Yes it is! We've been watching it for a number of years now. Didn't watch it when it first came out, so we didn't see either Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson win. Judges have changed as well. Some winners the public hears about quite often, while other winners are not. The winner each season gets a nice amount of money and a recording contract. We have seen, and heard, some very excellent singers, but then again, there are some terrible ones as well.
This is the college yearbook page of Virginia's governor: He cannot recall if he was Al Jolson or Robert Byrd, and he's still in office.
American Idol do have rules, concerning contestants and the contestants have to sign a form that they agree to those rules. One rules states that background searches can be conducted at any time the contestant is involved with the show. Don't remember how long ago, but a young girl was taken off of the show because she wound up homeless. American Idol has a reputation to keep.