Let me just say that I'm no neophyte. No dummy. No rube.
I've watched every season of American Idol. And so yeah, I know the deal in these first few weeks. The producers sort out a nice bunch of a) good singers; b) awful singers and c) freaks. We warm up to Mr Cowell's snark, to Paula's emoting, to Randy's dawging. We reminisce about days gone by, and cling to the incredible promise that this will be The Best Series Ever. We wonder if Paula will have any more mysterious lapses of health and/or grips on reality, and which contestant will be found to have a criminal record, and whether Randy looks like he's piled a bit on since last year. It's Seacrest-In, and all is right with the world.
Still, something struck me last night. And I know it's par for the course in these audition episodes, and maybe I've been in denial about every other series, which is entirely possible - but when did the judges turn into the Extra Mean Kids At School? Seriously. I'm fine with them critiquing someone's singing - you gotta know if you turn up to audition that you risk humiliation and scorn. No problem there - insult away! But there's something disturbingly ideological about a lot of their other comments. They've turned into... well, bullies.
They're the kids who stuck signs on your back. Who made fun of you for wearing the wrong label jeans. Who invited you to sit with them, then pulled your chair out from under you. Or was that just me? Paula's even got the Mean Girl Passive-Aggressive thing down - if Ringleader Simon is exceptionally cruel, she hits him in the arm and tells him he's terrible. But she's laughing while she does it. As for Randy - he's just the Gutless Kid Who Tags Along. To wit:
1) White boy with supportive mother and grandmother shows up. Okay, so the family is a little trailer park-y. That's apparently why we're supposed to laugh at them. Sigh. But as the boy greets Simon et al. in a high-pitched voice, the judges start to smirk. The boy tells them where he's from, and then Paula asks 'what makes you different'? Simon cracks up. 'Can't you tell?' Simon sneers. Cue snickering judges. Ha ha ha - you see? He's a fairy! Get thee hence, homo trailer trash!
Article comments
1 - Terry G
Good points made.
Thank god this show was not around when Dylan, Cash and Petty started singing.
I stopped watching after the first show. anyone who loves this generic cookie cutter stuff...most of ugly, mean, bullying America...is shallow.
2 - joelline
I thought I was the only one who thought the judges were bullies--ugly, mean bullies. When I wanted to cry after the young trailer-park man was crucified by the judges. I, too, saw that the judges were using carefully ambiguous language on the girl from the Ukraine (whose whole future was on the line!) so that she would misunderstand and then be crushed. I can only imagine the pain of the young man who was told to "put on a dress."
I know that I will no longer watch any of the try-outs for LA! I'll wait until they get down to the top 14 or so and check in again. If the same ugliness shows its head, I'll not be watching this season!
3 - Brie
i think you're right. there is a difference between constructive critism and bullying, you know? i think that the judges have gone a little bit overboard with what they say and how they say it to people. granted, a lot of people dont take critism well, but some people really need to know how they sound to others, but tact is needed when you tell someone that they're bad at something they think they're good at, you feel me? i think simon is good at telling people the outright, blunt truth, but he's bad at compassion.
4 - teletart
As noted, I don't have a problem with the insults and critique when they're about the singing. That's fair game for the contestants - they've signed up to risk having their song stylings mocked.
What ISN'T cool is extending that cruelty to comment on someone's sexuality, or body, or socioeconomic status, or ethnicity. Not only does it dehumanise the person in question, it also creates an inverse definition of what IS acceptable, beautiful etc. With every misplaced insult, the judges reassert the boundaries around what an American Idol can be. That, and they make themselves look ickier.
Considering that a lot of snickering happens around effeminacy, sexuality and body size, some past winners of AI are even more ironic. Maybe America is just better at looking beneath the surface than Randy, Simon and Paula.
5 - Hey hey
"I thought I was the only one who thought the judges were bullies"
I just don't see the bully thing. The problem is with the fools who try-out. Not only do they believe they are awesome, they make it so their whole life revolves around whether they make it to Hollywood.
So when the judges say you suck, they take it to mean "you are a worthless human being." They should only take it to mean "you can't sing, but you should do something else for the enrichment of society."
Perhaps they should say that more, but it's the fact that contestants hear "you are a horrible human being who should be shot" when the judges only say "sorry, you aren't good enough" that we have a problem.
6 - teletart
Hey hey - have we been watching the same show?
Turn up your TV set this week and pay attention, my friend. We're not talking about the contestants' "interpretations" of what the judges say. We're talking about what the judges ACTUALLY SAY.
Here's a fun task for you - watch Tuesday night's show and see how often the judges just say "sorry you aren't good enough". Umm I'm betting not very often. Then count up how many times insults are directed at the contestants themselves - particularly regarding their sexuality, their body size, and/or their perceived attractiveness.
I hope you'll change your tune. Pun intended.
7 - Brandy
I have also watched every season of idol and I think the comment by Simon about the guy looking like a monkey creature was way off boundaries and then Paula laughing. I sort of smiled and almost laughed a little when I first heared it, but then I felt sick and upset about it at the same time because that is not right. What if he would have had a great voice they wouldn't have let him on because of his looks and they think that amaerica would not like him. So it goes both ways, you have to be decent looking to get on the show! I have seen some nerdy looking people get on the show that could really sing good but I honestly think if you look dog ugly they wouldn't dare let ya own. I think some of the contestants make the show funny but the judges try overly hard to make fun of people and to make the audience laugh, but it is actually to the point where you don't want to laugh anymore and you feel sorry for the people. I think they are being more strict this year too and limiting the ammount of people that they actually allow to go to Hollywood.
8 - Sixhats
Give me a break with all this 'defending the sensitivities' of these rejects. (and yes, I'm abbreviating, but only referring to their rejection from the next rounds of AI.)
With the sheer volume of entrants, the length of days required to be on the road and listening AND looking for the right prospects, and countless other frustrations, why shouldn't the judges have some fun at the willing expense of these people? Seriously, if *anybody* believes that these highlighted entrants had a proper and justified chance at holding their own with the rest of Hollywood-bound singers, you must have been taking lessons from a NYC vocal coach.
Crap deserves what crap puts out: to wit, if somebody - after five seasons - enters the competition and STAYS AROUND ALL DAY waiting for their turn, we should shed no tears for them. They knew what was coming and they traded on the level.
9 - Jed
Let's face it...
The show is just that, a show...
From the whimpering contestants to the manufactured bulling, to the, oh so, We think U got better pair of cords than any1 else, Ur a Lucifer God, We praise U....
Too bad the "rejected" contestants have never been praised for their acting skills....
Their probably fans, they know wassup.
Hopefully America hasn't really suckered into the American Idol idea of vanity is true & dumb/hypocritical cruelty.
Have We?
10 - alexandria jackson
I have to agree with Jed (although I didn't get the Lucifer God thing). The PREMISE of the auditions is so that the triumvirate can express their funny "biting" humor. The whole point is that they get to make fun of and bully the non "IN" crowd.
Think about it, with that many contestants, any "normal" job would have a screening process. Send in a voice clip or a photo or something so that they would only get people who can sing. The people who show up are just asking for what they get.
And yes, it is way over the top most times. Especially for the people who thought that they might have what it takes...it seems those are the people whose dreams they delight in bursting. You have to wonder what is missing from Ryan to make him thrill in the devestation of others.
These shows are not just about talent. They are about marketability and ratings. And, America loves to make people look like losers and idiots. That is currently what is getting the ratings. How many times can we see someone hit in the nuts on "Funniest Home Video" shows? Apparently, a lot. So, Idol is doing a great job. It has loyal viewers and people who want to be a star who are willing to chance being humiliated (and probably have to sign a waiver of intent to file defamation charges)...
I can't/won't watch it. I'll just listen to last seasons winner on the radio. The entire process makes me sick. Ditto Survivor and all Reality shows. (although I like so you think you can dance....)