# american idol **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300 "2012-03-30T17:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leatherband](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@leatherband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leatherband)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/1 "2012-03-30T17:10:19Z")
if american idol isnt fake why dont they post the votes right on the show why because its all fake the producers pick all ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/2 "2012-03-30T17:12:22Z")
> [@leatherband](#): > > if american idol isnt fake why dont they post the votes right on the show why because its all fake the producers pick all Probably the wrong forum for this. Maybe the mods will put it where it gets the appropriate attention. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/3 "2012-03-30T17:28:48Z")
Because if they said what the exact numbers were, and Contestant A consistently got three times as many votes as any of the other contestants, then there is a strong likelihood that people would stop voting for Contestant A since “they don’t need my vote”. The system would degrade. Also, I now fully agree with [**Rhythmdvl**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646797). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/4 "2012-03-30T17:31:55Z")
Familiarize yourself with[the history of television gameshow scandals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_One_(game_show)) and their [heavy regulation by the FCC](http://www.citytvweb.com/are-there-specific-laws-andor-regulations-for-reality-tv-shows/), leatherband. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/5 "2012-03-30T17:38:25Z")
> [@leatherband](#): > > if american idol isnt fake why dont they post the votes right on the show why because its all fake the producers pick all This post brought to you from 2003. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/6 "2012-03-30T18:05:41Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > This post brought to you from 2003. Ahh, yes, back in the days before punctuation. I remember them fondly. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/7 "2012-03-30T18:13:24Z")
I don’t. People still talked about American Idol. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/8 "2012-03-30T18:16:57Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > and their [heavy regulation by the FCC](http://www.citytvweb.com/are-there-specific-laws-andor-regulations-for-reality-tv-shows/), leatherband. That is a _horribly_ written article and not particularly accurate, either. But if one is really interested in the controlling legislation, it’s codified at 47 USC § 509, “Prohibited Practices in Contests of Knowledge, Skill, or Chance”, originally passed by Congress in 1960 as an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934. In particular, > [@Congress](#): > > (a) Influencing, prearranging, or predetermining outcome > It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to deceive the listening or viewing public— > (1) To supply to any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill any special and secret assistance whereby the outcome of such contest will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined. > (2) By means of persuasion, bribery, intimidation, or otherwise, to induce or cause any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill to refrain in any manner from using or displaying his knowledge or skill in such contest, whereby the outcome thereof will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined. > (3) To engage in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome of a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance. > (4) To produce or participate in the production for broadcasting of, to broadcast or participate in the broadcasting of, to offer to a licensee for broadcasting, or to sponsor, any radio program, knowing or having reasonable ground for believing that, in connection with a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance constituting any part of such program, any person has done or is going to do any act or thing referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection. > (5) To conspire with any other person or persons to do any act or thing prohibited by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection, if one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of such conspiracy. This is a criminal statute, not an FCC regulation, and persons found guilty are subject to a year in jail and up to $10,000 in fines per count. I don’t think the producers of the most highly rated reality show ever are going to risk it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/9 "2012-03-30T18:19:17Z")
> [@leatherband](#): > > if american idol isnt fake why dont they post the votes right on the show why because its all fake the producers pick all How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/10 "2012-03-30T19:18:58Z")
Nowdays they probably don’t post the votes since they don’t want people to see how much viewship has fallen off. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/11 "2012-03-30T19:50:14Z")
I don’t think **leatherband** is coming back. From the looks of his post, I’d say the producers got to hi ---
**Author:** ![Sampson2978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Sampson2978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampson2978)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol/617300/12 "2012-04-13T12:48:59Z")
While I agree that the likelihood of American Idol producers “fixing” the results are extremely low given the fact that, when (not if) it was discovered the value of the program would bottom out due to voter revolt, there is a legal argument (not necessarily persuasive) that 47 USC § 509 doesn’t apply to shows like American Idol or The Voice that rely on viewer votes. To wit: 47 USC § 509 only regulates conduct in relation to a “purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance.” Thus, the operative question becomes is singing an “intellectual skill”? Alternatively, does the fact that the results are purportedly determined by viewer votes make it a “purportedly bona fide contest of … chance”? I think an argument could be made either way, and if the producers were asking for my legal recommendation, I would advise them to err on the side of caution and refrain from any action that could be construed as engaging “in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome” of the competition. Just food for thought …