I admit: One of my guiltiest pleasures has been watching the “American Idol” singing competition every year.

This season, however, I have a major problem with the way producers want America to sympathize with a contestant who chose to fly to the Hollywood auditions instead of staying in New York to support his wife during the birth of the couple’s first child.

The “drama” played out in tonight’s episode. “Big Mike,” a personal trainer from Astoria, made it through to the final 71 contestants. While he waited in the wings for his two-minute audition, his wife gave birth to their baby alone in a hospital room (but with video cameras, of course). All poor Mike could do was provide moral support over the phone.

Mike’s group-mates felt for him (on camera). That twerp Ryan Seacrest felt for him (on camera and in voiceover). Even the background music clearly indicated that the producers of the show wanted us audience members to feel for him.

Personally, as a stay-at-home dad who has committed to being an equal partner in raising our daughter from the beginning, I found the guy’s choice despicable.

I don’t care how long Big Mike has been trying to “make it” as a singer. I don’t care if Big Mike has the best voice in the history of the show (FWIW, he’s no Carrie Underwood, or even Kelly Clarkson). The bottom line: Dude skipped out on his wife and baby for arguably the most important day of the rest of their lives. I’m supposed to think he’s a driven and courageous and amazing guy?

What’s more, if he’s so willing to skip out now, what kind of father will he be down the road?

A friend of mine defended Big Mike, noting that, “he wasn’t the one giving birth.” The same friend defended Idol’s decision to apotheosize the guy, adding, “It’s great TV.” This, folks, is precisely the problem. Just because Big Mike wasn’t the one enduring contractions, just because it’s good TV, doesn’t mean the guy can shirk his obligation to support his family.

The commitment to a life as an equal partner starts the moment your child is born. For Big Mike’s sake, I hope that once the dude is eliminated, he heads back to his wife and daughter, reflects on his poor decisions and vows never to repeat them again.