Posted on 01/19/2007 10:41:36 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Pandering.
Simon funds the "discovered" performer's career.
If they went into an executive's office and auditioned these acts, would they expect to be treated any better.
You seem awfully grumpy for someone who professes to delight in the Lord. lol
Nah, that's the way it works.
Most people audition for lower level producers, who are not particularly rude or helpfully constructive...and then they go home.
The producers specifically pick the best and near best to show the judges plus the most colorful, weirdest and worst.
The TV show is staged as if EVERYONE sings for the judges, and they are being "bombarded" by awful singers, when actually those people are being hand-picked because of their degree of self-delusion, or pity postcard stories, plus, of course, the real hopefuls who have gotten a chance to sing for the judges.
American Idol goes out of its way to NOT spotlight most of the singers who wind up in Hollywood.
I only watch the first few weeks of American Idol in order to witness the reaction of the judges and the slap of reality for the contestants. When there's only good people left, it's boring.
I also think those that are responsible for the pre-judging - the screeners who decide who should go through to Simon/Paula/Randy and who shouldn't - are purposely sending through really bad people, knowing that Simon will be fired up. It makes for good television.
Absolutely.
That's true. It's ratings and what the people want to see.
It is part of the "15 minutes of fame" that everybody feels they are "owed".
Fame is exploitation. If you are willing to be exploited, you may become famous. But you'll have to give up anonymity and privacy. And there is no guaranty that you'll be rich or even able to make money just because you are famous.
Is there pre-judging? Or do they all go through and these are just the ones who get on the air?
A new feud? Rosie and Simon?
And just when the tabloids were looking for something new...
The only complaint I have about the first two episodes was Fox's decision to air the audition of the kid who, to me, had a clear mental disability. The large blonde kid on the second night is the one of whom I speak. While I apprecaited that the judges were not cruel to him, I couldn't watch the audition itself - it made me too sad.
I would like to see a bit more discretion on the part of the producers in terms of who they choose to air from the awful auditions. Someone who is clearly deluded about their own talent or who is looking for a chance to tell Simon off makes for good TV - that is the 'train wreck' that keeps us glued to the audition episodes. On the other hand, airing someone who is clearly 'special', regardless of how polite the judges are to them, is to me a bit outside the lines of good taste. For the record I will say again that I don't think the judges were overly rude and recognized the situation for what it was. But they have hours upon hours of tape - they could have filled that 5 minutes with something else
I do, however, particularly enjoy watching the kids who've never been told no or given an honest assessment of their talent. They whine to the judges, then storm out swearing, then go crying into mommy's arms and she tells them how they will be famous someday. Very few seem to learn anything in the way of a lesson from the judges critiques. The whining is hilarious - [sarcasm]clearly the people responsible for numerous #1 records, millions upon millions of records sold, and breath taking TV ratings know nothing about the business...[/sarcasm] Sheesh.
It's boring because at that point it becomes about grooming a show pony.
It's like watching sausage being made. They get wardrobe consulation, learn to sing Abba, make a goofy group music video, etc. All so they can become the next homogenized middle of the road performer for the industry to hype.
thank you. I was unable to catch it this week. I love watching them crash & burn. I don't watch much after auditions until there are about 8 left.
Perhaps.
What makes me feel the most air-headed though is discussing a show that has a cultural half-life measured in nanoseconds.
I hear you. I get embarrassed for people too.
Sometimes it's hard to know who's pulling your leg to get on TV and who is really, as you said, "special."
I also heard a quote from Simon that went something like: I always knew there were a lot of great singers in America, and this year proved it. He said this year was the best talent collection for the show they have seen.
I agree.
Brenda Lee tried to get the Beatles signed in 1958 but the industry didn't want rock and roll. Eventually the Beatles were signed to 5 different labels in America before the suits in the States decided that they could make money of this group in 1964.
Just because someone has the top office doesn't mean they have a finger on the public's taste or a performer's potential.
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