“General” Larry Plat has become the latest hero of reality television with his insightful analysis of American Urban fashion delivered through the medium of song, to the unexpecting judges of American Idol.

His audition on the show, in which he performed his own original work “Pants on the Ground” has already become a hit on the web with over 5 million views on youtube in the 6 days it has been up. Watch it here:

The bizarre (yet inarguably catchy) rap delivered by the 62 year old is likely to have a greater following than the eventual winner of the competition, with a myriad of tribute versions already uploaded and doing the rounds of youtube. It is just another example of how talent shows are gleefully embracing their own subversion. We love talent shows not for talent but for the lack of it. Millions of us watched as a set of twins with buckets of positivity but literally nothing else in the way of talent represented Ireland on X-Factor. Horror turned into fascination an then into fanatical support as the pair flew in the face of everything a talent competition is meant to stand for, and people loved it.

Larry Plat got his time in front of the judges despite being 34 year over the outside age limit for contestants for the same reason. And it has paid off. Larry’s American Idol experience has been sent all over the web not because he belongs in the competition, but because he belongs nowhere near it. It is important for the brands associated with these shows to remember that they are less about us witnessing the lifelong dreams of pretty girls and boys coming true and more about laughing at pants on the ground.

“General” Larry Plat – Urban poet and fashion critic.