MANILA, Philippines - One of the major reasons that talent tilts like ?American Idol? and ?America?s Got Talent? are popular is the fact that they empower viewers to decide who the winners will be.

There are judges on hand, but they?re there mostly in an advisory capacity. It?s the millions of viewers who have the last word?and that?s powerfully satisfying and self-affirming to otherwise ?ordinary people.?

It?s good that viewers get to feel potent in this way. Even better, however, we should take this proof of our collective power and use it to affect other aspects of our televiewing paradigm, as well.

All too often, viewers feel completely powerless in reacting to the exploitative, irresponsible and overly commercial programming that some TV networks often dish out.

Viewers sigh, ?They have the money and the technology?what can we do to make positive changes in the way they operate? They?ll just pretend to listen to us?and go on their merry way.?

Fact is, this defeatist and disempowering attitude becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Fact is, the entire commercial TV system feeds off viewer power, since programs are financed by advertising revenues, and advertisers choose to support shows with the greatest number of viewers.

So, viewer power is not an irrelevance, it is essential to our TV system of choice?only, viewers don?t know how to join forces to use it to their own advantage, and thus give up their power to the TV networks, who naturally use it to their advantage.

Is there a way out of this impasse? Viewers have to reclaim their right to responsible broadcast entertainment and information.

Speak up, praise good programs and complain about inferior work.

Better yet, watch only good shows and refuse to watch lazy, exploitative programs?and, come ratings time, viewership figures will separate the grain from the chaff.

With enlightened, empowered viewers, this is possible. Make it happen.

Hate the British?

Simon Cowell, what have you wrought?

The caustic British import on the board of judges of ?American Idol? has become so ?infamously? popular that he?s made it de rigeur for other US talent tilts to also have their own British jurors. Shows that now feature British judges include ?America?s Got Talent? and ?American Inventor.?

True to Cowell form, they are quick with the sarcastic put-down, prompting the bruised objects of their area ridicule to occasionally yelp, ?You aren?t even American?so, what do you know about what clicks with audiences in this country??

Truth is, that whining reaction plays right into producers? game plan for their shows:

The British judges are put in there, not because they?re more perspicacious than their American counterparts, but because they tick viewers and contestants off?and thus generate the conflict and controversy that producers feel their shows need to become big hits!

Well, they could be (cynically) right.

?American Idol? is the most popular TV show in the States, and ?American Inventor? and ?America?s Got Talent? are also watched by millions.

So, brace yourself for more British imports on US TV talent tilts! They?re what the ratings doctor ordered.

Movies on MGM Channel

On May 19 at 8 a.m., ?The Great Escape.? At 11 a.m., ?The Woman in Red.? At 4 p.m., ?Passage to India.?

At 5:15 p.m., ?The Madness of King George.? At 9 p.m., ?Barefoot Countess.? At 2 p.m., ?La Cage Aux Folles.?

At 5:45 p.m., ?Lord of the Flies.?

On Star World

At 1 p.m. on May 31, Cher guests on ?The Oprah Winfrey Show? and performs two of her hit singles. She also talks about how it feels to be 55 years young. Other topics up for no-holds-barred discussion are the effect of Sonny Bono?s death on her, what she really thinks of her singing voice, and her huge gay following.