Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrina, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook?

They have all won American Idol.

What do these names have in common?

Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin, Carmen Rasmusen, Charles Grigsby, Vanessa Olivarez, Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London, George Huff, John Stevens, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Peter Lewis, Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, Mandisa, Lisa Tucker, Blake Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Chris Richardson, Phil Stacey, Haley Scarnato and Chris Sligh?

They have all been contestants on American Idol.

They have all released records.

What do David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro, Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay, Chikezie, Amanda Overmyer and David Hernandez have in common?

They were all contestants on this year's American Idol.

And by the end of this year, they'll all probably have some sort of recording contract.

Sure, I admit, I own the Chris Daughtry record. He's got some pretty good songs.

Sure, I admit, I have owned a Kelly Clarkson album. She's got a good voice.

But I find this amazing.

A total of 39 contestants from this show's seven seasons have released albums on some sort of label.

I thought the idea behind the show was the winner got the deal?

Boy, was I wrong.

This is completely nuts.

The world has gone Idol crazy!

What a bunch of junk!

This isn't even funny anymore. It's a joke.

This television show has become a mockery of itself.

Because he won, Cook will have a record deal in place very soon I'm sure.

But, so will probably five to six others that participated in this season.

In this shows previous six seasons, there was an average of 6.5 record deals drawn.

Unbelievable. And they have the nerve to call this a contest. A "reality show."

I don't think it's "reality" when that many contestants are given an opportunity that so many struggling musicians attempt to get their entire life.

No wonder the recording industry is over-saturated.

I guess even Simon Cowell's spewing doesn't really matter, does it? He can downgrade as many contestants as he wants. All it really does is increase their chances of getting a recording contract.

Does it sound like I'm whining. Yes.

Am I whining. I don't think so.

It's become apparent, at least to me, that record companies are gobbling up as many Idol participants that they can with the hope of generating record sales.

Meanwhile, some true artists, musicians who have bled and sweat through their craft, those who have played the bar circuits, are still struggling to even get noticed.

I guess I'm just ready for this show to end.

It's not even "real" anymore.