Tell me, what person takes the likes of Star Search and mixes it with the sensational part of American Idol, a smug Brit. We Americans don't need (and, quite frankly, have never needed) the superficial sensationalist in the midst of our cultural persona. And I'm quite sure the Brits don't wish to be seen as smug, arrogant, and obnoxious, which is a hopefully short-lived fad right now. The trouble with the entertainment business is that those involved don't want to disrupt their paychecks by experimentations in quality. If ovation sells, keep the ovation coming. I know that seems very cynical of me to say, but look at the Elvis movies. I recall reading how the money from Elvis' remake of "The Sheik", I believe it was, was used to make a finer and more experimental version of "Becket". Elvis did not get parts like that because Elvis was too much of a cash cow to experiment with. (I speak of Elvis, the image, of course.)
The quality of any culture can be known in its aesthetics. Art is the reflection of that culture's values, norms, ideals, aspirations, nightmares. For America to dare make the bold claim of great art and yet keep mass producing ovation like hiring a dubious Brit, it's more like a beautiful and refined lady dressing as a street walker still thinking she deserves the respect of the world around her.
I roll my eyes at you, whoever you are that hired that man!
