Colbert, Still Digesting His Correspondents' Dinner Reception

More interesting is why Pursuant -- whose clients include the American Dietetic Association Foundation, Dairy Management Inc., Kaiser Permanente and the National Institutes of Health -- did a study on "American Idol," other than the obvious "for publicity, stupid" reason.

Pursuant President Melissa Marcello, who is an adjunct instructor at Georgetown University in the communication, culture and technology master's program, says her background is in political sociology and she's interested in what all this "Idol" stuff means for "civil society."

"There's a lot of information here we should study," Marcello told The TV Column, preaching to the choir.

"There are things that one could learn -- politicians."

Like?

"Why it's so popular, and what this might mean for the presidential primaries."

We've known all long that "American Idol" was educational but were pleasantly surprised to find anyone else in Washington who was willing to publicly pretend to also subscribe, and asked for elaboration.

"I think there's something to authenticity here," Marcello said.

"They are not stars; they are young people who have big dreams. We're getting a window into their worlds. It's not always pretty, not perfect, they're potentially torn apart by Simon [Cowell] on any given week, but they're really putting themselves out there," she said. Kellie Pickler, who was booted last week, "says things like 'snot rag,' which is not a pretty word . . . but we do see something about authenticity.

"So much of what happens in politics is so scripted. One of the things I'm constantly struck with is the lack of authenticity in politics. . . . Wouldn't it be refreshing to see a politician make a misstep and say, 'I'm sorry.' There's something about that, that we're lacking."

Along those lines, we wondered which of the remaining "Idol" contestants Marcello thought would be most likely to be elected president.

Taylor Hicks, she said without hesitation: "I don't think he has a great voice, don't think he's a great dancer, but he has charisma -- people like that about him. He's got that Bill Clinton likability."