But it almost wasn’t.

An avid music fan, I was expecting to follow the show each week to its completion. But, after some of the quality bands started getting booted off, I actually skipped a few episodes. I know that, in reality, some of the better bands, like Franklin Bridge, simply needed a little screen time to get their name out there. They got that. Still, it was a bit upsetting to see gimmickry winning out over quality.

What gimmickry? How about those kids from Light of Doom. The long hair and 80’s hard rock a la Poison and G&R didn’t do it for me, but it must have for all the ‘tween girls in all the trailer parks in the lower 48 states. Someone voted for them.

In the end, though, the best bands were recognized. Percussion-less country rockers the Clark Brothers beat out the old school vocal harmonies and rhythm guitars of another country act, Sixwire. Both these groups were polished and obviously ready to step into the recording studio right away.

I don’t know how they would change the show to make it fairer in the future. I guess the judges are supposed to sway voters with their comments, but it is really just a popularity contest. The good thing is that, for both Idol and Band, the best acts seem to win out. For others, like now-famed Idol loser Daughtry, the show is a chance to get yourself some screen time and, hopefully, impress the right people.

I’m sure the finalists in both Band and Idol will all have music careers. The question is, will the be playing arenas or high school proms.