AMERICAN Idol is my favourite television show at this time of the year. I suppose I can understand better now why it is America's most-watched show which is currently at the tail end of its sixth season.

For this season, it's down to the final four contestants. Last week, I was sad to see Phil Stacy voted out. I thought he did rather well with the Bon Jovi hit. However, I do not see Phil winning the Idol title, so it's a matter of time before he gets booted out. But the popular former Navy officer was among the best of the guys in the final 12.

I look forward to May 23 night when the new American Idol will be crowned. Although I'm rooting for 17-year-old Jordin Sparks to win the crown, I believe it truly belongs to favourite Melinda Doolittle whose vocal is just flawless.

Jordin stole my heart on the 'British Invasion' night when she sang I, Who Have Nothing , a Shirley Blassey hit of the 70's. That song was also superbly handled by Tom Jones in later years. So it's suitable for a male or female voice and Jordin, to me, raised that number another notch during the week when British star Lulu (of To Sir With Love fame) was the mentor for the idols.

At the beginning of every Idol season, I find it rather enjoyable to see how wannabe singers auditioned before three judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and 'Mr Nasty' himself, Simon Cowell.

Each of the contestants who dare to dream the American dream have to endure

nerve-wrecking experiences - they were either praised or insulted as they went through the audition, even right to the final night when the American Idol of the Year is chosen.

Dreams come true

I enjoy music and have high regard for those blessed with great vocal chords who produced memorable hits. To me, American Idol is all about watching a good singing competition, enjoying good music and feeling happy for the person crowned the Idol on the final night.

I started following the series only in 2005. That year, country girl Carrie Underwood won the title. I was happy for her as I thought she was a better singer (though not a performer) than her final opponent, a rocker (can't recall his name).

Today, her American dream has come true. Carrie won this year's Grammy for "Best Newcomer of the Year" and her latest release, Jesus, Take The Wheel , was voted "Best New Song of the Year". To Carrie and others, this is their American dream. To me, it was sheer, good entertainment, full stop!

But sadly, reality TV shows have different impact on different people. That is why there is the hue-and-cry over such shows in this country. They have been described as heart-wrenching and scandalous by some.

However, such shows are not only frowned upon by Malaysian parents. Let me share with you a letter written by a Californian parent which I read recently in an American publication.

In his letter titled, "Reality Shows - Bad for Young Minds", the American father wrote, "I'm getting sick of this trend of pumping out more and more vapid reality shows. It's really gone downhill. It all started with American Idol. Now our children consume daily doses of Extreme Makeover where they get to feel bad about their bodies in their natural state, to A Simple Life where Paris Hilton ( right ) and her pal do the most inane things, to The Apprentice where Donald Trump goes around spouting "You're fired!" whenever he wants like an angry child, to Big Brother where we can spy on the male housemates drooling over a hottie who unbeknownst to them is a transexual. What's next? Now we're on to wife swapping and husband swapping on Trading Spouses. Will someone please kill this category of fast food TV before our minds turn to mush? We've turned into a voyeur society, and it's contagious - our kids are catching it. Even the little ones. This is not good".

In many ways, I'm glad that my teenage son has no interest in watching reality TV shows. I recall him telling me that he finds American Idol boring. Now, that could be a blessing in disguise although I disagree with my boy totally.

Frowned upon

For the record, it has been seven years since reality shows made their debut on our screens. First, we were treated to the 'imported' shows such as American Idol, Survivor, Fear Factor and the Apprentice, just to name a few.

Then after whetting our appetite, television networks began adopting concepts which are successful overseas and Malaysianised them.

The most popular has to be Akademi Fantasia. Although I do not watch it, I have heard of Mawi, the average Joe from Johore who won last season's Akademi Fantasia and has since become a household name, among the Malay community at least.

Akademi Fantasia's meteoric rise also ensured the popularity of its host, Aznil Nawawi who won award after award and consolidated his position as Malaysia's No 1 host. If I am allowed to be as blunt as Simon Cowell, I find Aznil too sissy and he shows it with his mannerisms on television.

There are also other singing-based reality shows such as Malaysian Idol, Mentor, One in A Million and Gang Starz. For sports enthusiasts, there are shows like Explorace and Fear Factor Malaysia.

For those looking for love and beauty, they can tune into shows like Mencari Cinta, What Women Want and Malaysia's Most Beautiful.

Not surprisingly, our love affair with reality shows was also debated in Parliament with regards to its value. One good point made was that their popularity has its basis in Malaysians' desire for interaction in any form or situation.

Our DPM Najib Tun Razak was not too happy with Akademi Fantasia when contestants started hugging each other tearfully as their peers were voted out.

"No hugging, please. We are Malaysians," Najib was quoted as saying. "This is about religion. It is forbidden in the religion".

Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, known for his anti-western rhetoric, has also expressed his concern, saying reality shows could lead to moral decadence among Malaysians.

And of course, the holier-than-thou Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria was so scandalised that he declared reality shows haram or forbidden in Islam.

Reminder to parents

But let's be fair to those who are not in favour of showing reality-based programmes on our local networks. They do have valid reasons for their arguments, particularly on the influence such shows have on our children.

Sometimes, we ought to ponder what impact these prime-time shows, with their endless, sexually tantalizing commercials, are having on all of us but especially on our children? We chastise our children for the language they use, the clothes they wear, and the music they listen to while wondering where they have learned these bad habits.

But we often forget that we sit with them, watching these shows, making fun of the participants while guiltily envious of the "goings-on."

Parents must be reminded that children emulate what they see on TV. They absorb what they see and hear and it becomes a part of their character as they grow up.

Thus it is incumbent upon parents to imbue in their telly-happy kids that such shows are basically meant for sheer entertainment and that if we all consider them as such, we wouldn't be so caught up in them.

Oh dear, May 23 is also the Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan. I'm hoping the hours will not clash with American Idol Night.

Isn't it a blessing that Europe and America are in different time zones? Then again, too much entertainment ain't good for the system but at my age, who cares! Ssshhhhh...guess I will have to take MC the following day (I hope my boss is not reading this).