Posted on 01/19/2007 11:01:04 AM PST by meg88
Idol" Sparks New Controversy on Access Hollywood
By Laura Saltman
The show is only back two days and already "American Idol" is sparking controversy. Today the buzz all around my office is about how mean-spirited the show is during the audition rounds. While I was out having dinner, an email came over my blackberry from our music producer, Nancy Harrison, who was on the east coast watching the show, "I must say tonight's episode was quite disturbing. Two of the Seattle contestants--Kenneth and Jonathan--were clearly limited... and the judges still poked fun of them. I found this to be in really poor taste and can't believe this show would sink this low for ratings." My first thought, having not seen the show yet was, "old news." The show has done this throughout its first five seasons on the air. The fact of the matter is that snickering at people who clearly can't sing or telling people they are "too fat" or "not the right look" to be the next American Idol is nothing new here. That's what the audition shows are all about each and every year. They poke fun of bad singers and everyone laughs.
Then I got home and watched the show and realized what the outrage was over. I want to share this email I got from our show's Senior Producer, Claudia Eaton, who was watching with her son, David. As a parent, I'm sure her sentiment is something being felt all over households today: "Last night's programming was uncomfortably entertaining ... painful to laugh at ... I had to explain to my son on more than one occasion how inappropriate these adults were. And, as a budding thespian, had to convince him that it would in fact be ok for him to try out for the school play. What does bother me as a newcomer to the Idol craze is how cavalierly the public seems to accept the way Simon talks to people to their faces about things as basic as how they look or talk ... PLEASE let them hurry up and get to the finals ... where hopefully truly talented people will truly entertain people with talent ... and we do NOT laugh at people for being "ugly," "odd," "tall," or just plain different."
While I don't think the format of the audition shows has changed, what I think has happened is that the judges are acting more and more like catty school children with each passing season. Simon is the bully on the playground and Randy and Paula are his underlings. Someone says something mean and the others either laugh or play along. It's like watching the movie, "Mean Girls." Every once in awhile Paula and Randy will scold Simon but in a laughing manner, never to the point where someone is saying 'you know what, this is inappropriate.' Do I think it's their fault? Partially. Only partially because Idol is a reality show and therefore the producers must create situations. That means they must put bad singers in front of the judges to make the auditions interesting. After seeing thousands of people who are either playing it up for the cameras to get on TV or just plain delusional about their talent it has to get frustrating for the judges.
Having said that... you, America, are the ones who have allowed this type of behavior to go on. 37 million of you were watching on Tuesday night while the insults were flying... up 2 million from last year. If people were truly offended, well then they should have tuned out last night. Not the case though. Another 37 million watched the Seattle auditions. In fact, the audition shows always get a higher audience then the performance shows. This morning I talked to Katharine McPhee, who did not watch the audition shows this week but heard about the controversy on "The View." On the subject, she told me, "There crosses a point I think where you start actually being mean about people's appearances and I think that kind of really is just wrong. I've never liked that part of the show. So, that's why I don't really tune in for the early part of it."
Last night's outrage I'd say was mainly over the way 21-year-old contestant, Jonathan Jayne, and 23-year-old Kenneth Briggs were portrayed. Obviously, a little different than others, Simon's calling Kenneth a "bush baby" just went to far. We talked to Jonathan this morning who truly was just happy for the chance to be on TV. His only complaint wasn't about how he was portrayed on TV but that Randy was chuckling during his audition, " I just think that he was trying to make television at that time. He didn't really mean it." He did however get very upset about the way Kenneth was treated, "They treated him horribly. I just didn't like what they said about him. That really made me kind of ticked off that they were treating him like that."
If you can't poke fun at the mentally challanged, who can you make fun of?? (Don't get all crazy, I am just kidding! OK, so don't send me indignant msgs.)
Can someone post a picture of matt Dillon in Something About Mary? "I love that goofy bastard!"
I always wondered why some of these obviously bad contestants don't have at least someone, anyone, listen to them first...?
Well, I'm glad I've never watched this show.
It no different this year than any other. The freaks come out of the woodwork for this part of the show, and viewers eat it up.
Does anyone have the offending footage from youtube or something?
if someone is going to get on a television talent show w/o talent, they should be aware that they are potentially up for extreme commentary. If they are goofy looking, even more so.
I always wondered why some of these obviously bad contestants don't have at least someone, anyone, listen to them first...?
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The first episodes of the show are for pure entertainment. No one can fault the fiscal results of this show and how it is aired. Simon alone takes home $35 MILLION a season for his work and share in the show. It is all about money, and if putting on the unbelievable misfits that they do works for the audience, so be it :-) ----
The show is so successful, that dozens are copying it. That is a credential in itself. What is really scary, is that some of those auditionees can actually vote. I always joke with my wife that I can easily spot the Hillary voters....
God help us --- :-)
I always wondered why some of these obviously bad contestants don't have at least someone, anyone, listen to them first...?
Dang dude, your voice sounds awesome, you otta try out for AI. And you look really smart :-)
I wish Katharine McPheever was back this year.
Not me. I'm sure it's out there, though.
"were clearly limited" How PC is that?
Honestly, if you are going on that show and have zero talent, you are going on for one reason, to get famous for being bad. The more that they bash you and make fun of you, the better.
All these people can not, not, know they absolutley stink.
Can you imagine having to sit through 10,000 of these idiots?
The girl that sounded like Chewbaca that was from Minn. was so funny. She was so aweful I felt uncomfortable for her.
Kenneth 'Gollum' Briggs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDrHaHqM4nQ
And this is all that matters to any of the talentless, not-ready-for-TV people that got their feelings hurt. They knew what they were getting into when they showed up. No way in heck, I would go on that show and I am the perfect contestant to make fun of. Like Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations."
Hmmm. Katherine McPhee. Would someone please jog my memory with picture?
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