I try to avoid "American Idol" as much as possible, although I've seen it on occasion when tuning in too early for whatever was following it (I don't remember at this point). It seems to me that the comments on "look" are justifiable, since the stated intention of the show is to find the "next big thing," which means they need someone with a forgettable voice that sounds exactly like every other (forgettable) pop star and a marketable appearance. If they somehow were to find someone with talent (have they? I have no idea), it would be by accident, given their criteria.

It looks to me like the people who get to the judges get there for a reason--the producers who do the preliminary auditions are asking only one thing: will this look good on television? Spectacular success gives viewers something to admire, and spectacular failure (combined with hubris) gives them something to laugh at, so they're getting the whole package on the auditions.

Is this disgusting and stupid? Yes. Is it "sick"? I don't think so. It's television, and I think it's just a logical product of the medium's existence.