American Idol is cruel

[gonzomax]

We could combine a kids game with it and have real fun. Have them sit in rows and then when they are eliminated a bucket of green glop could fall on their heads. This would teach them a lesson in humility that they deserve for trying to win. Think how more delicious the end of careers could be. Maybe mud wrestling if two women are close . Lots of ways to teach humiliation and the sudden end of dreams. The producers should see the untapped fun that is available.

[Triskadecamus]

" American Idol is cruel."

Cruelty is the whole point. American Idol is popular because it is cruel. If it wasn’t illegal, dropping the looser into a pit of spikes would make the ratings go up.

This is “The Gong Show” revisited. Only without the high class tastefulness of Chuck Barris.

Tris

[guppy]

These people are being cruel to themselves. Is fire cruel because it hurts when I stick my hand in it? If there weren’t waves of idiots who are willing to humiliate themselves just to get on TV there would be little cruelty on TV and perhaps no reality TV at all. Also, too many people think you can just start singing like Stevie Wonder out of the blue without hard work and years of dedication he put in. Maybe AI will clue some people in or maybe it won’t, either way it’s the contestant’s fault if they are humiliated.

P.S. I don’t watch the show.

[gigi]

@Alessan

Yes. AI is cruel. It’s also not one 100th as cruel as the actual music business. Real singers have to suffer through years of rejection, mockery, poverty and heartbreak in return for a chance at stardom infinitely smaller than that of even the least of those self-centered little contestants. What AI offers is a shortcut to success which, frankly, few of them deserve.

EXACTLY. Simon is no more cruel than a record producer who only wants the very best, and Paula and Randy are nicer than that.

Making them wait half an hour to hear the results hardly seems cruel. The guys sing on Tuesday and then stay free in a hotel in LA, with vocal coaches who can only improve them, until Thursday when they may or may not go home.

[Guinastasia]

@Caridwen

Thanks for the information and welcome to the forum.

I think I’ve watched AI about five times in my life but the way you described that they go through two rounds of judging and are told they’re good only to be laughed at does make it seem cruel.

I’m baffled by why some of these people think they can sing. If you thought you were good enough to sing on TV, wouldn’t the person have taken a couple music lessons along the way or tried out for a choir or singing group? Some people seem to not have a clue about notes or carrying a tune.

Most of the shows I’ve seen were towards the end and they were all pretty good.

The whole point is that they can get on tv. They know they can’t sing, they just well, want to be on tv. Or else they’re hoping to be the next William Hung.

[gonzomax]

The people on the show have beaten out many thousands of contenders. For them to think they6have talent at this point is reasonable. They have contributed to the most highly rated program on TV. Maybe they could put in a trapdoor.