Idol's New Judge Will Lose Middle America

By Gary McCullough

The FOX hit TV show American Idol had families across the country watching somewhat wholesome singers compete for votes from mostly tween girls. Last season's loss of the more talented performer, Adam Lambert to Kris Allen may be attributed to a wholesomeness factor often ignored by the entertainment industry.

I propose that those behind American Idol view Lambert's defeat as evidence of an underlying anti-gay bias among voters. As good community activists in the skewed world of Hollywood, this season's change in judges was an opportunity to confront this homophobic bias. Thus viewers to the ninth season will get a steady dose of wit from one of the nation's most well known lesbians, Ellen DeGeneres.

In the seconds I have before the blogs tear into me as a bigot; allow me to give you a glimpse into how many across America's Bible belt and throughout the Midwest will be affected by this change in the show's judging personnel.

Lambert's male-on-male activities garnered the majority of 2009 Idol news coverage. Rather than distance themselves from what many American's consider perverse behavior and increase the show's image as family entertainment; the producers of American Idol went the opposite direction to make the show edgier, more trendy.

Like it or not, the multi-talented DeGeneres is more known for her same-sex sexual preference than any expertise in the music business. The most visible change in the show is one more step in making sexuality the prime topic when discussing American Idol.

Call them ignorant, homophobic, whatever, the fact remains that fewer families will view the upcoming Idol season because young girls and their traditional families are uncomfortable with the topic of homosexuality. I am confident that the producers of American Idol will be shocked when their market share has cratered, and will in all honesty find a dozen other reasons for the drop in ratings. After all, what successful television producer could have a clue what wholesomeness is as long as they see promoting homosexuality as a virtue.

Gary McCullough is Director of Christian Newswire, the nation's leading distributor of religious press releases.