Last night I watched the season finale of American Idol and the branding miracle that makes the show successful. From the moment you turn to Fox, you know you are watching AI. The music. The stage. The hosts. The crowd. The Coca-Cola cups. It’s all part of their brand. The title, American Idol, sounds like every teenager’s dream summarized into two words.

Between acts last night, Jordan Sparks new commercial for Disney came on. Their newest attraction is American Idol: The Experience. The new “experience” lets families enjoy the music and glamour of AI and further instills into Americans that being an Idol is something to want – something to pay $75 to be a part of. I applaud AI for their amazing success with a somewhat lackluster brand design and their ability to consistently create a buzz around some karaoke singers going through the fast lane to what may or may not be a career in music.

I guess American Idol could be, for lack of a better reference, a “Fast Pass.” It guarantees a few people national exposure without having to wait in line and constantly be turned away until the time is right for them to ride the ride.

Because it was relevant, and because watching the show physically made me tired from the constant bombardment of the AI brand, I wanted to share.