Fellow earthlings, friends, and comrades, you can’t hear it in cyber space, but I am lovingly speaking a slew of greetings to you, including (but not limited to) “Hello!”, “I’ve missed you!”, and last but not least “Happy new year!”. I hope this online journal entry finds each of you well and in the throes of happiness, and as we greet each other after much too long, the unfortunate reality is we must also say goodbye to a longtime friend of the small screen. Yes, before there were shows like The Voice, the X Factor, and (gulp) even Nashville Star, there was….American Idol (cue the overly dramatic lighting!)!

As I am feeling so close to you right now (it’s like a force field!), I will admit that in recent years I did abandon the Idol ship for new waters (namely the rotating cast of judges and supreme talent on The Voice), but for about 10 years I was a dedicated viewer to the show that indeed started it all. For those of you who perhaps weren’t watching this revolutionary reality television show, allow me to sum up the little singing contest that could: the gripping drama of Hollywood Week; the sexual tension between Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell; the not-so-vocal stylings of William Hung; Randy Jackson’s dog pound; a triple shot of sexy in J. Lo, Harry Connick, Jr, and Keith Urban, its latest judging panel; threats of violence among Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey; the genious broadcast talent that is Ryan Seacrest; and Ellen Degeneres judging a singing contest (no offense to the wonder of Ellen D., but join me in saying ‘Huh?).

Folks, allow me to also not leave out the incredible winners and runner-ups who have done everything from grace the big screen to starring in Broadway to taking the country music world by storm, and Idol has had more of these rising stars than other reality singing shows combined. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Fantasia…but I digress. Countless musical tour de forces aside, the true beauty of American Idol is not in its winners, but in its glorious ability to make the dreams of aspiring singers from around this great nation come true.

Whether you are a (present or past) fan of American Idol, The Voice, or any other reality competition of your choosing, there is a certain wonderful something that happens when you see other people living their dream. Cheering on your favorite contestant from your living room couch, shedding a brief tear when the one you were rooting for takes home the proverbial crown (don’t worry if this is you, your secret is safe with me), or furiously dialing the toll free number of your chosen one to ensure your vote counts and they live to see another week. It is a crazy-beautiful thing to be so invested in the success of others and to try and help them fulfill their dreams, and with hope, it may also give us inspiration to follow our own and try to reach for the stars.

With this being said, American Idol was truly a trailblazer, and in addition to unleashing boundless talent onto the world, it also helped us believe in something bigger than ourselves. And in a time where the world has an abundance of strife and tragedy, who couldn’t use a bit of that Idol magic in their life? So with the fifteenth and final season of American Idol now underway, I salute you o’pioneers of television, and I won’t ever say good-bye…I’ll only say see you later : )