PAULA, SIMON, RANDY AND RYAN - THE BOOK

Yes, I build my winter week nights are “American Idol”. I’ll pause here while some super-spiritual college grad tells me that I am being worldly. Shhhhhh..... All right.

Behind the music and the hype there is a story to be told that, I’m guessing, must be fascinating. I love finding out how things work. I wanna see the man behind the curtain, or the untold story.

The story I want to hear is, at what point does a contestant sign a contract that requires them to always be available for six months, or more. Do the Idols get paid? Do they quit their day jobs to be on the show and when they get axed, are they booted off the set? Who pays for all the flights for all the friends and family members in the audience. Is Ryan Seacrest just the face or does he run the show? And what about all those Christian singers - they must represent nearly half of the auditions.

The book is out! “American Idol - the Untold Story” by Richard Rushfield.

The first half of the book is all about the British Idol and the history of Simon Fuller, Simon Cowell and Nigel Lythgoe - their ego to out do each other. That whole section is lame and boring.

The second half of the book gets into the Christian aspect. In fact a chapter is called “The Pastor” and it’s about connecting the singers with church, bible study during non-working hours and other neat stuff. The last couple of chapters solidify how big this show really is.

I would have like to have known more about “living as an Idol”. I could care less about how much Simon and Paul earn.

Critics like to say “the heyday is over” but when Idol remains the number one watched show on TV I don’t think they heyday is anywhere near over.

So, I know what I’m doing on a cold Wednesday night this February!