idols.') Fantasia just fired her managers at 19 Entertainment, according to a recent Fox News report by Roger Friedman (read below the Mel Gibson item). Clay Aiken did so quickly after exiting the show, as did Kelly Clarkson last March, who says 19's Simon Fuller (not the Simon Cowell who is the show's on-air judge) did nothing for her career. As entertaining as the show can be, it is, after all, moving product.

~ By Douglas Imbrogno