If you audition for American Idol you should expect every visible/audible flaw of yours to be exploited. They are mean, but they've always been mean. If this were the first season I'd feel a little worse for the people, but this is season SIX. This has happened five times now. They know what they're getting into.

That's not to say that what the judges have been dishing out has been fair...calling that one guy a bush baby was quite cruel, and some contestants seem to genuinely not be "all there". But clearly as Idol is getting amazing ratings and lots of press about this, being "cruel" is good business. I just hope the kids are good sports and realize that while they're not good singers they're probably better people than the judges are.

A guy I'm in school with knew the guy who did "Thriller" last year and was so awful. He confirmed that there was, in fact, something wrong with him. That sucks. That sucks a lot. For most of the others whose only defect is delusion, they need to be taken down a peg, but you'd think they'd screen out the more "special" types

I can't believe people still watch this sh*t. Most of those 'contestants' are likely actors who sing badly to boost viewership.

Bush Baby and his tubby sidekick were on Jimmy Kimmel last night laughing and having a great time.

I'm not feeling too bad for any of them.

Fox: 'Idol' not cruel to contestantsviewers.

Fixed that for you Subby

Dude. If you suck at singing, you should be open to someone telling you you suck at singing. Period.

If you can't handle criticism (or hell, someone tell you the truth) you need to go someplace else. Music careers are FULL of rejection.

Wow, all the contestants must be forced to go to the non-voluntary try-outs, with guns to their heads! That's just down right cruel! All these pathetic idiots seeking fame and fortune... at gun point! Does Simon have a license for that pistol?

Dawg47: A guy I'm in school with knew the guy who did "Thriller" last year and was so awful. He confirmed that there was, in fact, something wrong with him. That sucks. That sucks a lot. For most of the others whose only defect is delusion, they need to be taken down a peg, but you'd think they'd screen out the more "special" types

Man, I KNEW there was something, um, "different" about that guy! The one who did "Thriller" (along with the MJ dance moves) and "She's Out of my Life," right? They conveniently excluded footage of him talking, which probably would've given it away. That DOES suck.

The "bush baby" guy probably had a mild case of some congential disease whose name I don't remember, but he was a pretty good sport about it.

Fact is that bears have the latest subscriptions to pickinik basket monthly.

I've never really watched American Idol, but I've been wondering... why don't they make a guitar version of the show? That at least has the potential to rock.

Well, I went to a summer camp for gifted kids with the REALLY FARKING WEIRD KID from the spelling bee documentary Spellbound...

Yeah, he really is that farking weird.

/he once stripped off all of his clothing and ran around the hall screaming that he was Superman
//didn't they find out the really fat kid in the Hawaiian shirt actually IS retarded?

In my opinion, all the losers should be shot on sight.
/better yet, do that to the winner too
//and the judges
///and the people that watch it

Personally, I'll start watching it when they stop picking singers with diva voices and pick singers with singer voices. Not everyone wants to hear a vocal pitch that can shatter glass.

Kali76: I can't believe people still watch this sh*t. Most of those 'contestants' are likely actors who sing badly to boost viewership.

I will second that. It's pathetic.

I work with a 70 year old lady. The only time of year she reads the newspaper (USA TODAY) is after the Idol season has started. I can't figure out what she is "reading" about it in the paper.

/THAT is farkin' scary
//It's drivel for retards on TV

Anyone who's enough of an attention whore to go on that show deserves whatever they get.

/though it can be fun to watch, at least in the early rounds

I'd never watched an episode of idol. Until last weeks show. The wife had it on, and they were auditioning these people. I thought it was shiat. Who the hell wants to only hear torch songs. Can you imagine Robert Plant or Brian Johnson on there? Music is made by musicians, playing instruments, writing lyriccs, jamming with a band. Who the fark listens to Karoke music?

That being said, I went and looked up the careers of the judges. Randy was a respected bass player, and that I understand. Paula, sand and danced. Not my style of music, but whatever blows your hair back.

And Simon. Simon went bankrupt twice and apparently never produced shiat, so he's a mystery to me.

You'd have to be pretty desperate to subject yourselves to these nobodies though.

Jedi_Templar: I've never really watched American Idol, but I've been wondering... why don't they make a guitar version of the show? That at least has the potential to rock.

You could try watching Rock Star.

It seems like the contestants are worse this year than previous years, so perhaps they deserve the additional criticism.

Last time I checked people who entered the silly contest did so voluntarily. If you are a lousy singer and don't want Simon to berate you, I suggest not trying out for American Idol.

Some of these contestants are so bad, they deserve to be insulted. They actually think they can SING? I would fall into that category, except for the fact i know I can't sing. So i wouldn't even consider going on the show. If they had one for playing instruments, that I can do. Do okay, good enough for the church potluck, not good enough professional. So people of this level deserve just a polite rejection. Tell them they aren't going to be the next IDOL, but be polite about it. Save the nastiness for the clueless screechers who couldn't carry a tune in a wheelbarrow.

Honesty /= cruelty

The truth isn't always a pleasant thing to hear or be confronted with, but that doesn't make it cruel. The cruel part is that these people's friends don't ever tell them how much they suck and then allow them to go on this show and make fools of themselves on national television.

I think society in general would be better off if more people were honest, rather then trying to sugar coat everything so people never get their feelings hurt. Bunch of pussies on this planet.

If all it takes is a few minutes of someone saying "mean things" to kill their dream and make them run in tears.. Then it was more of a "well, if they will give it to me, I'll take it" than a dream.