American Idol Seasons Finale

Last night, I watched the American Idol Season Finale. It was FABULOUS TV - I laughed, I cried, I cheered, in spite of myself. The combination of raw, ascendant hope and high-gloss production values does it every time. Woof!

I love that American Idol is all about "player-created content" in gaming terms. Sure, it's shaped and molded by the TV people -- but the core entertainment value is provided by the players - average Joes (& Josephines) like you and me. For example, last night featured a medley performance that included many of the contestants from earlier this season. So we got to see the two top contestants perform - along with other newly-familiar faces, many of whom generated controversy. And they're all smiling and singing together. Brilliant!

The voting structure of American Idol is brilliant, too. Pitting opinionated celebirty judges vs. the American public adds a dramatic overtone to the ongoing competition. And (I think) it's the first sustained, high-profile example of mass texting in action. Smart Mobs driving a hit reality show! You just CAN'T get anymore on trend :-)