Students find it relatively simple to memorize rote definitions of concepts comprising various communication theories, but a disconnect often occurs in consciously applying those concepts to their "real world" experiences. However, the ability to apply that knowledge practically requires a more advanced form of learning. Additionally, linking a cultural phenomenon like "American Idol" with a learning activity serves as a form of social proof and raises the students' interest level as well as involvement. This paper presents a learning activity, Communication Idol, which aimed at providing an opportunity for students to analyze the multitude of communication theories they have studied. Performing Communication Idol enhances students' certainty in applying communication theories to everyday instances while encouraging them to transfer their learning beyond the classroom context. In this activity, students are asked to select one theory and to enact the concepts of that theory in a creative performance and is judged by a panel of three "celebrity" judges.