With the goal of adding some energy and excitement to last November's municipal elections in Toronto, the City Idol project was created by a group of feisty activists. City Idol was structured just like the well-known American Idol contests, except that instead of singing pop songs, candidates were asked to make short speeches, participate in debates, improvise press conferences, answer audience questions and react to emergency situations. The result is a truly diverse group of participants who presented opinions about what works, and what doesn't work, in Toronto.