Another WordPress writer recently inquired how our country could have gotten to the point of having a toxic President; how on this beautiful earth, such a toxic man could make it into the White House? In retrospect, I suppose it’s not that surprising, is it? I keep thinking about “American Idol”: a t.v. talent show in search of the next big star. I don’t watch much mainstream television, and I remember being shocked a few years into its run when I saw and heard seemingly respectable adults watching this show and mocking and laughing at the contestants that clearly shouldn’t have been on the stage. Those types of contestants sortof became a requirement for the show — people who couldn’t sing, and maybe even had other issues, being trotted out solely for the entertainment of the masses at the expense of their own individual selves. It was disgusting, but there it was, our society mocking people on a world-wide stage. Sound familiar? So I have to ask, did Donald Trump just somehow show up out of nowhere and win the big contest? I don’t think so. I think our society created that opportunity for a man like him to succeed. And it is indicative of what we had become. Now, almost two years into his first term, the country is in chaos and “American Idol” is coming back. According to Katy Perry (whom I do not know and I do not have issues with), on the current iteration of the show, “It’s about finding an actual ‘Idol,’ making that good old American dream come to life once again that we all can be inspired by,” she said. “We need those beautiful stories right now to help lift us up, inspire us, and believe in ourselves again” (billboard). To which I say, let us not allow a show to dictate who we are. Let us be as kind and inspiring as we can be in our daily lives, and then create the kind of entertainment that can hold a candle to that lifestyle. Here’s a shoutout to another t.v. show I do watch: “This Is Us.” — quite possibly the most beautifully written stories to ever grace the small screen.

Agree or disagree? Give me your thoughts in the comments!

billboard.com/articles/news/television/8240128/american-idol-return-abc

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