The overnight popularity of singing sensation Susan Boyle following her appearance on Britain's Got Talent all but guaranteed it'd only be a matter of time before the U.S. version of the show tried to manufacture the same energy.

Here are the necessary ingredients:

• One national talent show where Joe Six Pack and Suzy Temp can reach for the polished brass ring of stardom.
• One cynical mob eager to tear down anyone who dares to stand up out of the crowd without meeting nebulous performance standards.
• One defective rube (either chubby, ugly, stupid or -- worst of all -- rural) who seems oblivious to the mob's hostility.
• Three judges who are in on the bit while acting incredulous.

Of course, the rube needs to have genuine talent -- as in the case of Boyle and singer Kevin Skinner from Kentucky from this week's auditions on America's Got Talent.