The monstrous cruelty of American Idol

[BLACKDIRGE]

So today my brother auditioned for American Idol. He did OK, but did not make it past the first round. However, his first hand look at the inner workings of the show clearly demonstrated just how cruel and heartless network TV can be.

To make my point, let me fill you in on how the auditions work.

As you know, thousands upon thousands of people show up to the "cattle call" auditions held in major cities, just like the one my brother attended in Los Angeles. Now of course, Randy, Simon, and Paula can't see the thousands of hopefuls that show up, so there are droves of "lesser judges" that screen the masses for potential talent. My brother informed me, as he was told at the auditions, that most people would see as many as three to four groups of these judges before finally going on to the celebrity judges. Now this means that truly talented people, those that actually have a shot at making the show, have the stamp of approval of up to four different people, which brings me to the whole cruelty issue. My brother was told that the best way to make it on the show was to be really good (obviously) or really bad. So, a person whose singing can be likened to the mating yowls of cats on crank will likely be passed on through the ranks of judges in the hopes that they will make fools of themselves on national TV, and have their dreams (swollen with the false approval of these lesser judges) smashed to pieces for all to see.

I had always wondered why these horribly untalented singers looked so surprised when Simon read them the riot act, and know I know. Each one of these unfortunates has been led to believe that they have been "chosen", for whatever reason, by the preliminary judges, thereby sweetening there agonizing disappointment for the folks at home.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think this is simply awful. It was one thing to laugh at these pathetic singers under the belief that they were completely deluded individuals convinced they could sing despite all the evidence to the contrary. But it is quite a different matter for the show to give people false hope and then crucify them in front of millions.

I really shouldn’t be surprised that a network like FOX would do such a thing. Anything for ratings I guess.

BD

 

[Harmon]

Sorry to hear about your brother's experience with AI.

It does not surprise me at all however, this is actually what I suspected would happen when I heard about the show.

Suggestion- get your brother a lot of singing lessons, no matter how great he is, have him talk to each teacher and learn if anyone of them knows someone in the biz, then use that contact to met the next person. It might work.

Best wishes to your brother's dreams of "making it."

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Sorry to hear about your brother's experience with AI.

It does not surprise me at all however, this is actually what I suspected would happen when I heard about the show.

Suggestion- get your brother a lot of singing lessons, no matter how great he is, have him talk to each teacher and learn if anyone of them knows someone in the biz, then use that contact to met the next person. It might work.

Best wishes to your brother's dreams of "making it."

Thanks for the well wishing and advice. Unfortunately, this was the last year my brother could try out (he's 28). But, truthfully, neither of us is upset about his audition. As he said, there were many very talented people there, and being simply "good" is not good enough. He's a talented musician, and singing is just one part of his game. He has a lot of irons in the fire, and I have little doubt that he will eventually make a career out of his music.

It just irks me that AI engineers human misery for the viewing pleasure of the folks at home. It's a level of uncompassionate nastiness that is, unfortunately, very common in reality TV.

BD

 

[Ranger REG]

It's a level of uncompassionate nastiness that is, unfortunately, very common in reality TV.

Yeah, it's a sinfully guilty pleasure for me.

But to be brutally honest, I'm still smashing my head over the last Idol winner Taylor Hicks.

 

[Umbran]

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think this is simply awful. It was one thing to laugh at these pathetic singers under the belief that they were completely deluded individuals convinced they could sing despite all the evidence to the contrary. But it is quite a different matter for the show to give people false hope and then crucify them in front of millions.

For the first season, I would agre with you. After that, though, it was pretty darn obvious that the judges were quite willing and able to tear hearts out of contestants, and that many were chosen to be on specifically to be so injured. Anyone going onto the show is asking for it, imho.

If I must watch a contest-show, I much prefer So You Think You Can Dance, where the judges seem to be more honest. They are rather blunt and direct during auditions, and that can be a bit hurtful. But after that, they lean strongly towards more constructive cirticism.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, at least today people at least have something to gain from these shows - in the 70s, the big show like this was The Gong Show, and AFAIK, you really didn't get much of a prize.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Yeah, it's a sinfully guilty pleasure for me.

But to be brutally honest, I'm still smashing my head over the last Idol winner Taylor Hicks.

I hear this alot, but he's honestly the first winner I'd even consider listening to. I'm an old fan of Joe Cocker and Hicks reminds me of him. :shrug:

As for the cruelty...that's the chance you take going on a FOX show. That sounds cruel, but it's the truth.

 

[Ranger REG]

I hear this alot, but he's honestly the first winner I'd even consider listening to. I'm an old fan of Joe Cocker and Hicks reminds me of him. :shrug:

Worth listening to? Yeah. Seeing him perform? No. Joe Cocker has the better stage personality, twitch and all.

 

[kenobi65]

Well, at least today people at least have something to gain from these shows - in the 70s, the big show like this was The Gong Show, and AFAIK, you really didn't get much of a prize.

A check for $516.32, originally.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Worth listening to? Yeah. Seeing him perform? No. Joe Cocker has the better stage personality, twitch and all.

I agree that Joe is better by far, but Hicks is reminiscent of him to me. Plus, I like the music that Hicks chose to sing more times than not. This is the first season that I've even really watched thanks to Hicks. The other years didn't have much to offer someone with my tastes in music.