This post begins with a fractal image called Target Star. I picked it because Target is a major sponsor of American Idol and Howrd Stern is "targeting" the show. Ah well, here's my first (and hopefully last rant about the show).
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I promised myself I’d never write a blog about American Idol. Reviews of the weekly shows and snarky comments about the contestants, judges and the weekly sacrifice seemed like too much work--especially since nobody is paying me to write this. Then something in today’s paper (April 3) compelled me to belly up to the keyboard (literally) and start writing.
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It seems that notorious “shock jock” Howard Stern has decided to “ruin” American Idol. He has teamed with web site votefortheworst.com and is promoting minimally-talented contestant Sanjaya Melakar. “Were corrupting the entire thing,” Stern was quoted in the Orange County Register on April 3. “All of us are routing American Idol. It’s so great. The ‘Number One’ show on television and it’s getting ruined.”
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I’m no fan of Howard Stern and this latest stunt doesn't change that in a good way. It seems like another one of his mean-spirited pranks. If “Idol” has run its course why not let it die a natural death as ratings decline? Television has always “culled the herd” in this manner. Is there any need to hasten the process along? What exactly does someone get out of destroying something just because you can? Does Howard Stern take some sort of perverse pleasure in wielding this kind of power or is it merely a publicity stunt? Maybe he's just delusional. As usual I seem to have tons of questions with no answers.
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No doubt executives at the other television networks are on their knees praying Stern succeeds. American Idol routinely smashes everything put up against it (although Dancing With the Stars is getting better ratings--for now at least). And I must admit that American Idol often frustrates and annoys me: it is completely overblown and the never-ending product placement gets old real fast. Also lets not forget the cheesy production numbers that were old hat when “Up With People” did them in the 1970s. The weekly “results” show really ought to be done in five minutes--not stretched often to a full hour.
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But in the end those are minor quibbles: American Idol is one of the few programs left on television with cross-generational appeal. How many other show have entire families sitting down together to watch? How many other shows have such a broad national appeal? Not very many I’d think . . .
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At it’s core American Idol is an old idea gussied up for a new generation. Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour were staples of early TV: this new version offers greater fame and a bigger prize but it’s still the same formula. Young people with big dreams (and hopefully big talent to match) compete to make their dreams come true. For the winners the payoff is huge--for a while at least. Do the producers of the show make their contestants sign draconian contracts that will keep these folk wrapped up like a spider in a web for the life of whatever career they might have? Uh, yes. Are the judges needlessly cruel to those auditioning before them? Again, yes! But then again, show business ain’t easy: there’s a lot of rejection out there and would-be actors and singers need to develop a thick skin. And surely by now prospective contestants must realize what they’re letting themselves in for. (Remember, like any other “deal with the devil” there’s a price to pay for the fast track to fame.) People complain but public eats it up so the producers are just going to keep dishing it out to eager pigs. And even with all its faults, does Idol deserve to be sunk by a megalomaniac just because he can??? I don’t think so.
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David della Tezra, founder of votefortheworst.com claims to be a “fan” of American Idol. He just wants to keep the “funny and corny” guy around. (Dunno why--maybe that plays into our national inability to turn away from watching a train wreck.) He says he is simply helping Sanjaya “pursue his dream” so it doesn’t really bother him that his campaign may well be voting off better singers. Della Tezra is also quick to point out that other Idol ‘worsts” have included Jennifer Hudson (who eventually won an Oscar) and Taylor Hicks (who ended up winning the whole contest in 2006.
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Will Sanjaya win? At this point I’d say no: there are a few more easy targets (Phil Stacey and Haley Scarnato) who will go before him then the quality will truly assert itself and Sanjaya will go away. Maybe he’ll develop a certain transitory fame like William Hung or he might actually develop into a real singer. (After all, he’s only 17 and has never had formal training. Given some sasoning the kid might actually turn out to be somebody.)
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And no matter what happens Robyn and I will keep watching. (There’s nothing else even on at the same time anyway.) We’ll see if the prize goes to a true original (Blake Lewis) or if it’ll be one of the “three Divas” (Melinda Doolittle, Lakeesha Jones or Jordin Sparks) or will it be a complete upset (Chris Richardson). Right now I predict “Mindy Doo” (shudder--I didn’t come up with that) will beat Jordin in the finals. I think though that five years down the line Blake will be the only one we remember.
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Hmm--I see I’ve wandered off topic (again!) so I guess I should try to drag myself back to the point. If you don’t like American Idol here’s an obvious solution. DON’T WATCH IT!!! Low ratings will kill off the show quickly enough. As for the contestants, talent will tell. Those with a real gift will do well--whether they win or not. (Chris Daughtry is a prime example: he came in forth place and now haw a multi-platinum album--which he made on his own terms.) But we don’t need to be encouraging televised train wrecks. (Our politicians do a pretty fine job of that on their own already . . .)
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