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(Washington Post)   "American Idol" is the torture camp of show business: We feel bad about it but we still like to watch   (washingtonpost.com) divider line
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4428 clicks; posted to Main » and Entertainment » on 17 Jan 2007 at 2:42 PM (16 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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Pocket Ninja [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2007-01-17 11:48:30 AM  
*INSERT GENERIC COMMENT ABOUT HOW NOT WATCHING AMERICAN IDOL MAKES ME SMARTER, MORE CULTURED, AND MORE MATURE THAN YOU*

(It's actually a fun show to watch with a beer or two. Or three.)
 
Action Replay Nick
2007-01-17 11:51:20 AM  
I don't feel bad about it. No one put a gun to their head and made them show up and humiliate themselves.

Pocket Ninja

Were you in the thread last night? I got pretty lit playing the "drink every time Simon says 'other door' game".
 
Pocket Ninja [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2007-01-17 11:58:16 AM  
Action Replay Nick: Were you in the thread last night?

No, I wasn't. That might have made it even more entertaining, though.
 
Bill_Wick's_Friend
2007-01-17 12:02:44 PM  
I don't feel bad about it.

I sometimes wonder how so many of these kids have gone through 16-22 years of life without SOMEONE telling them "uh....you're really not that good a singer".

Angry at Simon for being mean? They should be angry at their parents, family and friends for telling them lies for so long.
 
RocketRod
2007-01-17 12:29:09 PM  
My only gripe with reality shows, is that it means less scripted television. Other than that, the early auditions are pure schadenfreude.

/TV Script Coordinator
 
dillenger69
2007-01-17 1:30:12 PM  
submitter: but we still like to watch

No, no we don't.

/Karaoke Sucks.
//American Idol is a Karaoke contest.
///Therefore American Idol Sucks.
 
dedekind_cut
2007-01-17 2:09:29 PM  
dillenger69: ///Therefore American Idol Sucks.

I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections. More people care about who wins a corporate tool record contract than care about the future of our country.
 
Pocket Ninja [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2007-01-17 2:27:18 PM  
dedekind_cut: I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections. More people care about who wins a corporate tool record contract than care about the future of our country.

Part of the reason for that, of course, is that there are no age restrictions on who can "vote." Nor on how many times any single person can vote.

Do people who watch the Superbowl not care about the future of the country?
 
dedekind_cut
2007-01-17 2:35:58 PM  
Pocket Ninja: Do people who watch the Superbowl not care about the future of the country?

I am not saying its mutually exclusive... I am just concerned about the plurality of the situation, but you are right about multiple and underage voters.

We need to get diebold to manage the election system for American Idol.
 
CKBlack007
2007-01-17 2:48:50 PM  
First couple episodes of American Idol is "America's Sex with an Ex". You do it. You enjoy it. You know you will regret doing it while you are enjoying it. You feel cheap and ashamed after it is over because you could not find something better to do with the time.

/yeah I watched it.
 
squidloe
2007-01-17 2:50:18 PM  
Pocket Ninja,

Absolutely. I loved the "Ozzy: Bark at the Moon" chick at the end. She's had 10 years of vocal trainin????

It's called a guily pleasure for a reason.
 
Pucca
2007-01-17 2:50:47 PM  
American Idol was on last night?

/bitter they took off House
 
dylanthomas
2007-01-17 2:50:54 PM  
CKBlack007

That's pretty funny. If thats an original thought from your own mind then kudos, sir.
 
GingerGirl
2007-01-17 2:51:21 PM  
The first season or two I felt sorry for the people who auditioned. Then I figured that they had to know what the auditions are like and if they show up, they get what they get.

I too wonder if some of these people dont have at least one person who cares about them enough to tell them that they will make a complete ass of themselves if they show up.

/tivo it
//some of it is so painful that I have to fast forward
///if they cant take what Simon dishes out, they probably shouldnt be in show business anyways
 
squidloe
2007-01-17 2:52:10 PM  
dedekind_cut,

People vote more than once per show during American Idol. Most people only vote once in a presidential election, unless you live in Chicago. Or you're dead.
 
srhp29
2007-01-17 2:52:50 PM  
I watched it last night, and while I used to enjoy the people who were obviously not belonging, the first few episodes of this show are now a joke. What, in two hours, they only showed them hand out like 4 yellow pieces of paper yet they said 17 people (or something) made it from those auditions?

American Idol is fine once they get to Hollywood but these initial audition shows have worn out their welcome, IMO. They are so ridiculously produced (almost scripted obviously). It isn't like they don't have pre screeners that say whether or not someone even needs to go in front of the main judges...
 
Danger Mouse
2007-01-17 2:53:05 PM  
I am proud to say I have never watched American Idol.
 
toddl18
2007-01-17 2:53:14 PM  
Someone actually watches that crap?
 
The Homer Tax
2007-01-17 2:53:27 PM  
dillenger69: /Karaoke Sucks.
//American Idol is a Karaoke contest.
///Therefore American Idol Sucks.

Karakoe Night at a bar, IMHO, is one of the best nights to go. You are either a) Entertained by someone who can't sing and you make fun of them, or b) entertained by someone who can sing, and you appreciate them. It's Win-Win.

American Idol is very similar to that to me, that's why I watch it. I actually enjoy listening to the performances, evaluating them myself, and then seeing if my evaluation matches up with Simon's. If it does, then I think that I have done a good jorb.
 
dc-kid
2007-01-17 2:54:35 PM  
yep, I watched it last night. that pretty much sums it up. I only watch the 1st round for this very reason.

I say we come up with an offical American Idol drinking game. Taking a drink say, everytime Paula shakes her head left n' right. Everytime Simon says "ghastly" (sp), everytime Randy says "baby", "dude" or "hot". anyone else game?
 
Boyd Schidt
2007-01-17 2:54:54 PM  
Watching that show makes me realize how ugly the kids of America are these days.
 
squidloe
2007-01-17 2:55:08 PM  
GingerGirl,

The kids that clearly suck and say "my daddy/mommy/friends tell me all the time I am the bestest singerer and I should be on the radio encouraged me to be here" need to come out of that room, composed, and tell the parents and friends to go fark themselves long and hard. That, I would like to see.
 
Cerebral Ballsy
2007-01-17 2:55:42 PM  
RANT:

At first I was very confused by the nonsensical graphic at the side of the article. Then I clicked on and read a couple more Washington Pst articles, and another one had a nonsensical graphic.

Apparently The Washington Post cannot afford to display the whole graphic on the screen. You must click on it to see it.
 
TrevorP
2007-01-17 2:56:35 PM  
I watched it...for the same reason most people do: To hear the judges tear someone up.
 
mofomisfit
2007-01-17 2:56:45 PM  
I do not watch American Idol, and therefore I am smarter, more cultured and more mature than you.

/wayyyyyy tooo muchhhh caffeeeeeeiiinnneee ttodayyyy
 
Dynascape
2007-01-17 2:56:48 PM  
I was generally annoyed at their utter bowing down to the military people. I know we are "at war" and whatnot, but come on, could Fox lick the militaries ass any more? The girl in the Marines shouldnt have made it through, her voice was off key at least through half the song.

I dont know. That seemed too political for my patience. But thats Fox for you.
 
falcon176
2007-01-17 2:56:59 PM  
the show is bad ass until simon starts not telling everyone they suck a fat dick( usually after the open auditions). i'm disappointed i missed the first show.
but seriously how could you go on that show if you're that bad? want to find out if you suck? record yourself singing wait a few days listen to it. if your reaction is what the fark is this shiat then go on american idol so that simon will destroy you and everyone can have a good laugh.
 
Cerebral Ballsy
2007-01-17 2:57:04 PM  
Apparently I posted my rant on the wrong thread and referenced the wrong paper. Nevermind. NYT, next thread up.
 
squidloe
2007-01-17 2:57:06 PM  
dc-kid,

Did you leave "dawg" out of your list on purpose? Because the game would be over before the first commercial break.
 
srhp29
2007-01-17 2:57:08 PM  
I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections

Your statement is very uneducated.

A) Anyone can vote from a phone. No age limitations required. Did you mean you want kids to vote in national elections

B) People can vote as many times as they want. Would you like that to be in place for national elections too?

C) There are not 120+ million individual people who vote for the American Idol.
 
Quick1
2007-01-17 2:58:00 PM  
dc-kid: I say we come up with an offical American Idol drinking game. Taking a drink say, everytime Paula shakes her head left n' right. Everytime Simon says "ghastly" (sp), everytime Randy says "baby", "dude" or "hot". anyone else game?

You should have been in the thread last night. We took a drink every time someone used the wrong door.
 
outback_rebel
2007-01-17 2:58:01 PM  
dedekind_cut: I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections. More people care about who wins a corporate tool record contract than care about the future of our country.

They should make a American Idol: Politicians show.
 
HindeSky
2007-01-17 2:58:14 PM  
I can't watch more than 30 seconds before I switch channels.
 
heybtbm
2007-01-17 2:58:35 PM  
I am proud to say I have never watched American Idol.

...and here they come.


/the cool people that is
 
Hang On Voltaire
2007-01-17 2:59:15 PM  
dedekind_cut [TotalFark]
I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections. More people care about who wins a corporate tool record contract than care about the future of our country.

Enjoy American Idol and/or the NFL = don't care about the future of the country

Enjoy British comedies and/or The World Cup = care about the future of the country
 
TalkingBaseball
2007-01-17 2:59:26 PM  
"We" do not at all like to watch it. "We" much prefer Law and Order on Tuesday night's to American Idol.

/never said I was a cool person
 
Danger Mouse
2007-01-17 2:59:54 PM  
heybtbm

.and here they come.


/the cool people that is

Damn Farking right.

I do however watch last comic standing and hell's kitchen.
singing? Anyone can do that.
 
Hang On Voltaire
2007-01-17 3:00:11 PM  
Danger Mouse
I am proud to say I have never watched American Idol.

I am proud to say I have never commented in a thread about a tv show I have never watched.
 
andbruno
2007-01-17 3:00:14 PM  
Didn't RTFA, didn't read other posts. Just came in to respond to submitter: We feel bad about it but we still like to watch

I don't care if "we" means the avg. American. I can state that I don't watch it, never have, never will. I don't like it, I don't even feel bad for the "contestants." It's all shiat, shiat, shiat.
 
squidloe
2007-01-17 3:00:15 PM  
Dynascape,

I had a question about that as well. I can understand the Navy guy showing up in his whites, but why was the reservist in uniform? I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone in our armed services, I'm just wondering if she was trying for any advantage she could gain.

/really. I appreciate what you ladies and gentlemen in the service are doing, you are far braver than I.
 
srhp29
2007-01-17 3:00:22 PM  
I am pissed off that it pulls a larger voting demographic than national elections

You do realize that makes you no better or worse person than the next guy. I bet you watch something that other people are "proud" to not watch too. Way to go.

I am proud to say I never go into threads just to pretend I am better than someone else because I don't watch a TV show they might watch.
 
Mugato [TotalFark]
2007-01-17 3:00:40 PM  
I've only seen the commercials for this show (I had to watch enough Star Search at my grandma's house 20 years ago, thank you) but do you all really think those people at the beginning who are laughably bad are for real? You don't think any of that is staged at all?

And even if you don't, I understand the value of shadenf...shaaadenfrue---it's some German word for "when a Jew trips"...I'm all for laughing at people and their follies but assuming the whole thing is real (and that's a huge assumption), isn't the whole thing with the obnoxious British guy kind of mean spirited? And not in the funny way but in the "laughing at this poor hapless bastard isn't worth it" kind of way?
 
gregly
2007-01-17 3:00:58 PM  
srhp29: It isn't like they don't have pre screeners that say whether or not someone even needs to go in front of the main judges...

Of course they do, and the pre-screeners are sure to pick (a) the really good folks, and (b) the really, really awful folks. It's all about the ratings, after all.

Pocket Ninja totally nailed the attitude I hate the most: "Unpopular == cool, and popular == suck". I'm always amazed at how many people think they're being "independent" and "non-conformist" by making sure they rag on anything popular, just like all the other non-conformists.

I have ex-friends who used to be totally into anime until it became somewhat mainstream, and suddenly they dropped it like a hot potato. Their new fad is Bollywood movies, and I'm sure that would immediately become "eww, how conformist" if it became popular too.
 
The_Rippa
2007-01-17 3:01:27 PM  
Did anyone notice that fat girl sounded like Chewbacca?

Also, I was looking through the audition photos for her and found this, wtf?

http://www.americanidol.com/photos/view/?set=104&seq=16

/what a wookie!
 
realmolo
2007-01-17 3:01:33 PM  
The problem with American Idol, apart from the fact that it's stupid, is that good singers are a dime-a-dozen. So yeah, watching the awful ones is mildly amusing (though obviously most of them are just attention-seekers, and know they have no talent). But even the GOOD singers are boring.

How many of your favorite bands/singers actually can SING? Probably not many. Pop music is about the *hook* more than anything. And then you find a singer who can croon in an interesting way.
 
Snakeophelia
2007-01-17 3:01:47 PM  
I can't believe my husband hasn't posted here yet. He never misses the first episode of any American Idol. The snotty boys and girls who come in with big egos and lousy voices never fail to amuse him. Bonus points for tears/tap dancing/obesity/rants involving bleeping. I think they hit all four last night.
 
Jument
2007-01-17 3:01:50 PM  
I enjoy watching the first few episodes where Simon (and Randy, yesterday) is a total catty biatch and makes the crazy people who think they can sing cry.

I wouldn't watch it without Tivo though.
 
andbruno
2007-01-17 3:02:14 PM  
Garbage in, garbage out. That applies not only to the trash on the show, but also to the trash who watch the show.
 
Hang On Voltaire
2007-01-17 3:02:24 PM  
andbruno =

[image from theonion.com too old to be available]

/obscure?
 
Fair_Poopsmith [OhFark]
2007-01-17 3:03:10 PM  
Last night's thread was effing hilarious.

I'm very sad I'll be working during tonight's.
 
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