With absolutely no shame, I have defended my fascination with American Idol to friends, colleagues, and family. Sure it's entertaining, but musically it's nothing special. Honestly, how many of the performances and contestants will you really remember a couple of years down the road? Well, here's an account of the handful of ones that I've remembered.

I am fascinated by the post-Idol careers of some of the contestants. It's no secret that you don't need to win the contest to become a wildly successful recording artist: hello, Clay Aiken? And honestly, most people haven't heard from Ruben Studdard or Taylor Hicks lately (although these two particular artists do have successful careers beyond top 40). But the experience of the show and the exposure it brings has done wonders for struggling and budding careers.

My favorite post-Idol success story? Jasmine Trias. Trias was still in high school when she finished third in Season 3. Trias was the Hawaiian girl who always had a flower in her hair...

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