I have been following American Idol with my kids and think I am witnessing another example of the law of unintended consequences. This year one of the surprises on the show has been the success of the youngest contestant. He has survived the first three cuts from 24 to 20, to 16, to last night's featured 12.

Last night when asked by MC Ryan Seacrest if the judges thought "America got it right," the judges said no. Simon Cowell, the curmudgeon of the group, then opined: "They must have turned the sound down," referring to the voting public. I myself was first surprised by the 17-year-old's success with voters when he made it past the first cut and Seacrest said that he had the fourth highest vote tally among the 12 boys. I thought that strange, as did Randy, Paula and Simon. Last week and again this week the judges gave this young man no encouragement and Simon was his usual bad self, basically telling him he was the worst of the whole group. Yet "America voted," and he survived again.

Much as it pains me to disagree with the articulate rant of my fellow blogger Sheldon Liber, the Vote for the Worst Web site is the cause of the mischief on this season's "American Idol" not Indian call centers who are responsible for every other ill in modern society.

Vote for the Worst perverts the very wholesome nature of the number television show by gleefully encouraging people to vote for the worst singers in the competition to continue. The nerve of these people!

The scandalous and talentless Antonella Barba was championed by the site, as was the charming but erratic Sundance Head. Sanjaya Malakar is now the object of their attention and I am scared. Sanjaya is so bad that I don't think he would be cast as the lead in my local high school musical. He might become the next American Idol if we don't stop these fiends.

Of course, the real winner in all of this hubub is News Corp. (NYSE:NWS), which continues to rake in huge profit from the show whose popularity is showing no signs of slowing.

So America, remember to vote for your favorite idol. This isn't an election for president. It's really important.