AMERICA'S MOST WANTED HAS TALENT?

Fans of the demise of FOX'S AMERICA'S MOST WANTED should have looked for a way to save the show. FOX has already replaced the long running crime show with reruns of FAMILY GUY on Saturday evenings. However, looking at the runaway success of NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and the fact that many popular entertainers have a criminal background, maybe FOX could have saved the show by making AMERICA'S MOST WANTED into a crime talent show. Crazy, you say! Well, think about it?

Actor Robert Downey Jr. is a hot commodity these days as an actor. But, he also a long history of arrests including serving over one year at a state prison in California. The late singer Barry White was viewed as one of the most romantic r&b singers of all time. During his teen years, he was gang member who served four months in jail for stealing $30,000 worth of Cadillac tires. Outlaw country music artist David Allan Coe spent the better part of 20 years in reform schools and prisons for various crimes. He became friends with Screamin'' Jay Hawkins who was also serving time who influenced him towards a musical career. Country singer Merle Haggard spent many years as a juvenile offender which only unfortunately continued his criminal ways into adulthood, attempting to rob a tavern after his fourth album was released due to money problems. Haggard had the chance to escape prison with a scheme with another inmate, but turned it down, which was fortunate because a policeman was killed, earning the other inmate the death penalty. Popular silent screen comic actor "Fatty" Arbuckle was charged with the murder of a young actress during a party, but later acquitted. There are many more stories of celebrities involved in sometimes terrible conduct.

So how about it, why not have a new TV show looking for the latest celebrity criminal with talent. I can almost hear judge Piers Morgan say to some contestant, "Well, you're sort of a serial killer on one hand, but you're a terrific juggler in my book".