I love AMERICAN IDOL. Oh, I know half of you now will completely discount everything I say. But there’s still a lot of fun to be had in the old franchise, whether cheering encouragement to the decent singers, or gawping in amazement at the rampant sense of entitlement those under 28 years old seem to have. It is as much a cultural marker as the brilliance of THE OFFICE or RENO 911.

And, of course, that means it’s ripe for parody, or at least a not at all thinly veiled takedown. David Hiltbrand’s DYING TO BE FAMOUS does this exquisitely, attacking the integrity of the show, the judges and the participants all wrapped up in a quick-to-read murder mystery. Hiltbrand’s series character is private investigator Jim McNamara. He’s known for his work with musicians, and his exploits are recounted in titles like DEADER THAN DISCO and KILLER SOLO.

McNamara is called out to the set of the reality TV show STAR MAKER in order to investigate the murder of one of the finalists. The show’s producers have managed to convince the LAPD not to investigate the murder, and instead allow McNamara to do the job, all while the show continues on schedule. Not likely.

This somewhat sour and unrealistic note is leavened by Hiltbrand’s bitchiness about the show. Of course, there’s a Simon Cowell type in the role of blackshirted Rodney Hampden. The role of Paula Abdul is played by crazy Sugar Kane, who mixes both Abdul and, improbably, Toni Basil. And Randy Jackson’s presence is dishonored by L.A. Cooper, a music producer backbencher who has a penchant for drugs. Yipes. Hiltbrand weaves these gonzo parodies together into an entertaining simulacrum, a corny but fun and snarky read. If you follow IDOL, you may want to vote for this one on your phone. –Mark Rose

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