Comments on: American Idol is Exploitive

By: Pro-life Gem on American Idol - Fallible Blogma

Pro-life Gem on American Idol - Fallible Blogma — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:48:20 +0000

[...] enjoy watching American Idol, especially now with the new judges. It’s got its flaws. But overall it is nice to see people using their God given talents and going after their dreams. [...]

By: ed humphreys

ed humphreys — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:53:55 +0000

Exploitation with a capital E, tens of thousands of wannabee singers in every major city in the u.s. with tens of thousands of supporters paying to attend the tryouts. I think it rates up there with the ponzi schemes. It is no longer entertainment but a mania in a nation starved for decent entertainment and so many amatuer singers getting their hopes up and bypassing the traditional way to the top with local talent shows and talent searchers sorting them out.
Talent will out, if effort is expended. There are no short cuts to fame. Hard work and lot of luck.

By: lionel (acid42)

lionel (acid42) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:12:10 +0000

You’ve got a good point. We laugh because they’re so bad.Whoever does prelim judging has probably set these guys up for failure while the cameras roll.

I think maybe it’s time to stop watching.

By: chelsea s.

chelsea s. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:00:52 +0000

more people tuned into AI than Obama’s Inaguration speech. Which is worse? :/

By: Is G.W. Bush Your Homeboy? | Fallible Blogma - A Catholic social commentary

Is G.W. Bush Your Homeboy? | Fallible Blogma - A Catholic social commentary — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:23:28 +0000

[...] way we all acted reminds me more of American Idol auditions than American Ideals and ambitions. So perhaps I shouldn’t be all that [...]

By: Matthew Warner

Matthew Warner — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:58:02 +0000

Good insights, all! Thank you for sharing.

By: Kirsten Johnson

Kirsten Johnson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:43:49 +0000

I completely agree. What is strange to me is how people do not see this disregard for humanity, or simply turn a blind eye to it. I have watched maybe ten minutes of an American Idol show and to me it seemed more like watching someone going up on stage only be emotionally tortured than watching people with genuine talent. SOMEWHERE these people in these later rounds have gotten the idea they can sing, as you said, and sing well! American Idol has always just seemed barbaric to me, like putting the weak in with the lions in the Colosseum and then laughing at them when they do not have the ability to escape torture and embarrassment. It is just in a different form.

By: Doug M

Doug M — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:44:03 +0000

Matt,

While I agree with you that AI judges are doing this terrible thing of bringing people who are not “aware” as maybe they should be and embarrassing them, I do not believe AI is should receive all the blame.

I, too, have laughed at how they embarrass these folks and especially the people who have all their faculties. I also find it sickening when the person is obviously put up in front of the judges so they can make fun of them. It’s deplorable and I am in no way excusing AI.

But let me say this, the persons that we are speaking of should have NEVER found their way into an AI audition to begin with. PC has made it where we cannot be honest with people. If I am not very good at something then I should not be lead to believe that I am by those who love me the most. Where are these persons parents, relatives and friends? Why did they not tell this person the truth?

I think the problem you speak of is much deeper than reality shows… it is really the inability of people to be truthful.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:29:07 +0000

Couldn’t agree more Matt. It’s sad really. But such is the American way. Look at the popularity of talk shows, made for TV court shows, etc. I actually think that these shows appeal to the masses because they serve as personal confidence boosters. Folks get addicted to the enjoyment seeing someone with worse problems than their own. Same type of semi-voluntary exploitation.

It’s disgusting TV really, across the board.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:16:06 +0000

The participants don’t just get humiliated in front of the American audience but else where in the world too. Yes, I used to find the preliminary rounds entertaining and hilarious but not anymore. Now, I find it painful to watch. I don’t care for those who try to be funny & just want to be on TV, and I pity those who are being exploited. Nowadays, I just try to catch the last few episodes where the real competition heats up.