'Idol' now idle

“American Idol” needs to go.

When Simon Cowell packs up after this ninth season, he should shuffle his black sweaters around, collect the remnants of what’s left of this show and skip back across the Atlantic.

I have tried to be a loyal viewer, but it’s hard when it keeps getting worse.
When the live show began this week, I realized it’s all been done before. The small-town girl with the big dream, the guy trying to make it for his family, a new baby here and an injury there.

Blah, blah, blah.

“American Idol” has reached its saturation stage when we have all watched it — but only for the bad auditions or because FOX put “Glee” on hiatus for the Tuesday time-slot. Even Paula scrambled up enough sense to get out.

And as much as I love my jovial dancing daytime hosts, I really don’t see how Ellen DeGeneres got her gig. While judges Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson are actually involved in the music business, Ellen is hardly credible.

It seems to me she is there for comic relief, but somehow comes off flat. She can’t be her same fun-loving self and then mercilessly destroy someone’s dream at the same time.

An era is coming to an end, folks. We are not the same generation that began with the show. The music game has changed to a point where “Idol” isn’t your best shot to be heard.

Take Soulja Boy. A few years ago he was just a kid who recorded silly rap songs, until he was discovered on YouTube. Those same songs are now certified platinum.
Or even 15-year-old Justin Bieber, who used to be a YouTube favorite with his freakishly large smile. Now he has been discovered and dubbed Usher’s prodigy, which I assume will come with reps for ab crunches.

Bieber has shut down malls in Long Island and Paris because of ridiculous numbers of fans. There are serious outbreaks of Bieber fever, rivaling only the acne of the screaming 12-year-olds.

In a world where I can record the same music on my laptop using the same sort of tools used in a million-dollar studio, “Idol” is nothing more than a glorified karaoke show where the winner is given the chance to be thrown into the lion’s den that is the music industry. They are still feasting on the carcass that was once American Idol Ruben Studdard’s career.

After Simon leaves this year, the entire backbone will be gone. And if I have learned anything about failing relationships, it is always better to get out while you still have some sort of respect.