Have American Idol judges become too cruel? That’s been the theme of recent Idol commentary found ’round the net. Even Rosie O’Donnell has gotten into the act.
Lather, rinse, repeat peeps. Here are some quotes:
The Seattle Times says, “Considering it’s the biggest kid on the block, ‘American Idol’ is becoming quite the bully.”
And
The Charlotte Observer weighs in, “Plumbing the depths of people who will do anything to get on television, ‘Idol’ has veered sharply… No longer a feel-good talent hunt, the early rounds of TV’s No. 1 show have evolved into a showcase of emotionally fragile specimens from America’s stockpile of the vocally deluded.”
Quotes from this year’s press coverage? NOPE. These quotes are reactions to Season 5 auditions. Last year, the complaints of cruelty were also loud and long as I reported here. Folks from GLAAD and National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance were livid, as a matter of fact.
I remember specifically, during last season’s auditions, the cameras lingering after a contestant left the room, and the judges–even Paula–proceeding to mock the clueless. Remember that fragile transgendered teenager that was sent out of the room crying? Are the judges any meaner this year? I don’t think so. Why is the press complaining as if “meaness” is some sort of new development during the AI audition rounds? Eh, it gives them something to talk about…
And, as the press rattles their sabers, TPTB step in to defend themselves, as always. Peter Liguori, FOX president of entertainment, had this to say, “I think this season is just a continuation of what’s been a very successful formula…The debate is what makes the show successful…It does seem that more people are coming to the show. I think they know what to expect. I think they have to appreciate the spirit in which that commentary is given”
During an American Idol panel at the television critics’ winter tour in Pasadena yesterday, Simon Cowell had this to say about his own behavior, “I take your point…Which is that it’s a singing competition, and why should I be calling [someone] a bush baby? But we never try to censor the show, and there are times, trust me, when I watch it back and think, ‘God, I wish I hadn’t said that.’”
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Contestants who go on idol should know that they are going to be judged on their talents and that is fair game ,but making cruel comments about conditions that can’t be helped is hitting below the belt. Simon made himself look very small by his actions. Paula and Randy should have called him on that. They should draw a line on legitimate criticism and never cross over to the cruelty.
So being so mean isn’t new on AI. But remember Simon ended up apologizing to Mandisa last year. Will he have to apologize to anyone this year? I guess only if any of his targets make it to the semifinals, otherwise he gets off scott free.
From
“Those who condemned the inclusion of Jayne in Wednesday’s episode are preaching against the Special Olympics’ message. “Whether on the stage of ‘American Idol’ or on the field of competition for Special Olympics, people with intellectual disabilities don’t want pity or special treatment,” the group’s statement read. “They want to be judged for who they are and appreciated for what they can achieve.”
” ‘American Idol’ should be commended for providing Jayne with the same opportunity to succeed as any other contestant.”
I don’t know if they’re worse this year but I don’t like it no matter what. If these contestants are only there to be judged on their ability to sing, then why is it ok for Simon to tell someone he looks like a ‘bush baby’ before the kid even opens his mouth to sing? Yeah, I understand that appearance is part of the process, but if you don’t like the way someone sings, why not focus on that instead of their appearance. After all, many who’s appearance wasn’t ‘ordinary’ have made it through because they could sing. To deliberately mock and deride someone because of the way they look is childish, boarish and unacceptable. Ratings is king and anything goes…sort of makes you think of ancient Rome. Christians vs lions and all that!
They may be equally as mean as the previous years but each year more and more people are watching….many who are not de-sensitized from previous years’ cruelty. It’s going to reach a crescendo at some point and they are going to lose viewers from the gargantuan numbers they have now. They’ll continue to garner the “hard core” viewers but may not maintain numbers like they experienced in Season 5.
The biggest problem that I have is not the fact that people try out and are bad and are rejected. It’s that good talent is rejected by the producers before ever going to the “judges” in favor of horrific people who get to go in front of the panel for pure mockery. If it’s truly a talent competition and not designed to exploit people who may not know better, then cull them out in the producer rounds and only advance the really talented.
Ah, but then it wouldn’t be “reality TV”, right?
I’ve watched the auditions for seasons 4, 5, and now 6. I’m sure the judges and the show were just as mean before, but it never hit a nerve for me before this year. Why? Simple. They made fun of fat people; but, eh, my kids aren’t fat. They made fun of transgendered-looking people; but, eh, my kids don’t look transgendered. However, my son is autistic. And it hurt to watch AI try to turn people with mental disabilities into punchlines.
I hate the audition rounds anyway (I still watch them, of course, heh). There is a cruelty/cringe factor that is higher than I would like to see, but on the other hand, “Bush Baby” was on the Today show this morning with his new BFF and they both have agents. They’ll get their 15 minutes and maybe a little cash. This show has been on since 2001–everyone that auditions knows EXACTLY what they are in for. They may get made fun of on national television. So, if they don’t want to risk that, then they shouldn’t show up to the auditions.
Yes, I feel for the guy who has a mental disability and was made fun of (actually, I feel more for his mom, who was the one who expressed outrage), but how do you screen that out and where do you draw the line?
janerazor, amen to your post.
jokiebird, you draw the line at making fun of people’s appearance that can’t be changed, ie eyes,nose,shape of face,etc. Hair and attire are open game.
You draw the line at belittling obvious mentally handicapped people and: if so many of us can spot them you can’t tell me that the screeners/editors/producers/judges can’t as well. They just don’t care how heartless if money is being made.The irony of Americans feeling that we are all soooo moral and yet watch the degradation of handicapped people and condone it is mind boggling!
I for one let Fox know my feelings on this. One person’s comments may not matter but if all who are really saddened and disgusted by this do then maybe it will make a difference.
“Changes in the world often hinge on the actions of ordinary people.”
By “where do you draw the line” I was refering to screening out mental disabilities. What is severe enough to prevent someone from auditioning? I agree that the comments made about the red-haired guy (I am so sorry, I can’t remember his name) were out of line.
Appearance in general is fair game. It’s never been a secret on AI that you have to have to have the looks, the personality, and the talent to make it. Again, I hate the cringe factor, and I wish they wouldn’t do it. But they do, and they always have, and anyone who auditions has to expect that it might happen to them.
Jokiebird, I realize that was what you were referring to. But once again, if so many of us can tell a person is mentally incompetent, there is NO way that so many at AI involved in the screening process didn’t see it as well.
10,000 in Mpls, 9,000 in Seattle and of the handful that actually make it to the tv screen shows there is a huge screening process. It would be interesting to know if there are instructions or quotas on what type goes through?
Where do you draw the line? How about drawing it around the good singers and the people who are obviously there with a gimmick. Let’s just leave out the bad singers, the mentally disabled(unless they can sing) and the physically challenged(unless they can sing). In other words, if the sole purpose of putting someone on the air is to laugh at something that cannot be helped ….that’s where I’d draw the line…I don’t give a flying frak how much they may or may not know about what they’re getting into! JMO
I guess I’d draw the line at commenting on bad singing and maybe dressing oddly. But the software guy–and if he’s not autistic, I’ll eat my freakin’ hat–didn’t have a bad voice, really. We were supposed to laugh at his mannerisms. I’ve heard adults make fun of the way my son talks. It’s just really painful to see people mock your child about something that he cannot change and that he will struggle with every day of his life. When I see AI trying to make a spectacle of someone with autism or mild retardation or some kind of facial deformity, the message I hear is “You don’t act like we do. You’re not pretty like we are. You don’t belong.” I know it’s “only a TV show,” but many kids watch it. I hate the idea of them hearing that message.
mj, for what it’s worth, you’re right…it’s always been this way during auditions, both the judges’ comments and the moral outrage which follows.
Moral outrage. That’s an interesting term. The kid with the big eyes is getting his 15 minutes of fame…so why should we be upset? Right? Just like the old fashioned carnival freak show gave the ‘freaks’ their 15 minutes of fame. As long as they know what’s going on, why should we be upset? Right? Do you think fewer people would watch idol if they didn’t ‘lower the bar’ as far as they have? I don’t! I think Idol would have just as many viewers without the ‘freak show’! So why is it there? Why are we and Idol degrading ourselves by not feeling moral outrage at the use of these people for our entertainment and amusement? We laugh. We make fun of people. And that’s ok because ‘they know what they’re getting into’. Maybe it’s ok for them but what does it say about us.
Funny you should mention “freak show.” A while back, I saw a museum exhibit that, in part, profiled folks who had been in the “freak shows” of yore. I was surprised to read that many of them regarded their experiences as extremely positive, in that they were able to make a lot more money than they ever would have in their hometowns, travel the country, and meet a lot of people. I’m sure there were those who felt exploited, but it was by no means a universal experience.
That said, when I watched the Seattle auditions with my 9-year-old daughter last night, she felt bad about how the software guy was portrayed. (And she pegged him as autistic after seeing him for about 10 seconds.) But she did feel better when I told her that a ton of people had gone to his MySpace page and left nice messages for him.