High School Musical star Zac Efron has revealed he’s a huge fan of American Idol – because it deals with “regular people”.The actor, 20, spoke of his admiration for the little people – trying to make it big in world of showbiz. “[I like ‘American Idol’ because] it deals with regular people who really have a dream and like to perform,” he tells MTV. “I have such admiration for those guys — they go literally from zero to 60 in a matter of days and they handle it like champs … most of them.

“I couldn’t have done that: go to the peak of your fame within a month of starting, and to be able to handle that kind of pressure. I don’t envy them.”

And Efron – who’s dating his HSM co-star Vanessa Hudgens, is such a fan of the hit TV talent show – he used to go and watch it live. “There was a period where I was actually going to the shows of ‘American Idol’”, he says. “A few years ago, I went, like, almost every week.

“That was the season Taylor Hicks won. It was great — it’s a completely different experience live.

“You really get to see who is a good singer, and who can really captivate a crowd. And you can tell it’s really influential on the judges’ decisions.

“I tend to agree with Simon most of the time. But my favorite judge, just because I know her, is Paula — she’s a real sweetheart.