Now that the Susan Boyle-lash is well underway, it's a good time to look back on how we got here and what's likely to come next.

chart showing the first stage of backlash

In the first stage of a phenomenon based on warmth, public affection begins to grow as people discover something like, say, a surprisingly nice performance of "I Dreamed A Dream."

chart showing the second stage of backlash

In the second stage, some major party — here, it was