The Best/Worst of American Idol, Seasons 1-4

The enormous success of TV's American Idol took most pop-culture commentators by surprise, but it shouldn't have: the concept is an old one, dating back not only to 19th-century community competitions, but also—in the broadcast era—to the Amateur Hour series that was a staple on radio and television for decades. American Idol adds a little more oomph to the concept by exploiting the apparent tensions between judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, but otherwise it hews closely to the earlier formula: ambitious would-be stars strut their stuff before live audiences and hope to win their approval, thus launching careers in show business. This three-disc set collects the best and worst performances of the show's first four years as well as previously unseen material—including interviews with fourth season contestants; footage of previous finalists (such as Bo Bice and Vonzell Solomon); and a meaty interview with Abdul. Of course, the bonus footage is just icing on the cake: it's the inspiring and unforgettable performances of Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, and others that make this boxed set so appealing. “Unforgettable” is an adjective that can also be applied to some of the cringe-inducing, fingernails-scraping-across-the-blackboard exhibitions compiled for the “worst” disc also: lead-footed dancers, argumentative contestants, fashion nightmares parading across the stage…all moments that are entertaining too, in their own perverse way. (Is it likely we'll ever again want to see or hear the likes of William Hung on a network variety show? Hopefully not.). Sure to be popular, this enjoyable collection is recommended. (E. Hulse)