SINGER FEINSTEIN CONDEMNS IDOL

Singer Michael Feinstein sharply criticized American Idol on Wednesday, calling its sometimes sharp ridicule of contestants “unconscionable.” Appearing before the Television Critics Association in Beverly Hills to promote his upcoming American Songbook series of three specials airing in October on PBS, Feinstein said, “Idol bashes young artists for the entertainment of a television audience. It judges people by saying terrible things about them.” As reported by today’s (Thursday) New York Daily News, Feinstein went on to say that the behavior or judges on Idol “suggests to its audience that this is an acceptable way to treat people who are making an honest effort to play music — trashing them for television sport rather than offering constructive criticism.”