American Idol... I've never watched it and hate it.

[DemSinceBirth]

I left MSNBC on afte Keith and Joe seems to be infatuated with it.

Me? I think it's an excuse to be mean (read republican). All in the old Horatio Alger myth.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Simon Cowel... whatever his name is, is an asshole.

There is enough mean in the world, why would would I want to fill my free time with it? :shrug:

[mrcheerful]

4. What I don't understand is why is he a judge? Before the show aired I never heard of him

so is he a singer himself or just one of those conserative assholes who think they are better then everyone else and goes out of his way to show the world how big of an asshole he is? It seems conseratives adore him and admire him for tearing others down.

[WinkyDink]

9. Cowell is a British mega-millionaire music producer who also produced

"Pop Idol", the UK original.
He's got a knack for finding "the next big thing" in Pop music.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Cowell

[Canuckistanian]

24. He sounds like the "George Bush" of the music world

Really. So many failures, his daddy bailing him out all the way.

Wish I had a daddy like that.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

67. He's one of the nicest people I ever worked with

In film/TV. (I used to crew on some things -- including a couple days on Am. Idol.)

He came around to all the crew following the NYC auditions and thanked us all for our work -- which was the first and only time I've ever seen a "celebrity" do such a thing.

The other two -- Paula and Randy -- were...unpleasant...to say the least.

[Kerrytravelers]

77. Shame this isn't what we see on tv.

I know that every reality show has to have the villain. But this is a major turn-off for people like me. I am really no fan of "reality" television to begin with, but the whole "let's have a villain" thing is annoying, at least in my humble little opinion.

I appreciate what you've relayed. Unfortunately, my viewing choices can only come from the impressions I get on the commercials when this is the way they choose to portray him.

[tularetom]

2. If you've never watched it how do you know you hate it?

Just askin. I've watched it a few times and its too painful for me to watch people knowingly making fools of themselves.

[JackBeck]

13. But they've read everything about what other people think

instead of forming their own opinion. So, give them some slack, OK.

[LostinVA]

45. Hehehehehe

I love AI, and freely admit it. I don't get the impulse that gets people to post these anti-AI/Survivor/etc. threads... especially when they've never watched the shows. Slagging other people's entertainment is tres weird to me (unless we're discussing Rachael Ray, of course -- she asks for it!!!). I like to have some fun entertainment in my life -- I can't spend all of my TV time watching Gestapo documentaries (although I like them, too!).

Now, even Haruka is hooked on Idol.... hehehehhehe.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

59. What have you done to me, woman?

:cries:

[LostinVA]

60. Get dressed and get in the damn car, woman!

[DemSinceBirth]

43. I see the ads and news blurbs.

That's all I can take.

[tyedyeto]

3. I've never seen it either.

Just don't know what the fuss is all about.

I can remember a few years ago when "Idol" parties were the rage, but I never saw one episode. What's different from then and now?

edit for a spelling error

[KurtNYC]

76. Here is what you're missing:

They exclude kids who have had professional training and/or representation then they audition these kids who can't sing and tell most of them they can't sing. Then half the country decides Simon is mean because he tells people who can't sign that they can't sing in an un-gentle manner.

Anyone who manages to slip through that actually can remember the lyrics, has breathe control and accurate pitch makes it to the final rounds but is at the mercy of the screwy phone voting system.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. Me neither. I've never seen the show and do not plan to.

[MrSlayer]

6. Abuse followed by glorified karaoke contest.

Garbage in other words. Flat out garbage.

[WinkyDink]

14. Karaoke by definition doesn't include either a capella (the auditions)

or live bands (actual competition).
AI is not karaoke.

[MrSlayer]

23. Whatever, it still sucks.

Call it what you will, doing covers, karaoke, bellowing at the moon, it's horrid.

[LostinVA]

46. Exactly -- and some DAMN good singers have been on the show

One, Jennifer Hudson, just won a Golden Globe, and earned an Oscar nod this year. Kelly Clarkson is a very talented singer/songwriter (even in you don't like her stuff). Even that little spazzkins Diana DeGarmo has had some big success on Broadway. Bo Bice, Kim Locke, Katherine McPhee, etc. carrie Underwood is adequate, and just won a CMA Award as Best Female Singer. There are others, too. Very rarely do truly untalented singers make it far in this competition. Even Kellie Pickler has good raw talent and (per the industry) is a talented songwriter.

Even good singers aren't always skilled enough for good a capella.

[tridim]

7. One thing is clear, it hasn't produced any artistic music in 5 years

I thought the point of the show was to find talented singers, instead they find 'B' class corporate pop stars and use them to make money. It's worthless.

I've only watched one or two shows, but I've seen all the "American Idol" results. Not impressed at all.

[NYCGirl]

11. Except for Jennifer Hudson, who's nominated for an Oscar this year

for Dreamgirls.

[WinkyDink]

15. What's so artistic about her, that other AI alums aren't? Just because she's

singing a song in a movie? She didn't write it (isn't that always a knock on AI singers?).

[NYCGirl]

34. She's pretty great — so Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday weren't artists

because they didn't write the songs?
:eyes:

(Not that Jennifer Holiday is either of those people — yet.)

[Left Is Write]

71. I agree with you.

When people complain that singers who do not write their own songs aren't "artists", the first people I think of are Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. They didn't write songs or music. Their talents were in their voices, their charisma, their ability to interact with their fans, and the way each was able to put his personal stamp of individuality on every song he sang.

[LostinVA]

48. And just won the Golden Globe

RAVE reviews from about every reviewer, who said she totally showed up Beyonce.

Hudson had way too much attitude on Idol, but she's a damned good singer, with a true "hard luck" childhood.

[wicket]

20. In the newest edition of Playboy, Simon has an interview

He said he's only in it for the money - they are there to pick people who will make them money. At least he's up front about it.

[LostinVA]

49. Of course he is -- HE'S one of the ones who produces them

Paula Abdul is insane, and definitely has a problem with something, but she is usually dead on in her critiques of the singers. When she's not totally Opiate-drugged out, she's a terrific judge.

[S n o w b a l l]

35. You don't like Chris Daughtry?

[LostinVA]

68. I like him alot

[S n o w b a l l]

79. Thank you....me too!

[LostinVA]

47. Kelly Clarkson is a very talented singer/songwriter

Her stuff is very good, even if it's not always my type of music.

Jennifer Hudson just won a Golden Globe, and has an Oscar nod. Carrie Underwood has won a CMA award. Many others are doing well on Broadway, or in their genres (ie Gospel).

[mvd]

75. Definitely

She's my favorite to come out of Idol so far. Breakaway truly was a breakaway for her - in the sense that she did her own thing and very well. I proudly own that CD.

And not all of the talented ones make it to the end. Nadia was eliminated at #9 I think, and Gedeon didn't even make the top 12.

I just see AI as a little fun in the wacky Bush years.

[MadMaddie]

8. Here's the thing....the public knows what the show is about and

so do the contestants.

What I don't understand is the utter devastation the contestants feel after being told they are not good enough.

No self esteem, no pride nothing but groveling, and begging, I don't understand it.

It's a competitive coompetition and people lose. That's life.

That may seem cruel but come on....

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

64. They have been cruel since the beginning of the show...

the people who audition for this show know exactly what they are getting into. Its television , just saying yes and no you're not good is not good enough for tv. Picking on the contestants adds good tv and everyone knows it. Nothing is different from this season than previous ones. If you think that you are that good enough to put yourself in front of them , you should already believe that you are the American Idol... and by that I mean you should have thick skin. If not , then don't put yourself through it.

And if they (music industry) really wanted talent , they could go into any music school or any church and find kick ass singers - but they don't ...

[Digit]

10. I have watched it enough to know it is mean spirited

If you want to do something to find hidden talent, why parade untalented people on TV in front of millions of people and make fun of them in front of their family and friends.

I cannot think of a meaner show on televison than this one and have not watched it since Clay and the other guy was one.

I hear it has even become more mean than before, if that is possible.

[LostinVA]

50. People aren't made to audition

The semi finalists are ALWAYS talented singers, even if the talent is raw (Camille Vasquez, Kellie Pickler, etc.).

The only people I feel sorry for are the minors who totally can't sing, and whose parents urge them or force them into trying out. However, most of the "mean" highlights of the shows are rarely kids.

[BlooInBloo]

12. It's a fine statement on America: more people watched it than the SOTU on all channels combined.

[WinkyDink]

17. And watching the psychopathic liar Bush would be preferable?

[BlooInBloo]

18. (shrug) It's your country. You decide what's important.

[Left Is Write]

70. Not watching the SOTU does not mean the issues contained therein are not important.

For most of us, it means we just can't stand watching or listening to that man.

If DU denizens didn't find American politics, and in particular the policies and actions of the current administration, important - we wouldn't be HERE at all. Amazingly, however, some of us still manage to enjoy lowbrow entertainment from time to time.

[LostinVA]

51. Bingo

[jobycom]

29. That is an encouraging statement. Americans are finally understanding

the difference between staged entertainment and whatever you would call American Idol.

[Left Is Write]

69. I rarely watch Bush speeches. I can't stand listening to the sound of his voice.

I couldn't watch the SOTU on Tuesday night because I was at a Girl Scout meeting. I did, however, arrive home in time to watch American Idol.

My viewing/not viewing of the SOTU has nothing to do with my viewing/not viewing American Idol.

I usually read transcripts of Bush speeches. His words are infinitely more maddening when heard directly from his mouth.

[Maine-ah]

84. maybe that's more of a statement about

Bush, and our SOTU....not the people of America.


Personally I'd rather watch AI than Bush.

[BuelahWitch]

87. I watched SOTU in a bar and made snarky comments

It was fun. :hide:

[nashville_brook]

16. maria milito is as bad as the AI judges -- HATE HER!

the those poor auditioners -- the "worst" ones -- they're clearly mentally not well. i really wish they wouldn't put their humilation on TV for mass comsumption. it's just savage.

[Mike Daniels]

19. Then I guess the whole entertainment industry culling process is Republican

I speak as someone who isn't that big of a fan of the show and who wouldn't knock himself out to get home to see it. But in all honesty...

Get real. Do you honestly think if these self-delusioned wanna-bes went to a studio and pitched their talent that they'd hear anything different?

The show has been on five years now. Anyone who auditions and doesn't think they run the risk of being dimissed in front of "x" number millions of people has been living under a rock.

Furthermore, I place more blame for any humiliation these contestants may feel on their friends and family who either didn't have the honesty/guts to say "Damn, you suck" or in some mean spirted sense of fun said "Dude, you so fucking rock. You'd kick ass on American Idol".

Don't want to have your dreams dashed? Don't audition for one of the biggest freaking shows in televised history. It's that bloody simple.

[LostinVA]

52. Exactly -- I was on the edges of the music industry

And, Simon and Randy are WAY nicer than most music execs would be. And, even though Paula Abdul is bonkers, she is never harsh or mean to anyone UNLESS they start with attitude. She actually is often too nice, imo.

And, I've garnered more than a few rejection emails and letters for my writing -- some nice, some neutral, and some nasty. That's what the music, publishing, and acting industries are all about: having yourself judged. If you can't handle it, don't do it.*


*This excludes minors, whose parents should know better.

[yasmina27]

21. You couldn't pay me enough to watch it n/t

[Canuckistanian]

22. I accidentally watched a few seconds of it...

And hated it more. This whole "being judged by clueless idiots" in singing contests is totally unreal.

Imagine how many legends wouldn't have passed this snobbish "sniff test"

Joe Cocker, Neil Young, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison and Bono couldn't pass that test today.

We'd be left with endless "Whitney Houston's" and "Michael Bolton's", if we took their "advice" on how modern singers should sound.

[LostinVA]

53. I don't always agree with the judges, but they aren't' "clueless idiots"

They have all been very, very successful in the music industry.

[Little Wing]

25. It's pure, unadulterated shit. nt

[Crabby Appleton]

26. Me too!

[Okiojira]

27. Never watched it either, except for seeing small excerpts at the end of Olbermann

I have no use whatsoever for this phony piece of showbiz bullshit that's given the world Clay Aiken and Kelly fucking Clarkson. :puke:

Goddamn it, America - get some musical TASTE, for Chrissakes!!! :mad:

Ahhhhh, that's better.....

[johnnie]

28. Too bad people use up their hatred on TV

But I'll say, I don't mind the show. I agree with Simon and when he is being a dick, he is just being what people will run across if they ever try to make it in show business.

And for the "talentless karaoke" crowd, you have no idea what you're talking about. The other night they had a young lady who sand a Jeff Buckley song and kicked ass. They asked her to sing something more contemporary and she nailed it, then she sang some opera. The chick had more singing talent in her little finger than 90% of the "cool" singers that are considered talented.

If ya don't like a TV show, that's cool, but the continual yapping on here about a fucking television show gets really old. Go watch one of the shows that have been given the thumbsup by the really in-the-know crowd, like "West Wing", "24" or some other Teevee show and feel superior, save your hatred for Iraq, bush or some other thing that really sucks.

[Stu DeBeouf]

30. OR....

get a girlfriend.

[johnnie]

32. LOL

[S n o w b a l l]

36. You go johnnie!

:toast:

[cmkramer]

38. I didn't think she was particularly good in any genre

but everyone was pretty meh to me Wednesday night. But I give her credit for song choice and for not overloading her audition with useless melisma. Sometimes you want to shake those kids and tell them, "JUST SING THE DAMN SONG! Stop dressing it up like a Chrsitmas tree with irrelevant ornamentation!"

[johnnie]

41. I thought she was pretty good

She seemed to be comfortable in all three genre's in my opinion. It's funny, I picked the last two winners on their auditions, I wonder if I can do it three years in a row. I'm not saying that girl was the one this year, but I think she has a good chance. We'll see.

[cmkramer]

89. My favorite contestant thus far is Sundance Head

He's the son of Roy Head who had a big hit back in the 1960's with "Treat Her Right".

[LostinVA]

54. Young singers need to lose the melisam -- or learn to control it better

To me, it can make a really good singer sound really staged and bad. Katherine McPhee, imo, became a much better singer after she did just that.

[Mike Daniels]

40. People need to give up the whole talentless karaoke routine

When the same industry voters who bestow awards on Springsteen and U2 decide to award past winners (Clarkson and Underwood) and runner ups (Hudson) it's obvious that that tired argument no longer holds water.

Music history is full of people who didn't do anything but sing songs written by other people. While no-one who isn't severely drunk or on dope is going to compare AI winners with the Temptations or Elvis I can think of any number of successful singers that have displayed less talent than some winners from AI.

[johnnie]

42. I agree

Idol is just a talent contest and anyone who says that no one on that show has any talent is either tone deaf or mimicking what they hear other people say.

Most of the music on American Idol isn't my bag, but I like to hear people "off the streets" do their thing. As you say, music history is filled with thousands of people who were singers and that's what they did. They used to call them "song stylists".

I've said it before, there is room for every kind of music out there and I think people who truly love music understands that.

[LostinVA]

55. I agree, except for one thing

Hehehhehe.

Clarkson writes many of her own songs.

[Left Is Write]

72. Hallelujah and amen. Well said, Johnnie.

[jobycom]

31. And you're proud of hating something you've never experienced?

:shrug: I wouldn't be.

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. It does not cause me to have such strong emotions as yours.

:hi:

[LostinVA]

56. I heard you tried to audition for AI

You forged a birth certificate and everything.

Well, that's what SOME people have told me, anyway.

[ScreamingMeemie]

61. The true story is that they told me I was really just too good for

their show. Go figure.

[LostinVA]

62. I heard you sang the Lions' fight song

True?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

37. I loved the very first season, which I stumbled onto accidentally.

The kids heard about the auditions and came sincerely and without any huge expectations, mostly because they (for better or worse) thought themselves to have some talent and/or a small future in the music business. Even the judges were fresh and new and excited and nervous about the format and it's future.

But as the show grew, people saw the opportunity for real fame, regardless of talent, and that included the judges and the sponsors and the network.

Now it is an entirely different animal. Talented singers show up with a resume and an agent. The non-talented come to get their fifteen minutes because on occasion that's all it takes to create a side show business. William Hung admits that he has made a million bucks on his cottage industry. And the judges, previous has-beens looking for a gig, are now giant celebrities who are "bored" with the process.

But in all honesty, couldn't we see this coming?

[begin_within]

39. But 'American Idol' DID give Bo Bice huge nationwide media exposure.

That's one good thing they did.

[LostinVA]

57. Yum -- I saw my Growly Beardy Bear in concert this Summer

Tres good.

He and Jude Law are the only men who could almost make me bat for the other time.

[MonkeyFunk]

44. There are literally

thousands of shows I've never seen, but I certainly can't muster up the energy to hate them.

I know it's a point of pride for a lot of people to hate things from popular culture, but I never "got" that bug.

[LostinVA]

58. Yup, me either

As I said in that thread last week: it's often some kind of weird elitist thing.

[RebelOne]

63. I have only watched one time and that was because

I was forced to. I was on vacation in a mountain cabin in Tennessee with my daughter. She said she absolutely could not miss American Idol. Well, since she had confiscated the remote and the TV was on high on the wall where I couldn't reach the controls, I had no choice.

[LanternWaste]

65. It's a glitzed up Gong-Show with very effective cross-marketing.

I think it's no more than a glitzed up Gong-Show with very effective cross-marketing.

I'm obviously not in the targeted demographic for the show as I think it's about as peurile a show as can be made (I watched an episode the first or second season).

American Idol, Survivor, The Greatest Race, et.al-- more indications of the continuing downfall of Western Civ.

(Before I get acused of being elitist, I'm the first one to say that I wish Solid Gold had never gone off the air... :) )

[racaulk]

66. Agreed. I'd rather scoop my eyeballs out with a spoon. n/t

[Pool Hall Ace]

73. Does Keith always report on American Idol?

I watched Keith for the first time in quite a while last night, but turned the sound down when the AI part came on. Then the TV went off.

The night before, I was cold, so I crawled under the covers with my dog to warm up, leaving the TV on during King of the Hill (and I almost never leave the TV on). The next show on was American Idol. I can't believe some of the contestants see themselves as talented.

It just seems like the damn show is always on. Maybe the only solution for me is to leave the squawkbox off.

[JCMach1]

74. I only watch the auditions... hate the rest

but it is trash TV enjoy it as such...

[Shell Beau]

78. The second part of the show, which is when the voters decide,

isn't like the first part. But, if you have never seen it, then how do you know you hate it. How can you say you like or dislike something without ever trying it? It is a freakin' talent show, don't read too much into it. :eyes:

[sakabatou]

80. Ach!

>_<

[huskerlaw]

81. Dan Quayle, is that you?

Personally, I don't care about American Idol one way or the other.

What I can't stand is people who pass judgments about things they haven't experienced.

"I hate it. Haven't seen it, but I hate it." just smacks of ignorance. It's annoying.

[Shell Beau]

83. Thank you!!

I don't care if you like it or not, but how do you know if you haven't even seen it?!?

[NC_Nurse]

82. What I don't get is...

when did TV shows become news? They talk about TV shows all the time now?

:wtf:

[BuelahWitch]

88. Bingo!

I think there wouldn't be so much bad feeling about reality shows if they weren't shoved down our throats. Let them do their own advertising, keep them off the damn news.

[chknltl]

85. The moon...never been there and I hate it!

I have little problem admitting that I have enjoyed many episodes of American Idol. I feel that many of the final 12 singers are quite talented and in a few cases maybe even gifted. Of those artists who have sang on that show, I am saddened that none here has mentioned Clay Aiken. I predict that in the next few years he will emerge as the next Barry Manilo. (No I do not care for Barry Manilo...I do appreciate his talent and his tremendous impact on the industry)

Oh, and I lied about the moon...sorry about the snark there DemSinceBirth. I am fully aware that no art will be loved or hated or otherwise by all in the same ways...this is a good thing and I am sure you agree with that.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

86. Just more evidence of the hatred and meanness in our society.

Also, they only allow a certain style of singing, and if you have talent and sing some other style than what they call "R&B" which is NOT "R&B" then you are S.O.L. They act like no other kind of music exists except what they want. You don't hear a variety of music on TV like you used to, even on the Gong Show.