VOTE: Is American Idol Guilty of Cruelty to Contestants?
Tuesday January 23, 2007
You've seen the news segments and read the articles. The debate is officially on! Do the American Idol judges go too far when they criticize the horrible singers who walk into the auditions? Do they hit below the belt when they make fun of a person's looks? Do they make you cringe when they crush a wannabe's dreams? Or do you think people who audition for Randy, Paula, and Simon know what they're getting into? Do you think finger-wagging critics like Rosie O'Donnell need to relax and have a laugh? Hey, Idol fans. Tell me what you think!
The Poll:
Are Randy, Paula, and Simon cruel to contestants?
Comments
i think they need some break. it is really easy to sit on that chair and pin point. i am with the participants! grow up judges! encourage them to do their best!
This is really easy. Of course the judges could be a little more tactful but the real culprits are the ’screeners”. These people are the ones who line up the contestants who will appear on stage, in front of the judges, while the show is being televised. Forgetting for a moment that Simon is a judge, and accepting that he is the boss man of this show, then, he is to blame for keeping these screeners on the job. Obviously these mongrel fugitives should be fired and sent back to the “Gong Show” where they all must have come from.
LRJ.
As to the previous comment — perhaps that’s part of the “game plan” — the screeners admit some, unmistakenly, bad contestants just so the put-em-down-hard public will have something to talk about. When all the wannabees are gone, then you actually see some good judging and comments. Don’t want to see them bad-mouth a bad performance? Don’t watch!
I know it’s only a show and my guess is they set most of the ‘awful’ people up and probably even get their permission; however, as a person in the psychiatric field, there are times I cringe and don’t know whether to laugh or be mad because some people I know have significant psychiatric problems, and the experience must be horrible for them.
It is never right to be crude. Making fun of others is wrong. Their appearance is not in question here their ability to perform or present themselves is. Criticism on those lines in a constructive nature is all that is needed.
Also shame on American Idol. Not on the judges, for airing these comments. We as viewers watch to see the performances, not the judges antics.
American Idols popularity will fall if they continue along these lines. The hope and possibilities behind these performers is what makes this show popular. Not the crudeness of the judges.
Peggy
About the judges.
Simon is a professional. Even tho he may be blunt his comments usually are on the ball and constructive toward making an American Idol.
Paula is a disgrace to American Idol. It was one thing when she was just a flirty sex pot now she is obviously a drunk unable to even participate half the time. She needs to go.
Randy is a wimp. He can be a professional but he worries to much about what others think. He needs to stick to what the show is about.
They all do.
Everyone is making a joke out of this show. Professionalism went down the tubes last year and it is getting worse.
Peggy
It’s interesting that so far, the votes are split almost evenly - about 48% think the judges are cruel, and 48% think they aren’t.
Competition-based reality TV has to be mean to be watchable but I still think they crossed a line. If readers are so inclined, I wrote about this issue last week.
Sometimes it is neccessary to be blunt and straightforth with the contestants. However, in the same breath, there is absolutely no justification for humiliation and insulting a contestant based on their appearances. This show should be about promoting talent, not a beauty contest. And Simon of all people should have learned that after Clay Aikin.
I have no sympathy for these idols wannabes.They know what they are getting themselves into. The show is now in its sixth season, and the judges were never nice from day one.
Its reality TV! These unrelenting “audition” shows are edited together to appear any way that Fox thinks will reap ever highter ratings. Obvioulsly the William Hungs of the world score higher with viewers than the truly talented.
I don’t think the judges are harsh at all. My questions are: What is Paula’s purpose? What is she there for? She cannot think on her own. Does she have her own opinion. When she is the lead judge to critic the “idols,” she talks about what they have on, and not there talent. She repeats what Randy says and then Simon has to interpret with “I think what Paula is trying to say is…..” She is useless. I should be a judge.
THE JUDGES ARE BEING JUDGES. IF WE HAD THEM UP THERE TELLING THE CONTESTANTS THAT THEY ARE ALL GOOD, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT? SIMMON IS BEING HONEST. GETTING THEM REAL LIFE FOR THE REAL WORLD- (THE NEWS, THE MEDIA, THE PAPARAZZI). AMERICAN IDOL HAS BEEN LIVE FOR 5 YEARS. EVERYONE WHO WATCHES KNOWS HOW THEY ARE AND NEEDS TO BE PREPARED. DON’T COMPETE AND DON’T WATCH IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT. CHANGE THE CHANNEL