If the contestants are supposed to know going in that the early 'auditions' are basically a set-up for the untalented to be rejected and likely insulted by the 'judges' why shouldn't viewers know the same thing? This show has been on for years and is very popular. While the first year or two may have caught some wannabe 'idols' (and viewers) off-guard, by now anyone watching, much less, competing, has to be aware of the format, especially in the first few shows.
I think all the hand-wringing over the 21st-century American decadence the show supposedly demonstrates and the complaints that a few possibly mentally defective contestants were unfairly insulted by the often-cynical judges, especially Simon Crowell, the designated 'mean guy' on the panel, is just a case of some people looking for something to be offended over. It's a TV show! It's not required that anyone watch 'American Idol' and most of the time, it's probably harmless to anyone's sensibilities. I would guess that if the judges, or Simon Crowell, specifically, is deemed by the viewing audience to have gone too far in criticizing untalented and possibly mentally-afflicted contestants, he will apologize in some manner and the producers will be a bit more selective in what rejections are shown on the final edit and, for that matter, what untalented contestants are permitted to perform for the TV camera in front of the celebrity judges.
'Reality' is a misnomer in this case. 'American Idol' is a produced TV show, not a documentary. The show is taped and edited for later broadcast. The producers know exactly what they are showing you. There are no 'accidents' when a TV show is taped. Anything that happens on-camera that the producers believe might be detrimental to the show, for any reason, is edited out. Contestants are chosen to 'audition', not by the 'celebrity' judges but by unseen producers. A few painfully untalented folks seem to always get chosen to audition for the cameras. The intent of the show producers is, clearly, to allow these hapless people to make fools of themselves on TV and likely be told how awful their performance really was by the judges. Their reactions are filmed for possible later use, too. This is all a part of the 'entertainment' package. I would think that most 'Idol' viewers know all this by now.
I suggest that, instead of watching and complaining, those who enjoy 'American Idol' simply wait until the later shows when the wannabe 'idols' are gone and folks with some real talent are competing. Problem solved. You're welcome.
Actually, I agree with all you said down to your last word. I watched later in the season last year and found it entertaining.