Alex Lambert vs. The Hungry Gorilla

To FOX TV…

This past week, I recorded the two American Idol broadcasts and had every intention of watching later, but was only able to rein in attention for the David Cook performance. ‘Couldn’t stomach watching more of the predominantly votefortheworst.com contestants who, with the site’s — to be clear – unrequested assistance, sailed into the Top 12 on votefortheworst’s speedy, but stinky ship of corruption. Although they are an acceptable array of singers, these newly voted-in Tops display far less talent than the ones sacrificed for them, specifically Alex Lambert, whose vocal tone and style, in a quiet, but disarming way, blew the competition down a deep, dark well.

This is not to say that the other three singers eliminated last week with Alex were not deserving of a “stay.” I believe they were; however, of that group, Alex Lambert stirred a more emotional reaction because of his extreme — and very relatable – talent and persona. Fans and non-fans alike, in the US and abroad, concur that his was the brightest star and their consensus fuels an outrage still — nine days later in the form of a petition created just moments after the elimination show. Its goal is to have Alex reinstated.

Distinguished by a whopping 17,800+ signatures to date, the petition draws new signers every day who stream in to change.org by the hour..

In the midst of much publicity about the Bring Alex Lambert Back Petition – on Twitter, Facebook, message boards, national newspaper articles, TV –  the show’s judges and producers persist in refusing to engage in a discussion with its unhappy fans. Instead, they choose to dismiss this sizable number of a fast-diminishing sector of its fan base. Bad judgement. Summarily dismissing the very people who have loyally, literally created its success, is the very worst of insults American Idol could have leveled. Yet, it did. It caught me squarely on the chin, as I was one of those loyal ones. For nine years, I was front and center, popcorn in lap, paying tribute without hesitation to the pop reality series. Nine years of being occasionally perplexed and disapproving of an outcome, but never, EVER disbelieving in American Idol’s verisimilitude. Every time Ryan dramatically intoned, “America voted and here are the results,” I believed him! I was even one of those who pooh-poohed other’s theories of unfairness because I bought the full, unedited version of the American Idol script, including AI producer Nigel Lithgoe’s addendum a while back when he characterized votefortheworst.com’s influence as “a fly buzzing around a cow.” Hah! Great metaphor. Great lie.