'American Idol' Apologizes for Steven Tyler and I Get Pissed

As you well know by now, Steven Tyler is a judge for American Idol this season. As I predicted weeks ago, he's actually pretty darn good at being a judge. After all, he's been a performer for decades - and he sure can sing. He doesn't cut down hopefuls - even when they are clearly horrid and have no business auditioning for a vocal competition. So, color me stunned when I tuned into Idol last night and found the beginning of the show start with the words “Mr. Tyler has been warned and assures us it will never happen again.”

Okay then. I started thinking really hard. I've seen every episode of Idol so far this season. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. It's the same as it always is in this part of the show: audition after audition. Some good, some bad and Ryan Seacrest giggles. So why are the producing making a scapegoat out of Steven?

The show wore on and I got more and more angry. For years, I watched Simon Cowell cut down hopeful after hopeful and many of his comments were plain mean - and everyone loved it! Now, Steven makes reported "facial expressions" and odd comments and he gets a reprimand? Please. It's a double standard of rock n' roll proportions.

I'm all for apologies when someone is in the wrong. Since it was a public apology, issued by the American Idol producers, this means the "offensive act" must have happened on the show. And yet, I reiterate, I saw nothing.

The only reason I'm watching Idol this season is for Steven. If the produces try to shut him up and minimize his role, I'll stop watching. I suspect I won't be the only one. The show has falling ratings so the last thing the producers need is a viewer boycott.

I maintain the hope that Aerosmith will perform live on the show this season.