For millions of viewers who are watching American Inventor, the show is
entertainment or simply a way to unwind and pass some time. It is a
reality show. Nothing more. For myself and other inventors who tried
out for this show, it is much, much more.
I tried out in Atlanta, received totally great praise, but was not
selected to continue to the Hollywood round or what is otherwise known
as the first round that was shown on television. I was never told
specifically why I was not chosen. I am left to watch this show at home
wondering why I did not make it. There are too many really good
inventors who tried out who have a similar experience to mine. It is
one thing that I was not chosen. I really did think the odds were
against me, but I am shocked and even angry that Atlanta auditioners as
a whole seem to have been shut out from the finals. I saw some really
great inventions while I was at the Atlanta auditons. No disrespect to
the inventor contestants that made it, but I could have easily picked
out dozens of inventions from the Atlanta audition alone that I think
are on par with the inventions shown in the Top 50. Yet where are they?
They never got airtime; the vast majority of them never even got invited to
the Hollywood in the first place.
This episode in particular gives the impression that the judges are
embarrassed by the lack of quality from the inventor contestants. I am
not buying it. I know better than that. Unfortunately, despite some
strong contenders in the finals, millions of viewers are probably
wondering why this is the best that the judges could come up with. The
real question I have is who picked the contestants for the Hollywood
round and why were they chosen? Was it the judges? Was it the
producers? Was it a crew screening footage for the most interesting
people based on a predetermined list of characteristics? I assume that
the contestants that made for the most interesting television were
chosen. It is an important consideration, because only the contestants
chosen to go to the Hollywood round were given a chance to being with.
If the editing is not misleading and the judges really were disappointed
with the contestants, then whoever is responsible for choosing the
Hollywood round contestants is ultimately to blame. It is misleading
and even insulting to watch these judges whine on television about the
lack of quality in the contestants when there are plenty of passionate
and driven inventors who tried out for this show, yet were overlooked
from the very start of this competition and are instead watching this show
on television from their homes.
Also, I think the show gives the impression that the judges were picking
the most passionate inventors. I realize that does not mean that those
contestants who were not chosen to begin with were considered to be
lacking in passion, but it does make me wonder. Have I ever given the
impression that I lack passion for my ideas? For any of my ideas? I
started writing for Reality TV Calendar because I wrote a defense for
being a fan of Anthony Fedorov of American Idol 4. If I truly lacked
passion for my ideas, I think it would be safe to assume that I would
never have been asked to write for Reality TV Calendar to begin with. I
was surprised that I received concern from several people over my
defense of Anthony. That defense was really mild for me, but I have
what I call a defense attorney part of me that can seem more wound up
than I think I really am. I can intensely debate a person one minute
and be joking with that same person the next minute. I usually don't
let it stick. I was thinking at the time that if I seemed really wound
up when I was defending Anthony, you should see me when I am truly in
action. No one who knows me has ever accused me of lacking passion for
my ideas, but it feels like this show is implying that to me. I was
told that my invention was great and very marketable, and at least to
some extent I believe they thought that about my invention. So what
was I missing to be overlooked for this show. Did my passion not come
across when I auditioned? It feels like while watching this episode in
particular, that the show is saying to me that if I would have just
showed more passion, then I would have made it to the next round. Well
excuse me, but just what are you looking for? It is not clear. I have
the passion, the knowledge, the invention ideas, and the true inventor
spirit that you say you are looking for. However, I am stuck watching
this show from my home on television.
The show starts out with the top 50 contestants and ends with the final
12. Well, it does not quite start that way. The first 20 minutes were
used to highlight the so-called bad auditions. At first, I thought this
show was going to be highlights for the first hour. Eventually, the
show started getting serious and flew through the top 50 auditions.
This show was almost as difficult for me to write about as the first
episode. This is also the point in the show that I dreamed about and
hoped to achieve when trying out. Being ignored by this show is nothing
new. I am used to being ignored. However, I normally don't have to
witness what I am missing. It is different to watch on television the
very opportunity that I dreamed about, yet it is happening to other
people instead of me. I knew the odds were against me making it and I
don't feel entitled to be on the show, but it is still hurts to watch
other people living your dream. I felt like every disappointment in my
life was being thrown at my face. It is a crushing feeling. I had to
leave the room several times while watching this show. I am thankful
that my VCR recorded alright, because I could not watch it entirely the
first time. If that does not make sense, an analogy is that there are
plenty of parties that you are not invited to, but that is no big deal
because you really don't know what you are missing. However, if the
apartment above yours has a party (while you are home and you know you
are not invited) so you watch as lots of people pull up to go to the
party while you can hear the noise, the laughter, the music. It hurts
not to be invited to that particular party, even though there have been
lots of parties that you were not invited to. It is different because
you have the opportunity to witness what have been missing. That is
similar to how it felt for me to watch this episode. I got to witness
on television a lost opportunity.
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