Post by sarahb1863 on Jan 17, 2007 16:54:37 GMT -5
Hi all,
I watched American Idol last night, and I gotta tell you, it's bumming me out.
I remember watching the beginning of the second season, when they did the auditions, and they focused mostly on the talented folks and interesting stories, so that there were maybe 10 or 12 talented singers shown, and maybe a few more than that were untalented.
Last night I think they showed 4 talented people and the rest were so bad it was painful to watch. I don't mean their lack of talent was painful; I mean the way they were set up to think they had a shot, only to be insulted by not only Simon but everybody there (with the exception of guest judge Jewel, who seemed embarrassed for some of them but tried her best to be kind.) and then have their resulting 'WTF?' moment and subsesquent breakdown shown on national TV.
The comedy I guess comes from the "What made these losers think they had a shot?" question, but there is a screening process that weeds people out, and only a certain number get to go before the judges. Obviously in recent years it was decided that the screeners would let some "freaks" through for the entertainment potential - unknown to the contestants, of course. They're left to think they were passed because they have a chance. They don't know it's a setup.
(of course it can be argued that they SHOULD know, but when you're very young and believe you have talent and some adult tells you that yes, you can sing before the judges, which way are you going to lean? 'Yes, I must have talent!' or 'No, I have no talent but they want to film me making an ass of myself'?)
Some of the 'losers' were OK with the attacks, but I felt bad for the ones who broke down and sobbed uncontrollably while the cameras rolled. I know they sign releases and everything but geez! To me this isn't entertainment. I'm waiting for some poor kid to get set up, humiliated, and then after his or her breakdown is broadcast becoming despondent and doing something drastic.
I know the ratings are huge and tonight's show looks like it's even more humiliations galore, but I think I'll skip it...
I watched American Idol last night, and I gotta tell you, it's bumming me out.
I remember watching the beginning of the second season, when they did the auditions, and they focused mostly on the talented folks and interesting stories, so that there were maybe 10 or 12 talented singers shown, and maybe a few more than that were untalented.
Last night I think they showed 4 talented people and the rest were so bad it was painful to watch. I don't mean their lack of talent was painful; I mean the way they were set up to think they had a shot, only to be insulted by not only Simon but everybody there (with the exception of guest judge Jewel, who seemed embarrassed for some of them but tried her best to be kind.) and then have their resulting 'WTF?' moment and subsesquent breakdown shown on national TV.
The comedy I guess comes from the "What made these losers think they had a shot?" question, but there is a screening process that weeds people out, and only a certain number get to go before the judges. Obviously in recent years it was decided that the screeners would let some "freaks" through for the entertainment potential - unknown to the contestants, of course. They're left to think they were passed because they have a chance. They don't know it's a setup.
(of course it can be argued that they SHOULD know, but when you're very young and believe you have talent and some adult tells you that yes, you can sing before the judges, which way are you going to lean? 'Yes, I must have talent!' or 'No, I have no talent but they want to film me making an ass of myself'?)
Some of the 'losers' were OK with the attacks, but I felt bad for the ones who broke down and sobbed uncontrollably while the cameras rolled. I know they sign releases and everything but geez! To me this isn't entertainment. I'm waiting for some poor kid to get set up, humiliated, and then after his or her breakdown is broadcast becoming despondent and doing something drastic.
I know the ratings are huge and tonight's show looks like it's even more humiliations galore, but I think I'll skip it...
Talk about a snore-fest....lol. The pre-screeners let through those who are outstanding....and those who are comic relief. 
