Australian Idol finished on Sunday night, its victor Stan Walker.

I know this not because I watched the show, but because I read it in the paper the next day.

A few years ago, it would have been a different story; from day one I considered myself a cheerleader for the Australian Idol cause.

I campaigned for interviews with Idol finalists, reviewed the various Idol-related singles with gusto, defended the show's ability to find genuine musical talent amongst the weirdos and Mariah/Whitney/Alicia-wannabes and tone-deaf guitar-slinging chumps. (Hell, in Year One I even auditioned myself!)

By the time the finale nights rolled around each year, I had well and truly reached fever pitch; the whole family would sit down, genuinely gripped with suspense, wondering who would take out the crown. For at least four years, the crowning of a victor was an actual surprise.

But then, the rot started to set in. "Touchdown!" became (more or less) trademarked as Mark Holden began to throw them around like confetti; Marcia Hines looked increasingly bored; and Kyle Sandilands, well, Kyle was just himself. And then future-boyfriend James Mathison left and, well, is there any reason to go on living?

As American Idol continued to cough forth hundreds of eye-wateringly talented (and cruelly undiscovered) talent, the Australian franchise seemingly scraped the bottom of the barrel.

It's not as simple as chalking it down to "cultural cringe"; American Idol has its share of howlers, too (and you could definitely argue that they haven't had a decent winner in ages), while Australian Idol has unearthed a good range of real talents (even if they didn't necessarily make it to the Opera House; Lisa Mitchell would be the prime candidate for the "get out before they get you" argument).

I tried to watch this year's effort, I really did. Even writing that makes me wince - come on, I tried to watch a TV show? How hard can it be? Just put it on and do the vacuuming!

But something about Idol this year really said "Stop, Clem, let it go - it's gone now". (In fact, I'm surprised I didn't work Idol into last week's Tube Ray post on the topic of TV shows you break up with.)

When it struck me, mid-Sunday, that what had formerly been an unmissable cultural experience for me was carrying on without my presence in front of it and I hadn't even realised, I felt - strangely - a deep sadness.

I'm sure Stan will enjoy a mildly-selling CD and probably make a really decent second album that few people will buy - and I mean that in a good way - but the buck stopped in 2007 for me.

So, instead, I'd like to share with you a handful of my 'greatest Idol moments' throughout the show's history; let's remember the good times instead, eh?

Guy Sebastian sings Climb Ev'ry Mountain (2003)



A potentially obvious choice, in light of its eventual standing as the Greatest Idol Moment Of All Time™ (at least in Mark Holden's heart), but there was no denying the spectacular emotional might of Sebastian's take on The Sound Of Music's inspirational anthem. Listening to it again, it's not even his best performance - his voice cracks and falters, notes don't quite get hit - but it was the first time we all realised just what Australian Idol was capable of, when it did things right, discovering. And, on the other hand...

Cosima De Vito withdraws (2003)



Poor Cosima and her nodules. She has, in retrospect, become something of an Australian music industry punchline/urban myth ("Did you hear about the chick who mortgaged her house to get Diane Warren to write an album of songs for her? Oh."), but this was actually quite shocking - evidenced by the audience reaction around the 0:49-minute mark.

Bobby Flynn sings When The War Is Over (2006)



Season 4 was when the rot started to set in (Damien Leith is NOT my Australian Idol!), but it was also the season that gave us Lisa Mitchell and Bobby Flynn. I realise his Sideshow Bob hair and odd affectations divided the nation, but - no jokes; remember that by day I am a music critic - his version of When The War Is Over (previously used to great effect by Cosima in Season 1) is one of this country's greatest musical moments. My sister and I literally leapt up and down screaming after he sang this (and then my friend sent me a text that read "Imagine foul Bobby eating you out with his giant mouth", which spoiled the mood somewhat).

It was all downhill from there.

So, in the spirit of our sharing our favourite Idol memories (go on, that's what the comments are for) - and knowing that the show will be returning next year to continue its death rattle - I'd like to say thanks Idol, it was nice knowing you.