In April Jennifer talked to People magazine about her beauty regimen and used the occasion to effusively gush that she is the “happiest” when she’s “home with husband Marc Anthony and their 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme.”

On the American Idol finale, Marc Anthony, who played Hector LaVoe, and JLo, who played Puchi in the movie “El Cantante” treated the public to a steamy exhibition of marital affection. Marc, accompanied by Shelia E, performed the vocals and music from the lively “Aguanile.” As an added attraction, Mrs. Anthony emerged in a fringed Dancing with the Stars outfit and proceeded to do a bootylicious salsa.

Just 90 days after Jennifer’s “happiest at home” interview and two months after she whispered what appeared to be a naughty remark in her husband’s ear on the stage of the Kodak Theatre, the pair announced their seven-year marriage is over.

Between the two of them, the Anthonys have managed to rack up five official marriages, six children, and a long list of ex-lovers. Jennifer was once married to restaurateur Ojani Noa, who’s presently shopping around a steamy “home video” starring a conjugally-preoccupied Lopez and Noa. Jenny’s split-second-long second marriage was to Chris Judd, her Love Don’t Cost a Thing backup dancer.

After divorcing Judd, Jennifer quickly assumed one half of the famous Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez engaged hot couple duet – affectionately referred to in the tabloids as “Bennifer.” At the time of that romantic betrothal, Jennifer said that “her feelings for Affleck [were] ‘bigger and realer’ and ‘totally different’ from anything she [had] felt before.”

Marco Antonio Muñiz’s relationship history is a little less glamorous.  Marc has a daughter, Arianna, from a prior relationship with a New York City police officer. The Latino crooner started up with the “The World’s Most Beautiful Woman,” Jennifer Lopez, in the midst of his divorce from former Miss Universe and mother to his two sons, Dayanara Muciz (née Torres) Delgado.

Marc Anthony married Jennifer Lopez a few days after his divorce from Dayanara was final. Then, after just four years of marriage, Jennifer and Marc were rumored to be separating. It was then that Marc Anthony did with Jennifer what he did after being estranged from Torres – he renewed his marriage vows.  In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony-Lopez renewed their vows once in 2008 and again in 2010 – a sure sign that something in JLo Land was in dire need of constant revitalization.

In 2010, in an interview featured in Latina magazine, Jenny admitted that “marriage isn’t easy,” but that “everything” about hers “is great.” The question is:  If the marriage was so “great,” what happened?  How could two soul mates with so much shared cultural heritage just throw away seven years of committed love, leaving in its wake two adorable tots whose impending birth was announced in Miami before 10,000 adoring fans?

One thing’s for sure, it’s no secret that in addition to tax evasion and an affinity for beautiful Latina women, Marc Anthony has a reputation as a bit of a control freak.  The man even went so far as to install himself as an uninvited fourth American Idol judge, coaching Jennifer on picks and advising Season 11 contestants.

The year started with God-only-knows-what going down on the buffet line at President Obama’s Super Bowl party and ended with randy 20-year-old American Idol contestant Casey Abrams planting a wet one on Jen’s perfectly lined bee-stung lips. With JLo’s newfound star power, it’s probable that on more than one occasion Marc Anthony  was under pressure  to suppress reacting to strange men fawning over his wife, whose sultry exhibitionism is the basis of her successful career.

One instigating factor in an already tense situation might have been the awkward decision to feature JLo’s former lover Sean “P. Diddy” Combs as a performer on American Idol. Diddy still openly professes affection for the woman he once attempted to woo back with 100 white doves and 100 pink balloons, and having him on the show probably went over like a lead balloon with Marc Anthony.

Then, one week prior to announcing an end to the marriage, JLo arrived accompanied only by mamá Guadalupe Lopez at the BAFTA/Duke and Duchess of Cambridge event, wearing a skintight asymmetrical green Emilio Pucci number which gifted the handsome Duke with an up-close and personal view of the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Marc Anthony’s famously rock-hard abdominals.

Between the excess baggage, former lovers, lack of adequate clothing, and the huge egos, like most Hollywood couplings the marriage was doomed from the start.  The only real surprise is that this one managed to last seven years.

Whatever the reason for the split, the Marc Anthony-Jennifer Lopez divorce proves once again that in Hollywood, marriage has no meaning, and neither money nor fame possesses the power to keep families together.  The only question that remains for the future is whose name will replace Ojani, Chris, Ben, Sean and Marc the next time Jennifer Lopez professes undying love for someone in the tabloids, where the storyline will remain the same and the only thing changed will be the leading man.

Interestingly, on American Idol each week those eliminated, with the exception of a Rod Stewart wannabe from Alabama, returned home to blue states.  Even the stunningly talented Pia Toscano, who was thought to be a shoe-in, was sent packing back to the blue shores of Howard Beach, NY.

Besides being entertained by judges J Lo, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, this season American Idol has showcased talent from all along the musical spectrum. America was wowed by James Durbin, whose voice embellished raucous heavy metal; Pia was crowned the queen of ballads; Casey Abrams entertained America with a scruffy eccentric brand of stand-up bass showmanship; Haley Reinhard emerged as a polished version of Janis Joplin; and a cuddly promise of Luther was reborn in the endearing Jacob Lusk.

Yet, throughout the competition and despite the huge talent pool, country singers Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery endured from week to week. One thing about Lauren and Scotty that stood out was their consistent profession of personal faith and loyalty to a patriotic genre of music that unabashedly celebrates both God and country.

Scotty McCreery is the all-American freckle-faced kid with his head cocked sideward, sporting the huge crucifix and a constant grin, renowned for singing sideways into the mike. Lauren is the sweet 16 country singer from Georgia who admitted she prays before going out on stage and whose face belies her adolescent shock each time she’s put through to the next round.

All of the eliminated American Idol contestants experimented with different songs, styles and musical identities. Scotty and Lauren didn’t; both remained true to prayer, God, and the red, white and blue with songs like “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?” Young Lauren even reminded a nation fraught with hardship that ‘God is great’ “Anyway.”

Throughout the season, Scotty’s wrist was adorned with an “I am Second” bracelet, which represents a movement that encourages people to live for God, not for government, the right to choose, saving the planet, or Barack Obama. The ‘Yes We Can’ that McCreery promoted was about putting God first and Scotty second, and the American Idol audience loved it.

Curiously, Obama, who usually makes a seasonal appearance on Idol to remind Americans who is worthy of being idolized, didn’t show up for the “show’s youngest-ever, and first all-country music finale.” President Obama hosts music nights and even welcomed rapper Common to the White House, but to date has yet to invite “Independence Day” Martina McBride and will likely never have the outspoken conservative fiddler Charlie Daniels over for a Super Bowl Party.  Why?  Because country music is alien to everything Barack Obama represents.

Secular rock-and-roll/will.i.am America put Obama in the White House in 2008. America cheered as Obama exhorted the nation, saying “this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” Lest we need reminding, thus far neither has happened.

With the election one year from now, Obama should take note – country music, with its huge red state audience, prevailed on American Idol with its “Jesus Take the Wheel…Courtesy of Red, White and Blue” lyrics.  The season is over, the votes have been tallied, and after praying backstage, Mom, apple pie, George Strait “Heartland” songs, and two fresh-faced red state/church kids are all the winners.

This season the American Idol vote may be saying more than who is the best singer on a primetime TV show. It may be that America is fed up with President ‘Hope and Change’ Obama being more concerned with Muslim outreach than upholding the Judeo-Christian foundational values of America. Maybe our country is sick of its President apologizing for a nation that patriotic Americans know and love and believe is at its core intrinsically good.

If America’s response to Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery’s emphasis on God and country is any indication of what will be inspiring voters in the next election, in the words of Scotty McCreery’s favorite Montgomery Gentry song, in 2012 former American Idol Barack Obama may be the one who finds himself “Gone.”

In the midst of a Lady Gaga media barrage that includes a piece in Forbes naming her the most powerful celebrity, it’s only fitting that the two finalists for “American Idol” season 10 have practically nothing in common with her. I have only watched “American Idol” sporadically since the first season, but I have long defended it as a very special show. It’s competition in as pure a form imaginable and the American people democratically choose who they want to win.  That’s a thing of beauty.

At this point we don’t know who will be tops this season, Lauren Alaina or Scotty McCreery, but one thing we know for sure is that the winner will be a country artist.

“Idol” finalists Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery

So while Lady Gaga continues to grab headlines with her cheap-trick glam-bisexual-protest-blasphemy pop, America is choosing between two aspiring country artists to be their “Idol” for this year.

I guess this is Middle America’s not-so-subtle way of reminding the coasts it might be a good idea to keep “flyover country” in mind when they’re producing entertainment for mass consumption.

From the New York Post:

Just a few months ago, the producers of “American Idol” declared that this would be the season they dragged the aging goliath into the future.

With ratings sagging over the past few years and its winners finding it increasingly difficult to sell records, “Idol” was in need of a dramatic reboot.

“Maybe it’s like a diva, maybe it’s more like Lady Gaga,” Randy Jackson mused about the type of star he hoped would emerge. “Maybe it’s Muse, Bono or Brandon Flowers of the Killers.”

Now, at the season’s end, with “Idol’s” first all-country finale on tap, the “c” word — for contemporary — is not much heard.

On the ratings front, “Idol” defied entertainment gravity by actually gaining viewers in its 10th year — after the departure of its iconic star, Simon Cowell, no less.

However, while dodging the bullet, concerns about its long-term health remain, especially as the show all but took a dive on the challenge to update itself for a very different public than greeted “Idol” on its 2002 launch.

During the pre-season, “Idol’s” producers seemed desperate for a winner who spoke to today’s music buyers.

It’s been five years since the show produced a genuine mega-selling superstar like Chris Daughtry.

In the previous three years, the winners’ trophies have gone to a Cute White Boy Dynasty whose low-key rock styles have been far removed from the techno-fueled sounds which dominate today’s pop charts and radio airplay.

As we reach the finish line, the rockers’ reign will indeed end this year, but, as it turns out, it will be broken by the only style more old-fashioned than mainstream rock — country music — which gave “Idol” both of its finalists in Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina.

It’s not just the finalists, however.

As a long-time fan, it pains me to open this article talking about Urban’s demons and but for their impact on his musical direction it would be none of my business.  It is also too bad that it was under this cloud that his name became more recognized outside his original fan base, for this is a man who has struggled harder, suffered more setbacks, and yet all along possessed more raw talent and musical virtuosity than most artists in any musical genre, let alone country music.  That he was a transplanted Aussie trying for years to break into the parochial Nashville scene beyond doing session work (for which he was renowned), and all the rejection and frustration this implies, makes his ultimate achievement of music super-stardom that much more worthy of praise.  It also explains his tortured past where drugs and alcohol were often all he could turn to during the lean, lonely years. The contrast of his years of clawing his way to the top of the music scene vis-à-vis the coronation of twenty-something American Idol insta-stars needs no comment.  I mean no disrespect to Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood among others, for they deserve their accolades.  But Keith’s success has come through the old-fashioned dues-paying route and so garners more respect in my book.

One can follow his personal journey of ups and downs through his many albums, starting in 1999 with his eponymous first solo release that contains such soul-searching tunes as Out on My Own and his first hit But for the Grace Of God.  His work is, in fact, a mirror held up to himself.  He even tackles his own battle with addiction in the haunting You’re Not My God (from his second LP, Golden Road).  Urban’s anthology also offers us happier glimpses of the bubbling optimism that exudes from his persona in Live to Love Another Day, Better Life and the wonderful God’s Been Good to Me (my favorite tune from my personal favorite 2004 album, Be Here).

A rather dramatic moment came in February of 2007 when Urban, fresh out of rehab, appeared on Saturday Night Live. He stood before us a contrite looking, humbled man, with a genuine desire to right any pains he’d caused those closest to him.  Belting out his passionate rendition of  Sarah Buxton’s  introspective Stupid Boy from his aptly titled Love Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing it was clear that this was a man on a mission to live a better life.

And so he has.  Urban has shown that indeed love conquers all.  He will tell anyone who cares to listen that his wife Nicole “saved his life” and he means that quite literally as well as metaphorically.  His latest release, Get Closer, is a series of love letters to her.

Get Closer is a solid album with great guitar work (naturally) and some pleasing melodies, but it is not without demerits. Mainly, after three or four songs in a row in which he professes his love for his wife, and, well, just being in love, it gets a little much.  Certainly I would caution diabetics to listen at their own risk.  I mean, it wouldn’t have killed him after finishing Put You In A Song, Without You, and All For You to lay down a few tracks that talk about trucks, trains, or antlers, would it?  He is, after all, a country singer.  Even such a cool tune as Georgia Woods, in which he echoes the Marshall Tucker Band in his wailing guitar work, is somewhat diminished by it being, yet again, a love song.  Come on bro. You’re still a man, man!  Hit me with another Where The Blacktop Ends or Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me once in a while. Don’t forget your fans who still got a pair.

Maybe I’m just not a hopeless romantic, but in this latest CD which seems an extension of his penultimate Defying Gravity (they could have been a two-record set even) I sometimes wonder if he’s putting himself too much out there.  A man has to keep a little bit of himself for himself… if anything to prevent from being too vulnerable during the inevitable rough patches that all relationships encounter.  Life can still be harsh as Urban of all people should know.

But Keith has defied the odds his entire adulthood so if anyone can make what he describes as a “happy place in my life” last, it’s him.  He owes his wife a life debt and he knows it.  This is a powerful incentive to put her above himself, which he clearly does if his music is any guide.  And she in turn seems to have found serenity in the arms of a man who, by all accounts, is a very affable guy who has found true love after all these years.

It is rare to encounter such talent, humility, and decency among the super-star elites.  Perhaps that is the medium of Country Music, which by its nature is more approachable, but I think it’s just the way Keith Urban rolls.  So keep rolling on, brother, and enjoy the well-earned ride.  Good on ya, mate.

—–

[On a personal note: my wife and I can attest to what a  down-to-earth guy he is.  During her birthday present concert, Urban took time out from his set to acknowledge her special day and even give her a congratulatory hug while a very secure husband (so she thinks) looked on in gratitude.]

—–

Tonight:

Michelle Collins!

Janice Dean, the weather machine!

Steven Crowder, the nonweather machine!

and in for Bill Schulz, funny smart guy John Devore!

On Wednesday night American Idol aired its season finale.  The true star of the evening wasn’t the endless parade of aging music groups trotted out to croak medleys of their ancient hits.  Nor was it either of the two finalists anxiously hoping to be crowned the newest American Idol.

No, it was Simon Cowell, the most popular judge on the panel, who is leaving the show.  So integral is he to its success that fans and producers alike worry the show won’t be the same without him.

When American Idol first premiered, nobody would have predicted that Simon Cowell would become its favorite judge.  Instead, they might have pointed to the cloyingly supportive (and creatively medicated) Paula Abdul, who never had a negative word to say to any contestant.

The reason is very simple:  Simon Cowell is the most conservative personality on primetime network TV.  And America is a center-right country, fertile ground for Simon’s point of view.

The show itself is a merciless meritocracy.  Failing singers are inexorably weeded out, one by one.  It’s pure survival of the fittest, nary a government  handout or stimulus in sight.  In the end, there can be only one.  (Cue Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever.”)

But the judge whom contestants most want to please isn’t the kindest one on the panel, but rather, the most insulting, the king of mean himself:  Simon Cowell.  And no, this desire to please Simon isn’t some weird new form of battered wife syndrome.  It’s a wholesome thirst for a magical elixir sadly lacking in America of late, harder to find than Coke with real sugar — a bracing tonic called the unvarnished truth.

Most of American Idol’s contestants are fairly young, products of a contemporary school system that hands out A’s like Chiclets, that’s focused on falsely pumping up a student’s “self-esteem” like one of those tacky foil mylar balloons (and just as empty), releasing kids into the real world believing they are just as good as anybody else.  When, in fact, they aren’t.

It is a mathematical fact that half of all kids are below average.  And 90% of all children are less talented than the top 10%.  Shocking, but true.  Young people would know this, if the schools bothered to teach them math instead of how America was stolen from the Indians, Mexicans, and Palestinians.

Awards are handed out today for merely showing up.  In order to avoid hurting any child’s feelings, some youth soccer leagues have stopped keeping score.   Schools are banning dodgeball and even tag, because it may create ” self-esteem issues among weaker and slower children.”  Kids are coddled like delicate Faberge eggs with egos more fragile than Roman Polanski’s moral compass.

This background might help explain why so many talentless people try out for American Idol — and then appear shocked when they are told they suck. Surely some of them are just kidding.

But a surprising number of the really awful ones seem deadly serious.  And quite often, they have a posse of family members and friends backing them up, assuring them after they’ve been rejected, “That’s okay, sweetie, you’re the best, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”

The viewers at home can see that these “friends” are doing them no favors.  In fact, a true friend would tell them, well, the truth.

The contestants may not always realize it, but Simon Cowell is their truest friend.  They’d be better off if they’d heard from their friends or family rather than Simon that they sound “like a cat jumping off the Empire State Building” (to quote one of Simon’s classic put-downs), before they made public asses of themselves on TV’s highest-rated show.

But America’s epidemic of unearned self-esteem is our entertainment gain.  Over the years Simon has gotten off some pretty good lines at their expense (all part of a rigorous education).

For instance, ” You have just invented a new form of torture.”  Or how about “It’s a beautiful song, when you’re not singing it.”  And my favorite:  “If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like that, I think they would have stoned you.”

No effort to soften the blow.  No desire to spare anyone’s feelings.  Just a fierce fidelity to blunt honesty.

And yet Simon genuinely believed he was doing the contestants a greater service than those who pulled their punches, who humored their delusions of grandeur which, we all know, will result in nothing but more heartache down the road, waste more of their lives chasing an impossible dream.

A dose of cold realism is more compassionate than a shot of false hope.  Few things separate conservatives from liberals more than where you stand on that.

And so a funny thing happened as Simon lambasted one tone-deaf buffoon after another.  The contestants shrugged off knee-jerk praise emanating from more diplomatic judges like Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, and (especially) Paula Abdul.  (Although Randy has gotten tougher this season, perhaps in anticipation of Simon’s departure.)

When it was Simon’s turn, they listened intently.  A positive word from him was greeted with tears of joy.  A lesson in economics:  parsimonious with his praise, Simon raised its value higher than the more promiscuous compliments generously dealt by the other judges.

A bravo from Simon was like a unexpected monsoon shower in the Gobi desert.  That’s because everyone knows Simon doesn’t BS.  Simon is like New York City in the song:  If you could make it with him, you could make it anywhere.

If you need further evidence of Simon’s conservatism, look no further than the recent United Kingdom general election.  Simon Cowell, one of Britain’s most influential music moguls, came out in support of David Cameron from the (gasp) Conservative Party.

For years Brits have relied on the false assurances of Tony Blair and his successor Gordon Brown that the government could keep spending beyond its means and a day of reckoning will never come.

Simon sounded more like a tea partier than an entertainer when he told the Sun (a right-leaning tabloid), “Tackling the national debt mountain as soon as possible is vital.  Delaying the pain for future generations is suicidal.  We’ve got to start getting the deficit down right now, not next year.”

And here he sounds downright Reaganesque:  ”[The government] should give hope to the younger generation to build on our wonderful heritage.  It should inspire us to get out there and create and invent.

“And then it should get right out of the way.” [Italics in the original.]

The UK public agreed with Simon, voting Cameron in as the new British Idol Prime Minister.  The truth may not be what we hope for, but it’s the best medicine for what ails you.

If you’re unfamiliar with the singing competition, “AI” gives young people the chance to sing and become the next American Idol. At the beginning of this season (as in past seasons), the show went on the road to various locations throughout the country to find young talent to compete on the program. Young singers performed in front of the judging panel which included a revolving door of guest judges who took the place of Paul Abdul, who left the show after last season. On the show, we are currently down to a final few contestants and each week the contestant with the lowest numbers of votes from viewers is sent home until one of the remaining contestants becomes the next American Idol.

One of the major changes this year was on the panel of judges. After several guest judges took turns during the audition portion of the program, comedian Ellen DeGeneres became the fourth official judge. So far she’s been a solid addition. Although Abdul had better chemistry with Simon Cowell and seemed to have more fun, DeGeneres has a great sense of humor that shines, which sometimes helps when she doesn’t want to be too critical of a contestant.

With a lot of reality shows, it’s disappointing when certain contestants are booted from the program earlier than expected. For example, several weeks ago, Alex Lambert was kicked off of American Idol to the disappointment of many fans, including myself. Lambert was a strong singer voted off way too early. He should’ve made it to the top 10 or 12, if not further.

However, along with such disappointments, there are uplifting stories on the show. During the audition portion of the show, AI frequently focused on people dealing with difficult circumstances who had overcome major obstacles in their lives. It was inspiring to see these people stand up and fight for a chance to achieve stardom. Throughout the show’s tenure, there have also been numerous contestants who are young parents, who are trying to create a better future for their children. In a recent video introduction of contestant Crystal Bowersox, her fellow contestant, Andrew Garcia, spoke about the two of them as young parents. He said, “We’re trying to, y’know, live our dream, and provide for our kids doing what we love.” That sentiment of young parents hoping to provide a better life for their children is exciting and inspiring.

In addition to the personal stories, there are also contestants who develop musically as the season progresses. Tim Urban, who always seems to be smiling and having fun, has had some rough times on the “Idol” stage. As the judges said several weeks ago, Urban has faced some intense criticism from them but he has used those criticisms to become a better singer. Over the past several weeks, he has given strong performances on the show which demonstrates how much he has improved while on the show.

Nevertheless, AI does have some flaws. Some of the dialogue between the host and the judges is awkward and the program can get gimmicky. During the final part of the season, the program typically eliminates one contestant every week until the end of the competition. However, several weeks ago, the judges used their one “save” of the season to prevent the contestant who had received the lowest number of votes from going home. It seems unfair that the judges can “save” a contestant they want to keep on the program when in most other weeks, the voters at home can choose who gets to stay and who needs to leave.

Despite that, there’s a reason “American Idol” is massively successful. It celebrates young talent, highlights great music and shows inspiring people overcoming tough circumstances. It also has a smart panel of judges who often offer solid critiques that help contestants improve their performances.

“American Idol” is a great show that’s created new young musical stars, and judging from its contestants this year and its great ratings, is likely to keep doing so in the future.

Although I don’t want to compare the challenges of having a child to the disappointment of being rejected from a singing competition, the feeling I had as a viewer watching the rejected singer on “American Idol” and the entirety of  “16 and Pregnant” was the same. These are personal moments and stories that should be kept that way and not aired for an audience to enjoy. 

I’ve watched a few of the new episodes of “16 and Pregnant,” which is now in its second season on MTV. Each one focused on a unique girl dealing with teen pregnancy.  The “16” website noted that every “episode follows a 5-7 month period in the life of a teenager as she navigates the bumpy terrain of adolescence, growing pains, rebellion, and coming of age; all while dealing with being pregnant.”

The first episode focused on Jenelle, a pregnant teenager from North Carolina. After getting pregnant, Jennelle still loved to hang out at the beach and go to parties. At the beginning she was trying to deal with the tension between her boyfriend and mother. The mother disliked her daughter’s jobless boyfriend, who, after the baby was born, got arrested for drunk driving. After that and an argument between Jenelle and her irresponsible boyfriend, Jenelle continued her partying ways noting in voice-over that the baby “doesn’t need me. He’s got my mom.” The show followed Janelle’s life until she eventually realized how hard being a parent is and reached an understanding with her mother about them working together to raise the child.

One of the main problems is the subject matter. The decisions involving having a new baby are often extremely personal. On the show, some of the mothers have to decide whether or not to choose adoption – and if they keep the child, they have to decide how to raise the child. Firstly, one wonders why these people would invite cameras into their homes to chronicle some of the toughest decisions of their lives. Secondly, who would want to watch teenagers struggling with potential parenthood and the hard decisions involved in that? I watched it to review it but I did not see anything entertaining or interesting enough to motivate me to watch the show in the future.

Additionally, one could argue that the show often incentivizes teenage mothers. Some of the friends of these pregnant girls seem excited about the possibility of their friends having a baby. However, the show does showcase some of the difficulties related to motherhood. The teen mothers and their boyfriends have to confront reality and some could argue that the show provides a public service in showing how difficult being a teenage mother is.

However, the show also provides a forum for often irresponsible and disrespectful young parents to get publicity for getting pregnant. So I think that overrules any educational value that the show might have for teens who are having unprotected sex.

Throughout the show, I did feel bad for some of the new grandparents. They’re trying to help their own children understand the responsibilities that come with being a parent. However, I do not understand why they would allow cameras into their personal lives to publicize their children’s pregnancies. Teenage pregnancies are a very personal thing and future grandparents should teach their pregnant children lessons about the responsibilities that come with being pregnant but without the glaring lights of a camera crew.

If only MTV had stepped out of the way and not offered an incentive for such a thing.

In this episode, “NewsBusted” covers: President Obama’s Poll Numbers, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Janet Napolitano, Rod Blagojevich, American Idol, Simon Cowell, Mark McGwire, Charlie Sheen, Ellen Degeneres, and NBA Players.

American Idol runner up Adam Lambert, one of the performers during the live East Coast broadcast, shocked viewers with his “pelvic-thrust[ing] … four-minute, S&M-themed routine, taking time out from singing to grope a female dancer, kiss a male musician and, most shockingly, shove a male dancer’s face into his crotch, in an act that simulated fellatio.”

Nothing like watching a little simulated fellatio to round out an evening with the family. Pass the popcorn!

Sources from the AMA claimed that those dance moves had not been part of the rehearsal, and the West Coast version of the show was edited to delete the scene. Now there’s the real scandal: trying to protect children who might be watching. If it’s good enough for the likes of the celebs in the AMA audience, it should be good enough for your 10 year old.

ABC received approximately 1,500 calls the next day from people complaining about what Lambert billed as ” a sexy song about seduction and power and I was just doing the lyrics justice.” The hicks who complained are probably the same people who did not see the poetic beauty in a “man eating, cannibalistic lesbian cheerleader.” How positively provincial. However, the plebes won and ABC also took the step of canceling Lambert’s “Good Morning America” performance. I suppose what Perez Hilton calls “c*** shock” would be a bit too much before breakfast.

Of course, Lambert was shocked in his turn that Americans would be anything but thrilled to see him in a lip lock with another guy as well as a man’s face in his crotch – according to the NY Post article linked above, he’s been “keen” to “push the boundaries” and “titillate audiences” ever since he came out of the closet. And after his AMA performance, he announced on his Twitter account: “All hail freedom of expression and artistic integrity.” Not a word about good taste.

Isn’t it amazing? Artistic integrity used to be guarded by the likes of Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, and Renoir, who wanted to delight the viewer with a tasteful but individual interpretation of the world. Now all that’s important is being offensive in the name of “freedom of expression.” We’ve certainly come a long way from Elvis’s hidden pelvic thrust on the Ed Sullivan show and parents complaining that the Fab Four’s hair was too long.

Lambert is whining that  he didn’t “intend” to create controversy (BS Alert!), and it was somehow discriminatory to edit his performance when the likes of Madonna and other racy performances by women aren’t. I guess he wasn’t paying attention when NBC aired an edited version of Madonna’s concert in 2006. And how about the uproar after Janet Jackson’s so-called “wardrobe malfunction” while performing with Justin Timberlake during the Superbowl in 2004? (Side note: what IS the deal with Justin Timberlake? I can’t understand his appeal. He can’t sing and he reminds me of Screech on “Saved by the Bell.” Could someone please enlighten me?) Then there were the steamy kisses between Madonna and Britney Spears and Madonna and Christina Aguilera that had plenty of tongues wagging (and not just the ones onstage). Seems to me women catch plenty of flak when they flaunt their disdain for social mores on television.

Besides, just think of the ratings.

But since Lambert is openly gay, we may not criticize or fret for fear of being labeled homophobes. We must rejoice with him in his newly public persona and embrace any outlandish behavior in which he engages onstage – or off – because he is expressing himself in the name of Art. What do we ordinary mortals understand about Art except what we are told by those who create it? They create not for us, but for themselves. We’re just lucky enough for the chance to stand by and respectfully admire.

And it’s important that Lambert shed the goody goody image portrayed on Idol, just as Britney Spears shed her Mickey Mouse Club, schoolgirl persona and Lindsay Lohan shed – well, just about any shred of dignity she ever had. Onstage and off, sex and smut are the currency du jour in the entertainment world, even if the public isn’t buying.

So quitcher bitchin’ and enjoy Lambert’s time in the sun while you can. If you think it’s creepy seeing a man’s face in his crotch now, imagine the same scene when Lambert’s in his 60s.