New `Idol' Season Shows Mean Streak

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070119/D8MOE2J00.html ^ | January 19, 2007 | JOCELYN NOVECK

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The ones they panned and turned away were awful. How could they not know they had no talent? Perhaps friends and parents were afraid to hurt their self esteem.

[Fierce Allegiance]

When there are 5,000 people looking to fill about 20 spots, you have to realize failure is highly likely unless you are extremely qualified.

[Txsleuth]

PING

[nmh]

We have a generation of egotistical kids whose parents don't want them to have "self esteem" issues - even if it means totally humiliating them in public.

This is NUTS!

The parents pare probably peeved that EVERYONE DOESN'T WIN!

[NormsRevenge]

It has been pretty brutal, but as far as I know, TVs still have on off switches and change channel buttons.

[nmh]

I don't watch these types of shows but from what I heard, it was AWFUL!

If these awful kids are the "best", I'd hate to see the ones that were the "worst". You'd think that atleast they'd show the kids that had SOME talent!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Vido Recaps

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As in VIDEO recaps.

[linear]

I don't think they are being any meaner than usual. It is pretty fascinating to see the tenous grip on reality of some of these contestants.

How can someone watch every episode then be surprised when Simon tries to dissuade them from pursuing a singing career?

[Vision]

Cowell, who also told the would-be singer/juggler that he "summed up Minneapolis, mate - useless."

FU you overpaid Brit twit.

[definitelynotaliberal]

ping

[T.Smith]

Exactly. My wife and I were discussing that. I'm sure the judges are just sick to death of people who clearly have no singing ability whatsoever wasting the judges' time. I'd probably start to get a little nasty too.

[dirtboy]

The cruelest moment undoubtedly came in Seattle, where a spirited young man named Kenneth Briggs, who liked to compare himself to Justin Timberlake, was told by Cowell: "You look a little odd ... you look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle, with those massive eyes ... a bush baby." Once he left, the three judges were shown cracking up hysterically at the "bush baby" remark.

Gawd, the kid DID look like a lemur.

And he walked in like he was the hottest stuff going.

The next kid, who had no talent but at least some humility, was treated much more gently by Simon and crew. IMO if your talent is not sufficient to properly fill up your ego, Simon will downsize your ego to accomodate such.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Exactly right! This is what happens when no one is allowed to keep score and everybody gets a trophy....

[united1000]

I laughed me @## off.... It just confirms my belief that a good portion of our citizens are Delusional, and lack normal thought processes.

Although, the "Eye" comment by Simon might have been better said to himself than out-loud, even though he was right.

[lady lawyer]

I agree with you. I have just been stunned at the number of people with absolutely no self-awareness. They have no talent, but they have the "attitude" of a superstar.

To me, the shows illustrate the collision of America's "everybody should feel good about themselves and believe they are great at everything, whether that is true or not" culture with reality.

[linear]

I don't think he was casting aspersions at the town; it seemed like he was dissapointed in the selection of contestants.

[Vision]

I suggest you invest more thought in that.

[T.Smith]

Exactly right! This is what happens when no one is allowed to keep score and everybody gets a trophy....

Too funny! I had a spirited discussion with my 7 year-old son the other day about why not everybody deserved a trophy. He thinks just trying should be enough. I told him that if just claiming to try was enough then there was no incentive to really give it your all. I couldn't get him to agree.

I would say that I need to get him out of the public school system, but the Christian school is the same way. The basketball team does not keep score and everybody gets a trophy. What's worse is that everybody gets an individual merit award after each game. It's terrible!

[linear]

Actually, I don't think I will. lol