Move along; nothing to see here; move along …

For a television show that is apparently desperately seeking viewership for its upcoming season, “American Idol” sure is being secretive about what it has to offer.

Even though Churchill Downs was a ghost town this morning as far as contestants, Louisville police officers were politely escorting newspersons not associated with WDRB Fox-41 off the property.

WDRB is the local affiliate that broadcasts “AI,” which is wrapping up auditions here today for the upcoming season.

I tried to circumvent the “Idol” rules by wandering through the grandstands and, even though it was nice hanging out in the pricey box seats for a change, it was a long way from any “AI” action.

In fact, there was no “American Idol” action anywhere to be seen. There were people doing track maintenance and, for the time that I was able to stay in the infield, little else.

An apologetic cop who spotted me eventually walked me to Gate 10 and said I had to leave Churchill Downs property, per “Idol” instructions.

As I stood next to my car in the parking lot on the off chance an “Idol” loser might show up, the same cop arrived and more forcefully explained to me that I needed to remove my self completely from Churchill Downs property – and the sooner the better.

So I guess that trip to the gift shop is going to have to wait.

-- Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal