The Key to Winning "American Idol"

Apparently that key is flubbing lyrics, starting over and acting gracious to cover the gaffe.

That's how you win it this year.

David Archuleta botched lyrics, and he's still alive. Brooke White called a redo and redid. She's still alive.

Michael Johns should be in the top three, and he's not. Amanda Overmeyer should still be on the show. She isn't. Now Carly Smithson, the contest's best singer, is gone while White and Jason Castro are still singing for their supper.

I don't get it.

There's two reasons why American Idol's ratings are falling this season: The show is seven years old, and the public doesn't like the results of the voting.

They wanted more Michael Johns, and they didn't get him. People who should be voted off aren't getting voted off.

People are getting tired of it, so the ratings are suffering. And the public knows that winning really doesn't matter. You don't have to win to be successful. Justin Guarini finished as runner-up to Kelly Clarkson, and he has a career on TV Guide Network. That's not superstardom, but it's still pretty good. Diana DeGarmo among others has a career on Broadway.

Season Five has produced a lot of talent aside from Taylor Hicks. Elliot Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington are recording. That's a lot of people. Daughtry and Pickler don't surprise me. There was no way they would fade away.

Regardless of how things turn out this season, I hope everyone in the top 11 remain in the entertainment business, even if they do flub their lyrics. I'll forgive them.