American Idolatry
I’ll give fair warning right from the outset here: this is a rant post. If your opinion of American Idol is too dear to you or too fragile to withstand criticism, you might want to stop reading right now. For those of you wearing your big boy pants, let us proceed.
So I watch American Idol. There are a lot of people around my office who try to ridicule me for admitting that (all of whom I’m convinced watch the show in secret themselves), but in my opinion, the show is pretty entertaining, especially at the beginning when you get to watch all the lunatics who just want to get on TV.
Well I think I’ve about had all I can stand of the show after last night’s episode, in which the eight wildcard hopefuls were selected by the judges. Here’s my issue: if the producers of the show were even thinly masking their shameless ploys for ratings in the past, they’ve stepped right out into the open now by picking Tatiana Del Toro as a wildcard possibility. She is quite possibly the single most obnoxious, ridiculous, annoying person living on the planet today, and the fact that the judges continue to advance her through from round to round can only mean that they know how annoying she is, and that America will watch because they can’t stand her. Good quality singers got snubbed from the wildcard round last night so this girl could go through and Idol could boost its ratings. In my opinion, that pretty much obliterates the credibility of the show and the claim the judges make so often over the course of each season that “This is a singing contest.”
Yeah, right.
It’s a selling contest, plain and simple. The judges have used the word “commercial” about the contestants enough this season already to make the price tags plain to see. I have no problem with that part of it, it’s the shameless ploys for ratings that drive me nuts. So pay attention, Idol: your ploys are backfiring. The annoying people you put through are so nails-down-a-chalkboard grating to my nerves that I can’t stand to watch anymore. If Tatiana gets through to the top 12 tonight, I’m done with the show for good, I swear it.
Also, on a side note, I think this year’s crop of contestants pretty much stinks. It’s gonna come down to Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds for the finals, that much is as good as scripted. The group of people that performed last night was awful for the most part. And does anybody notice a trend with the judges? Jorge Nunez was okay, but not phenomenal, but the judges lauded over him like crazy because he’s “living the dream,” coming from Puerto Rico to Hollywood and all that. Scott MacIntyre (the blind guy) seems like a genuinely nice guy, and with the piano he’s good, but his voice alone is really not that spectacular, but Kara actually said, “You move mountains when you take the stage.” Huh? Move mountains? Really? It just seemed all a little too affirmative action to my taste. Even Danny Gokey, whose voice I like, seems to be getting a lot of play because of his story, his wife having recently passed away and all.
So if it’s really a singing contest, let’s stick to the singing. That’s my final word.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I think this says all you need to know:
Incidentally, I agree. If Tatiana makes it through, I’m done watching. It’s not a concern, however, because I think most of the viewers actually agree with you, which is why she didn’t make it through her first viewer-voted round.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Love your post/rant. Have to agree with 99% of your issues with this year’s show to date. The affirmative action comment struck a chord, but in the opposite direction! How can you have a singing contest and NOT have a Brother represented? I guess the Puerto Rican (Jorge) and the Indian (Anoop) filled the requirements of having a male contestant of color. And that is cool, but to hear Randy (sell-out) and Kara characterize singing as “soulful,” a term used for R&B (Black) singers, makes me laugh, why not simply pick the Black guy Ju Not if you are looking for a soulful singer.
In the end it will come down to Danny and Lil Rounds, as the cream always rises to the top, despite the games the producers and judges play.
March 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Yeah, but if I understood correctly, the judges are actually selected the three wild card participants, not the viewers. I could be wrong about that, though.
And that article proves my point.
March 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@Twin311:
I’m a little put off with your position. Affirmative action in any environment is just plain stupid. How about just letting the best be the best, regardless of color? By AA philosophy, if there were 20 contestants, including one black guy, and the black guy were the least talented, we’d still have to accept that he remain part of the competition just because he’s black. That makes about as much sense as voting for someone just because he’s black. Everyone suffers as a result, including the “brother” who is now under the delusion that he deserves to be in the contest when he doesn’t. The same is true for any race or any other factor other than talent. How about we just stick with the best of the best?
Now, I will say one thing for sure: Ju’not got robbed. I thought he was a great singer with very intelligent musical senses. His choice of direction on “Hey Hey Delilah” was excellent. He made an otherwise ridiculous and boring song actually interesting. The fact that he’s not longer in the competition and Tatiana is speaks directly to MightyThor’s point. It wasn’t a “talent” decision, it was a ratings decision and a travesty.
Well done, Idol. :-/
March 6th, 2009 at 10:03 am
While I’m not as disturbed by the decision to include Tatiana as you guys (pre-emptive note: I absolutely cannot stand the girl), I agree that this was a total ratings ploy. Why it won’t prevent me from watching the show is, like MHH said, the knowledge that as soon as America gets hold of her, she’ll be out. Whether it was last night (I haven’t watched yet) or in the top 12. Until then I’ll just use that magic little FFWD button on my remote whenever she appears.
I guess I’m not as put off by the ratings ploys as Thor. Maybe I’ve just accepted the show for what it is, which is not (entirely) a singing contest. It’s a TV show first and a pop-star contest second. The singing is only tertiary. And you have to admit that even if you stop watching because of Tatiana, 100 other people will be glued to their TVs because of her. It’s the same reason that Simon continues to play his “cold british jerk” persona, because every show needs an antagonist. He could easily make the same comments (which are almost always right) in a gentler more constructive way, but we would be bored listening to him. The producers know that you have to hate somebody or you will lose interest.
As for the pop-star part, I’m not nearly invested enough in who wins to give a crap. Though I do feel bad for the truly talented singers who get overshadowed by someone else’s ratings potential. Ju’Not is one of these. He deserved a shot. Certainly over such forgettables as Ricky and Von. But ratings translate to record sales, right? Even if the singer isn’t that good (which, let’s face facts, most of the Idol winners haven’t been). So I have to admit, if it were my show, I might have picked Tatiana too. Assuming I didn’t punch her in the face first.
March 6th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Oh, and I forgot to mention that what would make me consider dropping the show is if America were to turn brain dead and actually vote her past the first round. Then my hope for this nation would truly die (it almost did after the presidential election, but this would be the clincher).
BRING BACK ALEX!