A comment on my item about the Idol winner helped me crystallise ny objections to Idol and other "reality" talent shows. Imagine a TV show that promised to give a job as a brain surgeon, or an engineer, or a lawyer, or a mechanic, or any other profession or skilled occupation, to a person who wins the most votes after a four-month television program. It's ridiculous, and it would never happen. And it's an insult to the people who put in the hard work to become entertainers that there's a short-cut to the top in their industry.