Beech Tree News Network

Reality television is a fad that just won’t die.  I wouldn’t buy in for a long time.  Everyone was in on American Idol.  I just couldn’t or wouldn’t get into it.  After a few years, I started watching a few of these shows sporadically.  I watched a season or two of Idol, realizing how cheesy the show is.  Then I watched a few episodes of America’s Got Talent.  I even sent in an audition via YouTube.  Nothing ever came of it. 
The Voice premiered in 2011 and is currently in their 10th season.  I know, ’11-’16 is only five years.  Take into account that there have been two seasons of the show for every one calendar year.  As far as winners of these reality shows are concerned, let’s just say music life hasn’t been so kind to most of them.  I believe only a handful still have their record deal or even released a successful single. 
Some of these shows are fun to watch, though.  I’ve watched The Voice since the beginning.  I know that Bowling Green once had Bowling Green Idol.  The finals were at Balloons, Tunes and Barbeque, I believe.  Maybe they’re at the Catfish Festival.  I know that they’re at one of those events. 
I do think that the Rochester/Morgantown area would benefit from a contest like this.  In the spirit of March Madness: The Morgantown bracket could be held at the Catfish Festival.  The Rochester bracket could be held at the Rochester Festival in the Fall.  Let’s outstretch this a little more.  Since the NCAA Tournament has four regions, this should as well.  Add in Ohio County and Muhlenberg County.  The Final Four from those regions would meet in a special event available only on the WWE Network(I kid). 
Perhaps the finals could be held at a brand new event similar to the old Everly Brothers Music Festival where the winner performs at the end of the show.  Or it could be at an event that already exists. Maybe we could get it on WNKY in Bowling Green.  I bet we could get Joe Morris, John Embry or Diane Dyer to emcee the event.  I’d offer but I’d have to compete, you know.  There’s your next big idea, Butler County.  Who’s going to run with it?