The Idol worship begins again tonight as Channel 10 searches once more for mediocre musical talent in a blatant bid to boost ratings among the 12 to 20 age group.

Oh, yes, and a few 30 and 40-something viewers like myself who find themselves unable to locate the off button on the remote even though the intelligent part of their brain is screaming: “Just do it!”

For me, Idol is a little like a car crash or a hairy back on the beach – I don’t want to look but I just can’t look away.

Of course, the best part is the first few nights when you get to laugh yourself silly at the line-up of poor unfortunates – many of whom shouldn’t even be allowed to sing in the shower – humiliate themselves on national television.

Apparently, a total of 35,000 turned up to this year’s auditions just for the pleasure of being debased by Dickson, heckled by Holden, mothered by Marcia and oogled by Kyle Sleazilands.

Speaking of the yawnsome foursome, I will admit I’m happy to see Ian Dickson return (at least he makes the occasional intelligent comment) but devastated that Kyle is back again.

Surely this was the perfect opportunity to give him the boot forever – or is it simply the irritation factor that encourages Ten to keep him on the panel (surely the same reason Channel 7 retains David Koch on Sunrise).

The network is promising the “four-pronged panel” will produce some fireworks, but isn't the aim of the show to produce an Idol?

And burn me at the stake for heresy if you wish, but I’m going to go out on a very thin limb here and say that perhaps it was time for Marcia to go, too.

I know, I know, she’s a national icon, a singing sweatheart and still looks damn good for her age, but Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, this is not primary school, where everybody gets a happy-face stamp for effort. At some point, you’ve gotta deliver the harsh truth to some of these contestants and just tell them they suck – big-time!

Speaking of honesty, Dickson, a former Sony BMG marketing manager, has come out this week and stated what everybody knows to be true: success in the pop music industry has as much to do with looks and sex appeal as it does with musical talent (which might explain why most previous Idol winners have struggled to make it in the real world).

"This year you could call it Hot Idol – it's easily the best-looking bunch we've ever had," Dickson told AAP. "Let's face it, there's always an uphill battle with the fuglies, whether we like it or not." (See story)

Ah, Dicko, I’m glad you’re back.

Australian Idol 2007 airs on Network Ten on Sunday and Monday nights at 7.30pm from tonight (August 5). If you want to find out more about what’s going on behind the scenes, check out the official website www.australianidol.com.au.

Will you be watching Australian Idol this series? What’s your verdict on the judging line-up? Do you listen to the music of any of the former Idol winners?

— SUZANNE KEEN