The American Idol Experience Gift Shop Experience

I don't know why, but I find the merchandising of TV's beloved American Idol quite humorous. I mean, at it's heart, it's just a talent show where the same people sing over and over again. I know it's a cultural phenomenon, and the highest rated show on TV, but it just seems like an odd thing to use to sell ice cream or fast food. And now, as you may know, Walt Disney World has jumped on the bandwagon with their newest attraction The American Idol Experience where guests can be either contestants or the audience for a recreation of the hit TV show. Of course to be an attraction at a theme park means there must be a gift shop at the end of the ride or show. Disney's American Idol gift shop is chock full of silly things to slap the American Idol logo on. Of course they've also dragged Mickey and the gang along for the ride. Here's some of the things you'll find...(the first three are t-shirts)

When you wear these...no one will be able to see the American Idol logo!?

I should have noted how much this leather jacket costs!

American Idol Toys at McDonald's

Ronald's latest Happy Meal prizes are toys inspired by AMERICAN IDOL. Kind of an odd property to base a Happy Meal on, but I guess now that Disney doesn't want to be associated with the Golden Arches they have to come up with some creative ways to keep filling those Happy Meal boxes. Anywho...the first toy we got is a microphone with the American Idol logo on it. It's supposed to make your voice echo, but that feature doesn't work to well. After you sing a song in the mic there is a button to push to get the judges feedback...

Behold The Waffle Robot

Today we present Elias' artistic vision: "Waffle Robot". My son took a piece of frozen waffle and clamped it into the claw/hand of this Happy Meal toy robot, showed it to me, and then proceeded to laugh for the next five minutes. That, boys and girls, is pure parenthood goodness right there! The thing that cracks me up the most is that I would have done the same thing if I were presented with an uneaten Eggo and a robot toy with a pincher claw!

In unrelated news, Elias asked me today if American Idol was a good guy or bad guy!??

Scoop Up Some American Idol Ice Cream

The grocery store is more and more becoming the place to find absolutely ridiculous ideas brought to life. Case in point: EDY'S SLOW CHURNED RICH & CREAMY AMERICAN IDOL ICE CREAM FLAVORS! Now you can bring home all of the fun of America's most popular talent show in convenient tubs of ice cream. There's five flavors to pick from: there's Take the Cake, Choc n' Roll Caramel, Hollywood Cheesecake, Soulful Sundae Cone, and Triple Talent.

But Wait! You don't just eat this ice cream...you also get to vote on your favorite flavor, and which one will become the next American Idol Ice Cream Flavor...or something like that. Just go to Edys.com to cast your vote. And while your there, you can completely waste your time by checking out each of the flavor's bios. That's right! Did you know that Tripple Talent's hometown is Mousee-ula, Montana or that Soulful Sundae Cone's astrological sign is Capri-Cone!?! Capri-CONE...get it? Cone! Like an ice cream cone! Oh and also...Take The Cake's favorite ringtone is "Happy Birthday to Me". I'm not even sure what that means!?

American Idol Ice Cream, ladies and gentlemen! The sound you hear is the earth moving one step closer to doomsday!

You Can Major in "American Idol"

How funny is this? This is an actual class listing from the Harrisburg Area Community College Winter/Spring 2007 catalog. Listed right between Romanticism in France and Spain and Guitar Cord Lab 1 is AMERICAN IDOL STRATEGIES/PREP! Now you too can study the great works of Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest and really dive into what makes AMERICAN IDOL tick. This is for real! Of course, this is also the same school that had a course on GODZILLA a few years ago. Can you imagine telling your friends on a Friday night that you've got to go home early because you've got to get up for your American Idol class in the morning!? Unless this class was taught by Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, is it really worth it!? But seriously, who can forget the powerful vocals of Instructor Travis J. Grimes!?! Oh, it's so funny!

Next semester at HACC they are also offering Wife Swapping 101 and How to Make Flavor Flav Fall in Love With You.