Reality of ‘Idol,’ ‘Dancing’ | Columnists | Summerville Journal Scene

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Reality of ‘Idol,’ ‘Dancing’

Published Tuesday, May 12, 2009 2:45 PM

By Judy Watts
Summerville Journal Scene ®

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We have a couple of guilty (TV) pleasures at our house.

“American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars.” We’re not big reality TV folks, but those two snagged us early on and haven’t loosened their grip.

While “American Idol” would seem to have the more universal appeal, this is what we’ve discovered about “Dancing.”

The first year time we watched it was more out of curiosity than anything else.

The Hubster and I took our TV watching positions and two hours later (or however long it was that night) we agreed it was entertaining.

The next week I figured the Hubster would disappear, because surely he would not come back for another week of ballroom dancing.

But he did. And I did. Two months later we were still at it, every week. Before it was over with, I’d find him in the den getting ready for “Dancing” to begin.

By that time we decided there was something wrong with us and that we were likely the only two in the country suckered into watching what is, in reality, a pretty lame show. Yet we followed through to the end.

The next year when the ads came on for the new season, we commented to each other that it must have drawn enough of an audience to at least get renewed. It wasn’t long after the season started that I mentioned to my sister and her rock band husband that we watched “Dancing.” She laughed. I told her she had to watch it at least once and let me know whether we had gone insane or not. I didn’t think about our conversation again for several weeks.

Then one day she called me and said, “I could kill you.”

“What for?” I couldn’t imagine what I’d done.

“For getting me hooked on “Dancing with the Stars.”

I laughed out loud. It seems that she and her husband watched the first week and the next thing she knew both of them were back for more the next week and the next and that was it – they couldn’t let it go.

It’s crack for grownups.

Which brings us to “American Idol.”

There’s a whole new buzz about the show this year. Take this recent conversation among three of the folks in our office as we drove to a meeting, two of us “Idol” watchers, one not. The two addicts:

“Well, I think Adam Lambert is the best singer they’ve ever had on the show.”

“I nearly had a heart attack when he was in the bottom three a couple of weeks ago.”

“Did you see the night he sang “Mad World?”

“But Chris Allen is really cute, and Danny Gokey can really sing.”

About then, from the back seat, reality spoke up.

“Guys, you are so funny,” said the voice of the non-watcher. She had that tone you would use with naughty children.

“We don’t care. We’re addicted to ‘Idol,’ ” we responded from the front seat.

When we got back to the office I decided to take it to our readers. Me to our Webmaster: “Let’s do a poll about American Idol.”

He stopped just short of rolling his eyes when he realized I was serious. “Sure. Great idea.” His agreement lacked conviction.

So the poll is up on journalscene.com on the right side, a little ways down under the AP stories.

I’ll be voting – and watching! And if we meet up on the street, just say “I watch, too.” I won’t tell anyone Really. It’ll just be between us.

Contact Judy Watts at jwatts@journalscene.com or 873-9424.

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