We Chose the Wrong Idol—Again

"Those damn texting tweens did it again," writes Mary T. Kelly. They chose the safe, vanilla Lee DeWyze over unconventional—and more talented—Crystal Bowersox. Kelly, who attended the finale, sat near DeWyze’s family and “didn’t want to be rude,” she writes. “But as the crowd clapped and as DeWyze launched into his new (cringe-inducing) single, U2's ‘Beautiful Day,’ all I could think was: I hate American Idol.”

Bowersox's performances were the saving grace of this snoozer of a season, and she's a pleasantly different kind of role model, one with “dirty blond dreadlocks and teeth that didn’t blind you on sight.” She could also sing—as opposed to DeWyze, who, sure, “hit a few crazy notes. Too bad they were never on key,” Kelly continues on Salon. “Mediocrity trumps talent, once again”—but that doesn’t mean she won’t watch next season...
(More American Idol stories.)