Posted on 01/19/2007 11:01:04 AM PST by meg88
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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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
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