Welcome to another season of ‘Delusional Idol’
Man, that was bad.
Really, really bad.
Last night's opening episode of American Idol had a few moments of honest pleasure--good singing by people who seemed to be worth cheering on. But in a two-hour program liberally stuffed with commercials, that's not enough.
Most of the "appeal" of last night's show was predicated on laughing at bad singers who thought they were good. But how were we supposed to laugh? One bad singer was clearly in need of mental help, hearing voices and shouting to herself as she departed. Another went from his audition directly to panhandling. And even those who made it through to the next round of torture sometimes battered viewers in the process, as was the case with wedding-ring-selling Regina. We want to sympathize with the singers, yes. But I was scared for Regina--that she wouldn't make it and would thus deeply regret selling her ring, that she would make it and it would ruin her marriage, that she doesn't have perspective if she thinks she'll die if she can't try out for the show.
Indeed, the show seemed to be mostly a parade of unbalanced people. Clearly, Fox has gotten word that people enjoy the humiliating aspects of the show, but they've taken it too far. Where are the people I'm supposed to care about in the next round? That heavy metal guy? Not likely. The dancer who could also sing? Sorry, no. Regina? I'm too conflicted to let myself think about her.
I knew there was a reason I swore off this show. If only Brad didn't want to watch it again this year...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I think you need to find a new hobby. Good TV is rare--we're not even watching any shows on HBO right now! By the sounds of it, though, you're already watching more than enough television! Perhaps you should pick up a book... ;) I'm more than a third through Collapse and very impressed.
If you want to fill your TV dance card, start watching basketball. There's nearly always a game on in the evening. The only non-sports programming I watch in a normal week is West Wing and, every other week or so, Will & Grace. We watch a lot of movies (we saw Kill Bill 1 and 2 the last two nights), episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (we're in season three right now) and Seinfeld (starting season two), and lately a lot of football.
The failing of the show's early episodes is what Richard has mentioned...we don't know who we're really supposed to care about. The vast majority of the possibly good people they spotlight get cut before they even get close to the final twelve.
Since they're taking two nights a week anyway, they should just do one show of bad auditions and one of good ones (and follow up on who will be in the final rounds). Then those who love the humiliating aspect can have their fill and the rest of us can avoid it.
Post a Comment