Posted on 01/24/2006 12:33:52 PM PST by SirLinksalot
How Real Are The American Idol Auditions ?
In what is becoming one of the most analyzed pieces of video since the Kennedy assassination, the premiere episodes of American Idol 5 seem to be revealing their own grassy knolls. One of the biggest controversies swirling is how the judges are interacting with the young, hopeful contestants. American Idol 5 appears to have offended everyone from heavyset women to gays and lesbians to sun tanning enthusiasts.
Perhaps a bigger question that has arisen than who has American Idol offended is how much reality is actually involved in the auditions. Rumors have been circulating that David Hoover’s advancement to Hollywood might not have been that crazy after all. Mr. Hoover is apparently a pretty good singer, who has several original songs on his website. Did the judges let him through with his wacky audition knowing that when he made it to Hollywood that his true singing skills would make a good story?
Another audition that left many viewers wondering was an audition by a very tan Crystal Parizanski..or should we say two auditions by a very tan Crystal Parizanski. Reality TV Magazine reported last week that Crystal Parizanski showed up twice wearing two different shirts during the American Idol premiere. Crystal initially appeared in a pink shirt singing “And I’m Telling You.” Simon Cowell made fun of her sun tan, and the judges elected not to send her through to Hollywood. Crystal then reappeared at the end of the show in a grey shirt singing “Lady Marmalade.” The second time around Simon Cowell said “that was the worst we’ve had in Chicago” after her audition.
Reality TV Magazine got in touch with Crystal Parizanski, and she cleared up some lingering questions about her audition(s) in the American Idol 5 premiere.
Reality TV Magazine: You were shown auditioning twice in front of Paula, Simon, and Randy. One time you sang "And I'm Telling You" and the other time "Lady Marmalade." Did you really audition in front of them twice or was one of the auditions in front of someone else?
Crystal: I auditioned with the “And I Am Tell You” in front of them. The “Lady Marmalade” was a SONG that was REQUIRED BY THE PRODUCER, for us, "the contestants" to learn within an hour, to perform in front of Nigel, the producer, NOT RANDY SIMON AND PAULA, as they made it seem. Also, furthermore the auditions did not consist of "one day" of auditioning, there were 3 auditions previous to the audition leading to Randy, Simon, and Paula.
Reality TV Magazine: How do you feel about the editing showing Simon Cowell calling you the worst in Chicago after the "Lady Marmalade" audition?
Crystal: I find it VERY fraudulent! And that's what my lawyer says also :).
Reality TV Magazine: Why did it take you so long to respond to Simon's question about your sun tan?
Crystal: I didn’t, they edited it to make me look stupid, actually…what ACTUALLY happened was a quick reply of me saying.. I go tanning THANKS.
Reality TV Magazine: Do you regret auditioning for American Idol?
Crystal: Yes. Also they told me to "look better in Simon’s eyes" I should put more makeup on, and they came into the WOMANS bathroom to FILM IT! When I told them I was scared and I felt NAUSEOUS and just to make a mockery of me and my mother they told us to "strut" down the street, while filming. Also they edited out most of the AUDITION which you can notice by my song being "cut" in half! I came back when they "followed" me out the doors all the way to the street corner, and I asked them.. "was the whole bathroom skit to make a mockery of me?" Apparently it was. But they failed to air that on their "show."
Reality TV Magazine: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your American Idol audition?
Crystal: Reality isn’t Reality!
It turns out that Crystal Parizanski isn’t the only one to audition for American Idol with some concerns about the editing. A MySpace blog (located by MJ’s Big Blog) from an American Idol contestant named Jennifer Sieminski that made it to Hollywood contains an American Idol FAQ section. In response to a question about if Paula, Randy, and Simon really saw all those people, Jennifer responds “no, and it really bothers me that they made it look that way…” Jennifer also goes on to tell that the “Lady Marmalade” song actually occurred in front of Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, which seems to back up at least part of Crystal’s audition story.
Where does all this leave us? Well, if Crystal Parizanski didn’t sing “Lady Marmalade” in front of Simon Cowell, then we are left wondering “Who did Simon really think was the worst singer in Chicago?” Perhaps, just like if there was really a second shooter in the Kennedy assassination, it is one of those questions that we might never know the true answer to.
Not very. Otherwise it would be as boring as watching a fishing show.
They are edited to with in a inch of their lives just like every other show that is not a live broadcast.
So which is more fake, Jonny: (1) A reporter who interviews Crystal and writes a story that makes her seem like a serious litigant with a real case, or (2) the typical show biz cattle-call auditions AI uses to whittle down mobs to 50 or 100 candidates to be seen by the show's principals?
Seems to me the latter is the way Broadway has done it since before vaudeville times. Hollywood has used edited screen tests since the days of silent film. Talent shows and cattle calls are as old as show biz. AI's only real addition to the format is the brilliant stroke of marketing which lets the audience vote to decide the winner.
I listened to a story last night from someone who knew one of the very pretty girls on the Apprentice. She had zero interest in the show and stated clearly she knew nothing about business. Trump called her personally several times and got her on the show, with some "creative edits" about her "business background" - all fabricated.
I'm still trying to convince those in power that the earth is flat and I find it frustrating in my endeavors when the like of American Idol takes focus away from my concerns in promoting the truth.
Or Starsearch. Or Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour.
These shows used to be on in the afternoon, or in the hour before prime time viewing began. Now networks are built around them. I honestly don't understand sudden appeal of these talent shows.
I guess folks like to see the fake contestants that are only there for our amusement and are made fun of by the judges or something. It's only a couple of steps up from Jerry Springer Show, IMO.
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