Posted on 01/19/2007 11:01:04 AM PST by meg88
Idol" Sparks New Controversy on Access Hollywood
By Laura Saltman
The show is only back two days and already "American Idol" is sparking controversy. Today the buzz all around my office is about how mean-spirited the show is during the audition rounds. While I was out having dinner, an email came over my blackberry from our music producer, Nancy Harrison, who was on the east coast watching the show, "I must say tonight's episode was quite disturbing. Two of the Seattle contestants--Kenneth and Jonathan--were clearly limited... and the judges still poked fun of them. I found this to be in really poor taste and can't believe this show would sink this low for ratings." My first thought, having not seen the show yet was, "old news." The show has done this throughout its first five seasons on the air. The fact of the matter is that snickering at people who clearly can't sing or telling people they are "too fat" or "not the right look" to be the next American Idol is nothing new here. That's what the audition shows are all about each and every year. They poke fun of bad singers and everyone laughs.
Then I got home and watched the show and realized what the outrage was over. I want to share this email I got from our show's Senior Producer, Claudia Eaton, who was watching with her son, David. As a parent, I'm sure her sentiment is something being felt all over households today: "Last night's programming was uncomfortably entertaining ... painful to laugh at ... I had to explain to my son on more than one occasion how inappropriate these adults were. And, as a budding thespian, had to convince him that it would in fact be ok for him to try out for the school play. What does bother me as a newcomer to the Idol craze is how cavalierly the public seems to accept the way Simon talks to people to their faces about things as basic as how they look or talk ... PLEASE let them hurry up and get to the finals ... where hopefully truly talented people will truly entertain people with talent ... and we do NOT laugh at people for being "ugly," "odd," "tall," or just plain different."
While I don't think the format of the audition shows has changed, what I think has happened is that the judges are acting more and more like catty school children with each passing season. Simon is the bully on the playground and Randy and Paula are his underlings. Someone says something mean and the others either laugh or play along. It's like watching the movie, "Mean Girls." Every once in awhile Paula and Randy will scold Simon but in a laughing manner, never to the point where someone is saying 'you know what, this is inappropriate.' Do I think it's their fault? Partially. Only partially because Idol is a reality show and therefore the producers must create situations. That means they must put bad singers in front of the judges to make the auditions interesting. After seeing thousands of people who are either playing it up for the cameras to get on TV or just plain delusional about their talent it has to get frustrating for the judges.
Having said that... you, America, are the ones who have allowed this type of behavior to go on. 37 million of you were watching on Tuesday night while the insults were flying... up 2 million from last year. If people were truly offended, well then they should have tuned out last night. Not the case though. Another 37 million watched the Seattle auditions. In fact, the audition shows always get a higher audience then the performance shows. This morning I talked to Katharine McPhee, who did not watch the audition shows this week but heard about the controversy on "The View." On the subject, she told me, "There crosses a point I think where you start actually being mean about people's appearances and I think that kind of really is just wrong. I've never liked that part of the show. So, that's why I don't really tune in for the early part of it."
Last night's outrage I'd say was mainly over the way 21-year-old contestant, Jonathan Jayne, and 23-year-old Kenneth Briggs were portrayed. Obviously, a little different than others, Simon's calling Kenneth a "bush baby" just went to far. We talked to Jonathan this morning who truly was just happy for the chance to be on TV. His only complaint wasn't about how he was portrayed on TV but that Randy was chuckling during his audition, " I just think that he was trying to make television at that time. He didn't really mean it." He did however get very upset about the way Kenneth was treated, "They treated him horribly. I just didn't like what they said about him. That really made me kind of ticked off that they were treating him like that."
I'm sorry... but the bad auditions and comments are why people watch the preliminary shows. I've watched several seasons and I like this part of it. Most of these people must realize how bad they are! I think it's the whole reason they come out by the thousands -- to get on national TV for a few minutes. It's a game fur cryin out loud. If ya don't like the game, pick up your marbles and go home.
The comment by one of the two now infamous auditioners was that he knew people would vote for him... and why would that be? The pity factor?
Old story. Alan Funt. People are Funny. 25 years of entertaining people by humiliating and making fun of others. The American mass audience loves watching someone they can feel superior to. Idol's just the latest incarnation.
No child left behind...
That jogs things other than my memory...
Mcpheever or Clarkson?
At first, I could agree with those who say that Simon was over the top with his criticisms, but after a few of the really bad ones, I looked forward to his reaction. He is reality. Most of those so-called contestants would get savaged if they tried out at a karaoke bar. That they chose to go on tv without knowing what was going on or suspecting what might happen is ludicrous.
Heck if I know. I'm a guy. Names are superfluous ;)
Brunette or blonde?
I just watched the guy named Red. That was AWESOME!
He was so awful but they were a bit scared of him.
He looked nuts.
You have to be really good at being so bad you get on national TV.
yitbos
Chuck used to tell a tale about the time he spent as an ABC executive. Admission to studio lots is closely controlled, and parking space is always in short supply and carefully regulated. Chuck was in constant conflict with studio guards over a difference in perception regarding what he believed he was entitled to.
So, when he left the executive corps, and made a deal with ABC for his first show, he obtained private office space on the lot and took great joy in breezing by the guards in his Rolls, acknowledging their presence with a one finger salute.
If you take the kind of mentality that story illuminates, and look closely at the Gong Show, you can see that it was the perfect Chuck Barris product.
The way the cameras focused on the people crying was purely sadistic.
Cultural entropy indeed.
Okay, I'm interested in the opinion of others about Nick Zitzmann. I thought he was total put-on. A smart guy and a good actor creating a Napoleon Dynamite type character.
Any thoughts.
i think many of them know how bad they are... they do it on purpose... it's funny... some are asked back to the final show... appear on video clips...
i have no sympathy for those who appear on the show... they know how harsh the judges are... it's just like someone calling Dr. Laura... i never feel sorry for the callers... everyone knows she's not there to wrap you in cotton balls to make sure you feel good... Idol is the same way...
Maybe lightening will strike twice ala William Hung
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