I've never watched the show more than a few seconds once and a while.
But just in those bits and pieces, and all I can say is...
Even the good singers can't sing.
Yelling is now taken as 'singing'.
American is full of talentless clones if this any indicator.
What's the point?
And yeah, the meanness was the #1 reason I never started watching it.
All of the contestants now wildy oversing like Christina Aguilera