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."
I always wondered why some of these obviously bad contestants don't have at least someone, anyone, listen to them first...?
_____
They do have someone listen to them first. My son's girlfriend auditioned in NY a couple of months back for this season.
Those who are poked fun at are picked specifically for that reason, to be made fun of.
I don't know. I think a little dose of reality will only help these people in the long run. Once they realize they are never going to be rock stars, maybe they can concentrate on the things they can do. That Kenneth fellow thought he was just like Justin Timberlake.
Jonathan Jayne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHzS964u7GM
The lemur eyed one and his sidekick have been spoonfed the self esteem garbage and believed they were contenders.
They have been lied too since birth.
Reality is tough.
I didn't see that they were "clearly limited". I would expect, as a 45 year old, overweight male with a less than perfect (much less) singing voice, that if I went on American Idol wanting to be the next American Idol that I would be treated just the same.
What they do is sometimes hard to watch, but they really are doing people a favor. They are telling them honestly that they don't have what it takes to be a "star" in the business today. They will either realize the judges are right and quit with no regrets because at least they tried and now know, or they will determine that the judges are crazy and will try harder next time or will try a different path to fame.
I did not think the heavier of those 2 guys was insulted. He was just told he could not sing. The guy with the big eyes had his looks insulted by Simon but that is nothing new. People who try out for the show must know what they are getting in to.
It is true that the show is a popularity contest. They are obviously looking for people who look good on camera and have appeal in addition to being able to sing well.
As far as nutty guys go, the one who wanted to be another Taylor Hicks was pretty scary too. He actually thought he could approach the panel with some hair gel and they wouldn't throw him out physically? Not a good move.
Simon kinda crossed the line with the Bush Baby crack. Both of the other judges loved him!
That guy sounded almost exactly like "Jimmy" on South Park, and looked rather like him, too.
The best--I mean the absolute best--thing about American Idol is when deluded, tone-deaf people show up with their infantile dreams of stardom, only to have their noses rubbed hard in their own incompetence. It's cathartic. It's healthy.
The same goes for the bush-baby, too. It's generally bad form to humiliate someone for his looks, but when someone is literally applying for the position of "Idol", he deserves to be told in no uncertain terms why worship is not owed to him.
Those contestants had way too much self-esteem and families and friends without the ball* to tell them don't do it.
Here's one former winner whose "package" appears to have picked up a few bulges and creases.
I didn't see the show. What is "clearly limited"? Their voice range was limited?
This PC crap is really bugging me. Speak your mind, people! You're not communicating with the reader, people!
Clearly.
Paula Adul said he was adorable and awesome. I enjoyed the performace for completely different reasons like Randy
Two decisions get made: 1) screening auditions prior to seeing Simon, Paula, and Randy. They put through the serious contenders and the worst of the worst. Then, 2) during editing, they exclude the majority of the serious contenders and focus on the worst of the worst. The "they" in both cases are producer-types that work behind the scenes. The majority of the kids in the finals were never seen by the public in the audition shows.
I'd like to see more of a balance between great, mediocre, and awful contestants.
The judges do lay into the mediocre and not-so-awful with catty barbs, it just doesn't make it into the final edit. This is evidenced by the montages of kids' comments about what the judges said about their audition. Also evidenced by previous years' audition shows where we got a better mix. By excluding the good and mediocre to such a degree, it makes it seem like all the judges do is make fun of people who have bad teeth, or height/weight issues, or identity issues, etc.
If there's backlash for these decisions, I lay it at the feet of the producers.
LOL! I have heard more than one "freaky" contestant say (in so many words): "My co-workers told me I should try out for this show, cuz they said I sound just like (insert famous singer here)..."
Sounds like there are some pretty convicning practical joker co-workers out there!
My wife makes me watch it occassionally. She says that she watches my stupid shows (Heros is not stupid!). She threatened to tie me to a chair and make me watch it. :o)
I was busy so I was in and out and looked at it occassionally. For the 15 minute stint I actually sat, I was embarrassed. I felt sorry for the contestants. It was actually painful to watch. I could not imagine what I would be able to say to the "performers" to critique their talent.
In my moral and ethical point of view, they could easily employ lesser figures to do all the auditions leading to those who will go to Hollywood, and not televise those early auitions at all.
The principals, Simon et al, could review the audition tapes and add to those selected to go to Hollywood.
Then they could televise the rest of the process without looking like a singing-audition version of Jerry Springer.
But of course, then Fox and Simon would not make as much money.
It just teaches people to be rude and exploit people.
That is what Simon is missing
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.