American Idol 5
Show Us More Talent And Fewer Idiots
Commentary by Ron Lemon
January 25, 2004
The producers of American Idol have made some positive and some negative tweaks to season five's audition shows. Overall, I think it's an improvement, but it's not all good.
On the good side -
We are seeing a little less of Ryan Seacrest. I have always felt that Ryan's comments were too scripted and too predictable. I often feel he is saying what he thinks the audience wants to hear. Unfortunately his (or his writers) view of the world is often saccharine and unrealistic. On the other hand his comforting of failed wannabes seems genuine. He comes across as a nice, but shallow guy. We need more depth from Ryan.
We need to see the real Ryan; we need to see Ryan as we are now seeing the judges. Maybe that means it is time for "Seacrest, out".
We are seeing a lot more of the judges. I am really enjoying the expanded coverage of the judges comments both during the audition and after the wannabe has left the room. The comments are illuminating and entertaining. We are seeing a Paula that is not always sweet and kind. We are seeing a Randy that has something more to say than "dawg", although he still looks to Simon for his cues much too often. Simon is being Simon but we are seeing even more of it. We are also seeing more of his kinder side. However his "I don't mean to be rude but….." has grown old and stale. I don't mean to be rude, but it has become boring.
The expanded "judges" coverage is a definite improvement over the past and I hope it continues throughout the season. Yes the show is about the singers, but Cowell and company are an integral and important part of the show's entertainment value and an important part of the process of becoming the next American Idol. I'd like to see this expanded even more.
We now know that Paula has "bubbly-water" in her coke glass. I would bet the Coke people were not happy to see that aired. So far, Coke is the only product placement we are seeing. I really don't mind product placement. There is nothing wrong with making a buck. But when it becomes silly and childish, like the Idol's Ford Commercials it annoys me. Do they really think people have a positive response to that? It won't make me buy a Ford. So props for not being silly, so far.
On the bad side -
We are still seeing way too many bad auditions and not seeing enough of the people who make it through to Hollywood. I understand the entertainment value of the bad auditions. I enjoy many of them. But we need to see a better balance. Show us more of the talent and less of the idiots.
We are seeing more of the contestants past and home life. Sometimes we learn about the life of someone who can not sing a note. When I see this I feel that they have wasted my time. When it is someone who gets their gold ticket it is still more than I am interested in knowing this early in the process. We all know that the vast majority of those making the Hollywood trip will be eliminated early and forgotten. You get the impression that the producers are trying to influence how you feel about a person who, chances are, will not be a part of the show. Quit trying to guess who will be big at this stage. Quit trying to feed us your point of view on a particular contestant. When they achieve top 12 status it is time to show us what they are like as a person. And enough of the sob stories. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition does it much better.
And now Rhonetta Johnson. What were they thinking? Did the producers really think her tube top and short skirt would boost ratings? That the audience would enjoy being subjected to her venom? Throughout the Greensboro audition episode we were teased about a confrontation between her and Paula. They called it a "cat-fight". It never happened. They must have used seven or eight minutes through out the program to preview it. All we saw was a woman without talent and with a very ugly personality. There was nothing positive achieved in showing this. So what purpose did it serve? Some of the bad auditions are funny because the contestant is in on the joke. They are deliberately acting foolish to get on TV. And I admit that can be entertaining. There was nothing entertaining about Rhonetta. Is she someone you would invite into your living room? Did the producers actually think we would welcome her? Be interested in her? Have any kind of positive reaction to her? It was a tune out factor. Not something that would make a viewer want to see more of the show. And really, shouldn't that be the point of every second of the show. To make the viewer want more?
So much time is wasted during the two hour audition shows. But the solution is not to shorten them; in fact I'd like to see more two hour audition shows.
Just make them better. Show us more talent and fewer idiots.
Ron Lemon is the very opinionated, but not-always-right, editor of Reality TV Calendar. He is a United States Air Force veteran, a Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran and retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He lives on the southern shore of Canada with his fiancee and business partner Christine and their spoiled dog, Stash. He, Ron - not the dog, does this because he enjoys it, he hates alarm clocks, and it is better than getting up and going to work everyday. Until such time as he wins the lottery he can be reached at: Editor@RealityTVCalendar.com.
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