Last night I scanned the program to see what diamonds in the rough may be on offer in the vast wasteland that is Hong Kong TV. My eye caught "The Drew Carey Show" - yes, that would nicely pass 30 minutes of time with a comic genius who can actually make you laugh without the need for a laugh-track. It was a few minutes early, so I caught the end of the lamentable American Idol. What's funny about this show is it is the music industry demonstrating to the world how artificial and manufactured "stars" are. And it rates through the roof too! It's the perfect example of convergence - the idea that Hydra-like entertainment companies can screw dollars every which way.

So I'm watching this show and it was a "let's laugh at the hacks who audition despite having no talent" episode. It's like Funniest Home Videos in that people watch to enjoy others making fools of themselves - schadenfreude. And funniest of all is the most popular person in this show is a Hong Konger called William Hung. Dubbed "Hong Kong Ricky Martin" he is described as an "earnest, tone-deaf engineering student who gained instant fame and an unlikely record deal by mangling Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" in the open audition." Even the guy behind the thing, Simon Cowell, isn't happy. "When you celebrate awfulness it puts you in a slightly uncomfortable position," said the British record executive. Mrs M and I watched in horror as this poor shmo proceeded to embarrass himself through a 5 minute interview and two songs. If everyone's laughing and you're not, it means they're laughing at you.

Then I realised it was Wednesday, not Tuesday. No Drew Carey and 37 minutes of my life I can never get back. Bastards.