I think I’ve figured out the reason American Idol is so bad this season: The lack of depth has completely sucked out the drama.

Think about it.  Every single results show since the great talent purge of top 16 week (that saw Katelyn, Alex, and, so tragically, Lilly hit the bricks) has been wildly predictable.  While we weren’t sure exactly who was going home, we always knew who wasn’t going home.  Big Mike save aside, it seems like every week we’ve been marking time waiting until Lee, Mike, Crystal, Siobahn and Casey square off at the end of the competition.

Until then?  It’s just been lousy contestant exit after lousy contestant exit, meaning there’s no real reason to tune in.  When we already know who’s going to stink on the performance show, and already know the pool from which the results show will eliminate contestants, it makes watching just seem like a delay of the inevitable.