American Idol Season 12 Episode 5
I have to say this is the first negative comment I've ever made on the IMDb, and American Idol is a show I've been enjoying lately. But I have to say I was DISGUSTED by tonight's episode, the auditions from Austin, Texas from this season, Season 5. Whoever was responsible for the systematic destruction of a poor 17 year old girl named Tess who appeared on the episode should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Now, just to be clear, I've never met this girl, I don't even know her full name, but she auditioned bravely, but failed to impress the judges. To be absolutely honest I know NOTHING about music or singing, and even I could tell she wasn't going to go through to Hollywood. HOWEVER, the show stooped to unbelievably, dangerously cruel depths to humiliate her. Making it clear with "humorous" sound effects that she was heavy, cutting to Simon's reaction to imply, explicitly, that she was not attractive. It was the cruelest, lowest exploitation I have EVER seen on national TV. I don't want to sound pious but I couldn't help but think about that girl, tuning in to watch herself and being utterly devastated. To be taunted in front of 50 million people. NOBODY DESERVES THAT. And this girl, let me repeat, is 17. 17 years old. A child. I very much hope she wasn't watching, unfortunately I'm pretty sure she was, because it's human nature. Whoever edited and produced this should take a long look at themselves in the mirror. I felt ashamed of myself, just for being complicit by watching it. I enjoy the show, and yeah, sometimes it's fun to watch deluded people who can't sing react to Simon giving it straight. It's addictive TV, but with the power all the advertising revenue and high ratings grant these people also comes some Responsibility. When there's a young girl of 17 involved then you simply HAVE to show some restraint, if not some compassion. Take apart the older, more weird contestants, hey, I'll laugh with everybody else. But young, impressionable girls don't deserve to see themselves ridiculed in front of 50 million people by some sociopath with a working knowledge of Final Cut Pro. It's just not right.
There comes a time in every reasonable man's life when he must sit down in his living room and watch an episode of American Idol. Truth is I'm not a reasonable man. Or even a reasonable woman, now that I think about it. I have, however, watched an episode of American Idol and will go so far as to say that I have religiously watched three seasons of it. First season was great. Second season was good. During third season, I got wiser and realized that the show wasn't as good anymore, but still I watched. It had lost its magic, its X-Factor, you could say. During fourth season, I watched four or five episodes. By then, I had rediscovered sitcom television. Now comes fifth season, and the inevitable disappointment that lurks around the show reappears again. Yet, people still watch the show because they are too brainwashed not to.
Then again, what else is there to watch on Tuesdays? Or Wednesdays. Or Thursdays. Or any other night of the week, for that matter. I mean, why watch anything else when I can watch the new season or reruns of past performances made readily available via my Handy-Dandy DVD player? (Yes, we bought the Best of Season One. So sue me.) I must say that American Idol has become predictable. A "dude, man, dawg" from Randy Jackson. An "I just want to eat you up and make all our viewers sick to their stomachs with my infinite well of gaga comments" from Paula Abdul. And "Enter sarcastic, British remark here" from Simon Cowell. Cue Ryan Seacrest's idiotic retort and make-the-girls-swoon smile. The contestants are the same: air-headed bimbos, wannabe rockers, real rockers, melt-the-camera-with-a-stare heartthrobs, belters, and the like. For goodness sake, give us something good to watch again! Every now and then we get fantastic singers like Kelly Clarkson, Tamira Grey, and Clay Aiken. The rest are a little more or less than mediocre. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I heard Ruben, Fantasia, or Diana on the radio. Don't even mention Justin Guarini. What a waste of his perfectly good talent. The only thing Idol can do for you is give you a year, if that, of fame, then send you on back home to the karaoke bars in Oneida, Tennessee. Tough break, kids.
I have to say this is the first negative comment I've ever made on the IMDb, and American Idol is a show I've been enjoying lately. But I have to say I was DISGUSTED by tonight's episode, the auditions from Austin, Texas from this season, Season 5. Whoever was responsible for the systematic destruction of a poor 17 year old girl named Tess who appeared on the episode should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Now, just to be clear, I've never met this girl, I don't even know her full name, but she auditioned bravely, but failed to impress the judges. To be absolutely honest I know NOTHING about music or singing, and even I could tell she wasn't going to go through to Hollywood. HOWEVER, the show stooped to unbelievably, dangerously cruel depths to humiliate her. Making it clear with "humorous" sound effects that she was heavy, cutting to Simon's reaction to imply, explicitly, that she was not attractive. It was the cruelest, lowest exploitation I have EVER seen on national TV. I don't want to sound pious but I couldn't help but think about that girl, tuning in to watch herself and being utterly devastated. To be taunted in front of 50 million people. NOBODY DESERVES THAT. And this girl, let me repeat, is 17. 17 years old. A child. I very much hope she wasn't watching, unfortunately I'm pretty sure she was, because it's human nature. Whoever edited and produced this should take a long look at themselves in the mirror. I felt ashamed of myself, just for being complicit by watching it. I enjoy the show, and yeah, sometimes it's fun to watch deluded people who can't sing react to Simon giving it straight. It's addictive TV, but with the power all the advertising revenue and high ratings grant these people also comes some Responsibility. When there's a young girl of 17 involved then you simply HAVE to show some restraint, if not some compassion. Take apart the older, more weird contestants, hey, I'll laugh with everybody else. But young, impressionable girls don't deserve to see themselves ridiculed in front of 50 million people by some sociopath with a working knowledge of Final Cut Pro. It's just not right.
There comes a time in every reasonable man's life when he must sit down in his living room and watch an episode of American Idol. Truth is I'm not a reasonable man. Or even a reasonable woman, now that I think about it. I have, however, watched an episode of American Idol and will go so far as to say that I have religiously watched three seasons of it. First season was great. Second season was good. During third season, I got wiser and realized that the show wasn't as good anymore, but still I watched. It had lost its magic, its X-Factor, you could say. During fourth season, I watched four or five episodes. By then, I had rediscovered sitcom television. Now comes fifth season, and the inevitable disappointment that lurks around the show reappears again. Yet, people still watch the show because they are too brainwashed not to.
Then again, what else is there to watch on Tuesdays? Or Wednesdays. Or Thursdays. Or any other night of the week, for that matter. I mean, why watch anything else when I can watch the new season or reruns of past performances made readily available via my Handy-Dandy DVD player? (Yes, we bought the Best of Season One. So sue me.) I must say that American Idol has become predictable. A "dude, man, dawg" from Randy Jackson. An "I just want to eat you up and make all our viewers sick to their stomachs with my infinite well of gaga comments" from Paula Abdul. And "Enter sarcastic, British remark here" from Simon Cowell. Cue Ryan Seacrest's idiotic retort and make-the-girls-swoon smile. The contestants are the same: air-headed bimbos, wannabe rockers, real rockers, melt-the-camera-with-a-stare heartthrobs, belters, and the like. For goodness sake, give us something good to watch again! Every now and then we get fantastic singers like Kelly Clarkson, Tamira Grey, and Clay Aiken. The rest are a little more or less than mediocre. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I heard Ruben, Fantasia, or Diana on the radio. Don't even mention Justin Guarini. What a waste of his perfectly good talent. The only thing Idol can do for you is give you a year, if that, of fame, then send you on back home to the karaoke bars in Oneida, Tennessee. Tough break, kids.
