When Idol and The Voice began airing during the same part of the year, Idol started looking it’s age and failing most of my comparisons. However, something kept me watching even this season with all the judges’ drama [and the spin control whitewash of that drama]. Somewhere in the last few weeks … probably since Lazaro’s departure and an all female final five … I have recognized that I am emotionally invested in Idol, not The Voice. [Psychiatric evaluation still pending.]

I don’t know that we can sign off American Idol just yet. We survived one season with a judge that did a strip tease [exposing a swim suit] just to show up a contestant. We got through two seasons of Stephen *bleep* Tyler, and even began to appreciate some of his critiques. And now we have survived Ninja Nikki who has made comments this season to make Paula Abdul look intelligible. This show may be unkillable.

Gina, as one of those friends, the show definitely has been the core commonality that introduced me to some wonderful people. I would be sad to see American Idol gone, but ever since M*A*S*H* concluded, I have had to admit that nothing is forever on television.