There were other low moments on "Idol" that ruin the show's potential for family viewing. Teenaged transvestite Zachary Travis auditioned in a blouse and high-heeled shoes and proclaimed it "hilarious" that someone would ask if he was a female. (His singing was beyond awful, which, of course, worked to goose more gossip and ratings.) While embarrassed parents struggled to explain transvestites to their young children, GLAAD was publicly demanding a "productive, ongoing conversation" about a ban on mocking people's "gender expression."

One newspaper explained a recent "Idol" show "was basically one long buildup to the sincerely horrific Rhonetta Johnson's public and bleep-happy flame-out." This heavy-set black woman came to audition in a blond wig, a glittery mini-skirt and a silver tube top, out of which she was falling. Fox repeatedly promoted her tryout/tirade as "coming up." They showed her not only swearing a blue-logo streak, but felt the need to put the logo over her crotch area as she made karate kicks in her mini-skirt.

The same sleazy trend has emerged on another hot talent/reality show, ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," which has revived ballroom dancing by pairing professional dancers with amateur celebrities. While some of the female dancers' outfits have been quite risque, it can still play like a traditional dancing show, like you might have seen on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

But this show recently filled up its air time by featuring the hip-hop group the Pussycat Dolls to perform their hit "Don'cha," which has loose-woman lyrics about "don't you wish your girlfriend was raw like me, don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" That's not exactly lyrics you want your grade-school girl singing the next morning. It's like network executives panic that these hit shows have to stay "current" for the under-50 crowd by squeezing in obscene or hyper-sexed parts.

Parents who love "Idol" can hold out hope that once the freak-show phase of the competition is over, Fox will return to a fairly clean, inspiring music show that can once again be called family-friendly. It's truly sad when Hollywood thinks there's always too much of a good, wholesome thing, and never seems to think there's too much of a bad, raunchy thing.