Mindless-entertainment?

A well respected blogger recently wrote:

"Programmes such as Akademi Fantasia, Malaysian Idol or Audition present scantily clad young men and women who dream of becoming stars and their talents (or sometimes, even the lack of it) are broadcasted nation-wide. People who are supposed to represent the future of our country are being fed with mindless entertainment!"

Mindless entertainment? As opposed to what? Educational entertainment? Well, a bit of Travel Channel (which has scenes of scantily clad women too -- did anyone see that episode of Rio de Janeiro last week?) and National Geographic (worse -- there was an episode that showed two horses having graphic sex! Horrors!) once in a while is fine; but otherwise, "educational entertainment" just ceases to be entertainment after not too long.

The whole definition of entertainment revolves around the "release" of stress; in fact, by this definition, it almost needs to be "mindless". Now, while its true that some people prefer the sweet melodies of Quranic verses read aloud to achieve this release, that, surely, can't be and shouldn't be a universal prescription. For some people, "scantily dressed men and women" (which is, in the first place, an unfair description of how the budding artists of AF dress -- i do believe Astro takes great pains to ensure their modesty) is their idea of fun, its their way of seeking release. To each their own, and more power to them.