Kat with a K

Curse you, American Idol!

I watch a lot of scripted TV, but reality TV has never been my thing. I've watched a season each of a few of the competition shows (Amazing Race, Project Runway), and my best friend recently reminded me that we once watched a season of The Apprentice. (I had apparently managed to block that out of my memory.) But in general, they don't really pull me in, and I had completely resisted American Idol. Until now.

Really, I'm pretty convinced that American Idol deliberately set out to lure me in this year. First, they announced that they were having guest judges. And who do they get? Two of my favorite actor/singers, Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris. "Fine," I thought. "I'll watch their episodes. But that's it."

So then - then! - they put someone I sort of know on the show. Here's Katie Stevens:

Katie is from my small hometown in Connecticut, and her brother and my brother were in the same grade and played soccer together and stuff. I haven't seen her in years, but I vaguely remember her from soccer games and such. My parents say she's a nice kid; she sang at a wedding they attended a few months ago. So now, of course, I have to watch and vote as long as she's on. Sigh. I had no idea American Idol would go to such lengths to make me watch.