V-AI Day!

Earlier last year, Canada (well, CTV) decided that it was time to give its Canadian Idol a rest, after the major success of its previous idols (Hedley perhaps the lone exception, and I don't think he even won the damn thing).

The American Idol begins again on Tuesday night and might tank as quickly as Jay Leno, but with new blood and comedy in the form of Ellen, it could have a reprieve before Simon Cowell and company pulls the plug. But you'll get your share of whacky untalented fools who sold their 9 cows, 5 bales of partly skimmed hay, a deer with fleas and recyclables to pay for the bus ticket from Mobile to the Atlanta audition stop, just so Cooter, Daisy and Uncle Jessie can hug the disappointed twit and tell the teary-eyed yokel that "dem der talent pickers ain't got no eyes in their ears!"

But thankfully, Australian television has decided they have had enough of the competition, opting to put this year's version of the program on the back burner or perhaps out the window thanks to sinking ratings and the fact that the biggest Australian Idols musically in recent years are New Zealand outfit Flight Of The Conchords. ("Who da boom king? Fast forward selecta....")

The Idol industry -- which was basically nothing more than 90 per cent of the "finalists" having their 15 minutes of fame, 5 per cent getting a one album-and-done label contract and the other 5 per cent have some semblance of a career (Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and....um....) -- is trying to rage against the dying of the spotlight. But make no mistake, as the other notable Dylan wrote, it's not dark yet, but it's getting there.....one country at a time.