Michael Johns Off American Idol: The Popularity Contest Starts Now

During a season when you thought that true talent really did matter, and American Idol was not just a popularity contest, American Idol surprises you. Michael Johns was prematurely voted off of American Idol this week. This recent American Idol vote casting is proof that no matter how talented you may be, it doesn't matter because the show, at times, is just a popularity contest.

Age Before Beauty

One of the biggest factors working against Michael Johns is his age. American Idol's Michael Johns is 29, which is ancient in the world of American Idol and pop superstars. It's no surprise that the AI fans kept a lesser talent, Kristy Lee Cook (24), over Michael Johns.

Michael Johns was the oldest singer left in the top eight.

American Idol recently won the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for best reality show. Are these the same kids at the heart of the American Idol voting public? Kristy Lee Cook meets the cuteness factor, when to many kids Michael Johns may just be old. (For all of the older folks out there, old is not cool, no matter how hard we try.)

There is nothing Michael Johns could have done differently. You can't beat the cuteness factor. Look at Carrie Underwood. Granted, Carrie Underwood has a lot more talent than Kristy Lee Cook but they both fit the same general mold: blond, cute, sweet, religious, down-home and non-threatening.

To all the Kristy Lee Cook fans, there is nothing wrong with Kristy Lee Cook, she's pretty and she can sing, sometimes, but she is not as talented as Michael Johns.

Superficiality Reigns: Theories about Michael Johns

There are some possible and quite ridiculous reasons that Michael Johns may have been voted off American Idol before some of the lesser talented singers.

The Scooby-Doo Look

Michael Johns may have confused the audience with his ascot look borrowed from Fred Jones of Scooby-Doo. Entertainment Weekly may be blaming the early demise of contestant Michael Johns on that darn ascot (EW) .

Down Under