Midnight Musings

I don't get it. First, there was Star Search. It was a novelty. Then it became something else, then there was the kids' spinoff. Then it went away. Then came American Idol which, on the heels of the various reality tv shows about making people who would never get along in ordinary situations live together and the Survivor craze, became a mammoth success. I am not ashamed to say that I have never watched any of these shows even once, although my sister-in-law was appalled when I told her. Then something happened. Nashville Star (because it's not part of America, I suppose). Amazing Pet Stars. Our Next Food Network Star. Where does it end? America's Soapmaking Star? Star Lumberjack? Star Chemist? Park Ranger Star? Star Orderly? There are scads of thankless jobs out there that deserve public recognition but will never get it. (Of course, if they did, I couldn't whine about thankless jobs anymore.) I think the whole thing just reeks of discrimination. Who will stand with me against this tyranny? Who will lobby Congress in support of our Next Star Special Education Teacher? Let's bury them with e-mail. Let's drown them in telegrams. Let's flood them with letters. Wow...I never realized how violent this political action stuff was... 'night.