Idle Thoughts on the Idol

Okay, here goes: my name is Laurie and I am addicted to “American Idol.” Watching it is one of my (no longer secret) guilty pleasures. But really, as far as guilty pleasures go, I can think of lots that are much, much worse.

So yes, it’s Idol time for this blogger. That means blocking out whole sections of my evenings, and feigning important deadlines when it's on (which is a lot) that prevent me from coming to the phone. But unlike some other viewers, though I watch the beginning shows of the auditions in the various cities, something about them makes me cringe.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who doesn’t like watching these beginning audition clip shows. (And yet. I Can't Stop Myself.) Maybe it’s the mom in me (although my friend Marisa doesn’t have kids and she feels the same way), but I hate to see these wannabes – with or without talent – being humiliated on camera (although I do love to see some unassuming candidate come out and knock everyone’s socks off vocally).

So, how does everyone else feel: Do you love or hate the AI audition shows? Am I being too all sensitive and mom-like?

PS: And to add insult to injury, during last week’s auditions, everyone who left the audition room in one city tried to get out the wrong (left) side of the double exit doors. Then Simon or someone else would pipe up, “Other door, sweetheart.” – as if these people hadn’t been humiliated enough. Note to the American Idol producers: how about spending three bucks at Kinko’s and putting up a sign on the correct exit door that says something like “Exit Here” next time around?

Comments

I am a parent, also, but I feel quite the opposite. I only watch the audition shows. After, that, when everyone is "good", I find it rather boring.

I guess we empathize too much. That's also why I can't watch some Ben Stiller movies--I can't stand to see people make fools of themselves!

I get DVR this weekend, so it's so-long to the cringe-worthy auditions.

GREAT TOPIC LAURIE!
I am equally addicted to watching AI and get annoyed when I am interrupted during the show. I started watching AI a few years ago when a coworker told me that he auditioned and was rejected. My friend explained the process; as you probably have guessed, the first audition is in a large arena. There are tables of non famous "judges" who weed out anyone who is not truly great, truly mediocre, truly awful, or just plain weird. My friend didn't make this cut. The survivors of said categories go on to audition for Paula, Randy and Simon, and are clearly warned about potential humiliation in front of a viewing audience of millions. This masochism results in "great tv". So, knowing this, I do NOT feel sorry for anyone in the audition clip shows. They knew what they were walking into. Lest you think that I don't have a soul, I do actually cry for the winners when they make it through to Hollywood.

These people must know that they do not have talent, yet they audition for the show. I cannot feel sorry for people who are just stupid.

I love the audition shows in the first couple of seasons. But now, people go just to get on TV. It is annoying, and I would much rather see the good people than those who are bad. I can't believe some of the things that people do, they wear costumes, swear and yell at the judges and just behave badly. It is not at all what I would consider entertainment and that is why I normally don't watch the audition episodes as religiously as the rest of the season.