[RummyChick]

you might find this interesting
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2250002/Elimination-Night-book-Is-new-novel-exposing-dark-reality-American-Idol.html

“N’ on a ticket means an absolute ‘yes, they’ll go onto Hollywood’; ‘X’ is a maybe; and a Y’ is definite no but ‘the kid looks like a crier or a psycho, so roll the cameras.’

The book continues: ‘If someone has a good gimmick - y’know, dying kid, mom in prison, amusing facial tic - put a star in the top-right corner.’

A star in the right-hand corner equals more air time, because, the book says, tear-jerking stories are valued higher than talent.

To increase on-screen drama, and to make it look as natural as possible, producers manipulate contestants before they perform with the strategy: ‘Tell the singer the very opposite of the truth.’

[freedumb2003]

>>Though names have been changed (even the show is renamed Project Icon), with a disclaimer that any similarities to the real show are ‘coincidental’, the book’s characters bear an overtly suspicious resemblance to judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest. <<

Written by Thom E Gemcity. (/NCIS geek ref)

[Shelayne]

To increase on-screen drama, and to make it look as natural as possible, producers manipulate contestants before they perform with the strategy: ‘Tell the singer the very opposite of the truth.’

Hmmm. Our president has the same strategy.

[Yaelle]

So they tell the contestants “ wow, you are great! Go sing it that way for the judges”? That’s kinda sad.