Coming out of the closet about watching 'American Idol'

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I’m finally out of the closet. Whew. It took a few seasons, but what a relief.

Just like those high-brow women who publicly eschew “The Bachelor,” yet plop down and devour the goop every week, I did so with “American Idol.”

If the phone rang during the show, I’d mute the volume and tell a white lie.

“Sorry, I can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of reading ‘The Odyssey.’”

For those who are still in the “Idol” closet, the show has reached No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings for nine consecutive seasons.

Now, with Ellen DeGeneres joining the judging troop, “Idol”’s cool factor has exploded.

It didn’t hurt either that rockers began to make appearances, singers like Chris Daughtry and David Cook, a previous “Idol” winner.

Add to that the number of top-name musicians and performers who took the “Idol” stage as guests or tutors for the contestants.

Still, some think the show’s not hip. But it’s only those few snoots who think PBS or the History Channel is worth their time and the rest on the tube mere rubbish.

My closet time began almost eight years ago. When Simon Fuller created the show and it first aired in this country, in 2002, I didn’t watch but a few times. I was living with a consummate musician and grew tired of him yelling from another room, “Cut that hack music off. Those people don’t have a bit of talent.”

It was that year Kelly Clarkson took the title. And she’s been topping charts and collecting music trophies ever since. I bought her debut CD and loved it, playing it in the complete secrecy of my car.

Way back then, quite a few wouldn’t admit to watching “American Idol” or “The Bachelor,” which started the same year. Most reality shows were just kicking in. Now they’re a staple and range from contorting top models to mothers who’ve birthed 19 kids.

By the way, I don’t watch either of those shows. However, I’ve devoured a few outrageous reality clunkers the PBS crew would consider far beneath their gray matter levels.

With “American Idol” heading into its ninth season, the show has proved its stamina. Who can forget when a then geeky Clay Aiken charmed the crowd and almost won in season two before Ruben Studdard out sang him with his big bluesy, soulful voice?
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Other performances I will never forget are Katherine McPhee sitting on the stage and singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” And then there was cute little David Archuleta, who blew the audience away with his rendition of “Imagine.” It was brilliant. Nothing hack about these performances.

How about rocker David Cook, also a winner, singing “Billie Jean”? Or the wonderful, Billie Holiday-style voice of Fantasia Barrino? Then there’s Adam Lambert. What can we say about this unbelievably talented odd bird who hits notes higher than an iguana whistle?

Other performers, whether or not they win the title, have gone on to greatness. Jennifer Hudson won a Best Supporting Oscar for “Dreamgirls” and Carrie Underwood, a winner, continues pulling in accolades and honors.

After eight seasons, I’m looking forward to how this ninth plays out. I no longer have to hide in the bedroom and turn the volume down for fear someone will ridicule my TV choices. My daughter, 11, is a singer and guitarist who’s already performing in nightclubs, and she loves watching “Idol” with me.

On Thursday mornings after each Wednesday night program, veteran “Idol” expert and CITIZEN-TIMES.com columnist Nancy Sluder and I will team up and talk about the show during a live Webcast.

Please join us at 11 a.m. at CITIZEN-TIMES.com. We’re both way out of the closet and think “Idol” is for the intellectually gifted.



Other performances I will never forget are Katherine McPhee sitting on the stage and singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” And then there was cute little David Archuleta, who blew the audience away with his rendition of “Imagine.” It was brilliant. Nothing hack about these performances.

How about rocker David Cook, also a winner, singing “Billie Jean”? Or the wonderful, Billie Holiday-style voice of Fantasia Barrino? Then there’s Adam Lambert. What can we say about this unbelievably talented odd bird who hits notes higher than an iguana whistle?

Other performers, whether or not they win the title, have gone on to greatness. Jennifer Hudson won a Best Supporting Oscar for “Dreamgirls” and Carrie Underwood, a winner, continues pulling in accolades and honors.

After eight seasons, I’m looking forward to how this ninth plays out. I no longer have to hide in the bedroom and turn the volume down for fear someone will ridicule my TV choices. My daughter, 11, is a singer and guitarist who’s already performing in nightclubs, and she loves watching “Idol” with me.

On Thursday mornings after each Wednesday night program, veteran “Idol” expert and CITIZEN-TIMES.com columnist Nancy Sluder and I will team up and talk about the show during a live Webcast.

This is the opinion of Susan Reinhardt. Contact her at sreinhardt@citizen-times.com.