As a relative NEWBIE you can be partially forgiven for the error in your ways. Your error is narrow mindedness and focus.
You don’t understand the subtleties of Free Republic and the vastly diverse interests that are daily on display. You also illustrate the fact you don’t understand American idol and can’t begin to comprehend the Idol discussions.
It is fashionable among snobs to dis Idol. That is the result of misunderstanding what is taking place. Idol is a competition, a good old fashioned competition basic as Apple Pie and the Red, White and Blue. The competition is the top rated TV show and near the end draws up to 50 million votes per night. The year on year advertisers are the best of American companies....AT&T, Coca Cola and Ford Motor.
Idol is OPPORTUNITY spelled with all CAPs. At the outset there are more than a hundred thousand contestants in preliminaries all across the country. It is open to all and near enough to be convenient for any serious entrant. The joy of watching the early shows is spotting the capable and laughing and maybe crying with the totally incapable. In the later stages one can see something that is appealing and vote for the person or persons having that appeal. America is given and unabashedly takes the opportunity to make that opinion count by voting. The contestants are mostly young. Most have some ability and are willing to risk total humiliation for a chance to perform in the big time.
Presently, the competition is near the end. It has been winnowed from more than a hundred thousand to just four. after tonite there will be just three. Three who have worked with the absolute best people in the business who mentor them to hone their talent and scrape away that which needs to be sanded off. The opportunity to compete and be a part of such a fantastic undertaking is almost without parallel.
It is too late this year, but if there is a next year, open up your mind and expand your horizon by watching the opening shows keeping in mind what you are seeing is but preliminary to fantastic opportunity,wealth and a life changing fame. To be a contestant is not for the weak of purpose or lazy.
The thread analyzes the purpose and talent and drive. As always, Free Republic gets down the the very essence of most everything, including American Idol.
The thread analyzes the purpose and talent and drive..........................and who has too many tatoos showing, who’s too gay, who’s cute enough to vote for, and who tells the most compelling story about grandma’s cancer. Once in a while there’s a serious discussion about singing talent.
Applause, applause!
I became an Idol convert a couple of years ago. I, too, thought it was the height of silliness.
BUT...then I actually started watching it.
To me, the wonder of the show is seeing them evolve as the year goes on. At the beginning of the season all of them are rather amateurish and awkward. As the weeks pass, we watch live as they hone their talents, their stage presentation, their costuming, etc. It’s amazing to consider last night’s performances and compare them to what these four were doing just two months ago.
Somehow it all seems very “American” to me. I love it.
I have to confess I never look at Idol that deeply, lol. I just like to hang out and laugh with my friends for a few hours each week :)