Pop Idol

February 9^th, 2002 went down in English television history:  72% of all 16-34 year-olds sat in front of the tube to find out which of the ten finalists of a country-wide pop star casting search would get to sing and dance their way to a record deal.  Weeks before, the British press speculated about the private lives of the contestants, and indulged in stories of supposed vote manipulation and the outcome of the vote itself.  Within two hours more than nine million people called in for the two finalists alone.  “Pop Idol” is proof that a simple format can be turned into an entertainment event through congenial realization.