Confessions of an `American Idol' addict

By Robert Gutsche Jr

Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:06 AM CDT

RACINE - OK, yeah, I watch "American Idol."

I'm a guy and I watch it.

It's not like I want to be on the show or anything, but I find it kills brain cells.

And besides, what else is there on TV, really? "The West Wing," "Star Trek" reruns, "The Apprentice" and C-SPAN? OK, so I'm a nerdy guy who watches "American Idol." I did, after all, memorize the order of the names at the beginning of "60 Minutes" by age 7.

And while the show's not for everyone, it's been a hit if for nothing else than it has given thousands of people hope that they one day can become a star, or that they should follow their dreams.

Oh, who are we kidding? We have fun watching people get kicked off, ridiculed and laughed at on worldwide TV. We may have our favorites that we root for throughout the shows, but really what we are after is watching people flop.

Not even knowing when the auditions for the next "Idol" are happening (though we know past "Idol" stars will appear in Green Bay and in Milwaukee this fall), potential stars are trying out their stuff in their Racine County living rooms, already preparing to try out.

We found one of those people, Briana Rose Lipor, 19, and plan to follow her through the Idol process this year.

And if she makes it, but gets a bit "pitchy" while singing, wobbles instead of dances or is accused of wickedness with one of the judges, (all of those things happened this past season) I promise I won't laugh.

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