The problem that I see with American Idol is that they "cast" the show because it's still a TV show and it still has to be entertaining.  They have young teenage boy versus young teenage boy and sexy blonde girl versus sexy blonde girl and the token blacks -- both male and female -- and the quirky guy and the quirky girl.  The girl they disqualified (Joanna?) who was a brunette gets replaced by another brunette.  And then for the "comic relief" they have Tatiana (whack job to bring in the needed melodrama) and Nick whatshisname (the comedian/singer who isn't much of a comedian nor much of a singer).  Everybody plays their role, everybody has a role because the judges put the cast together that way.  Jamar was a fantastic singer but he probably didn't fit any role that they needed and maybe they figured they already had a black soul singer -- that's the way they cast the show every year.  The other thing they do is they disquality the really non-mediagenic personalities -- the ones who don't look very attractive on camera.  It's all TV, it's all drama ... and then there's a little singing competition thrown in there for good measure.  That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.  LOL