I have to agree with you folks. American Idol has rubbed me the wrong way from the start, just due to my general disagreement with "manufactured stars". By that, I mean gathering some marginally talented people, GIVING them music to sing, grooming them into the business, and then starting the business. While there is nothing really wrong with it, I prefer the "artist" approach. Not to mention the contracts gleened for the first couple years off of American Idol are practically explotive.... but it's a good venue for some people to be heard. Granted I'd never want to win it and I AM a singer! But that's all just MHO on the operation as a whole...
But if given the choice between a House of Mouse style and American Idol, I would rather see a House of Mouse.
Now - a wise use of synergy could be to blend the two... Have The House of Mouse "host" American Idol. That way, once the show dies off, they'll have a more long term venue to host Disney-Classics-Meet-Pop-Culture.
