Comments on: ‘American Idol’: Pre-packaged For Maximum Profit

By: ImChiquita

ImChiquita — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:49:51 +0000

Yo, Dawg. Okay, check it out.

For me, the only opinion on the now-four judge panel is Simon's.

That said, I wish my husband would stop TiVoing "AI" – I can't stand the show! Bring me some "Deadliest Catch" and "Dog Town."

By: thecollector

thecollector — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:13:02 +0000

Oh come on. It's a great show. Always entertaining. Real talent. Simon. What's the problem?

By: Sinapus

Sinapus — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:39:56 +0000

Oh, I thought it was something like the "idol singers" in Japan.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:46:03 +0000

Why would anyone want to watch a bunch of amateurs? Susan Boyles are few and far between. The fact that American Idol employs semi-pros is a big plus, I'd say. So long as they aren't already stars, the integrity of the show is intact. They don't call it American Singer for Pay. It's American Idol, meaning it's about becoming a star, not meeting live audiences on a regular basis for the first time ever.

By: AtticusRex

AtticusRex — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:05:43 +0000

After posting twice here about this non-issue issue I was talking to my daughter about all these and I had a major thought and then slapped myself for not thinking of it sooner…. Sure votes were counted and Kris won…. but the real votes, the ones that really count are the pocketbooks and wallets of America. When the dust settles let's see who actually sells. That's the true measure and vote!

By: AtticusRex

AtticusRex — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:57:00 +0000

I;m chiming in again after reading the link above from a Huffposter: He makes claims that Adam lost due to a right-wing conspiracy. Well besides that being pretty silly theory I went ahead and read a bunch of the comments and I was amazed… there are actual peeps who read this thread on Huffington Post that didn't agree with this blogger. I was proud of that fact. Gave me hope.

Did America get it right? No if talent is the only primer. Kris is Idol Poster ready. He's safe. But to say Adam lost because he was Gay, wore eyeliner or whatever is BS. You want proof? See exhibit B: Chris Daughtry. He sure as heck isn't gay but he too wasn't safe. I think the only time this doesn't hold was last year when the not as safe David Cook beat the very safe but not as talented Archuleta.

But then again what do I know? We have never seen a true breakdown of the votes. And for that matter we actually wouldn't know who placed those votes.

But in the end It doesn't matter Jake, It's TV.

By: NuMsAd

NuMsAd — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:42:41 +0000

They don't wait in line. The singers who end up on the show are submitted by their managers. Those cattle call auditions are held to help create story and provide content for the audition episodes. It is a charade. It's inauthentic. And frankly I'm tired of being lied to. It's pervasive in every aspect of our society. Shows like AI train us to consume these fabrications without questioning them and inculcate us so that we view their pedestrian abilities as exceptional. Our current president is an excellent example of a similar media created phenom. But as long as you're entertained. Right?

By: A Fellow Arkansan

A Fellow Arkansan — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:13:07 +0000

Mary, you hit the nail on the head with your story. I live in Conway. His brother told the whole story. Kris, his brother and the friend were the last three accepted for auditions in Louisville. They had to wait 17 hours to audition and were the last three to do so.

Before the competition, Kris was just a college student who played guitar and sang at his church. His brother talked him into driving 10 hours to Louisville to try out or he'd still just be a college student who sings at church. All of his friends here say he's just the nicest, shy, unassuming guy they know. A couple of years ago, he was the lot attendant at Home Depot. He's not a pre-selected, pre-packaged profit machine. He's just a great musician who used his gift to win the biggest talent competition in the USA.

By: stevelockridge

stevelockridge — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:51:05 +0000

Sarah, you are exactly right.

Jeffrey, I agree with your comments to a certain extent but I can tell you Kris Allen was not a professional singer before he entered the American Idol fray. Kris is a smalltown young man who played guitar and sang at his church – hardly professional.

If for one was immediately put off by Adam Lambert's appearance. Is his voice not good enough to make his noticeable? Does he have to wear that goofy hair style and eye liner to get attention? No, he has a great voice, no doubt about it.

Flyover redneck America is sick of the "progress" this nation is making. We are "evolving" into Europeans – the same people we left and then kicked out of this country 230 years ago. The male population is being feminized and turned into cowering dogs.

Back to AI, Kris is a good guy and he won not only because he has a great voice, but because he is an All-American boy.

By: RPatrick

RPatrick — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:45:35 +0000

To give you some ideas:

It's a porn show … 4 judges pimping a professional singer into the next pop music superstar (aka IDOL).

But a boy just walked in and stole the plum prize.