I watch American Idol. Do you?

[cali]

Yeah, it's schlock. It's manipulated and manipulative. I also find it entertaining as hell and revealing. It's a low brow cultural phenomenon. And this season (confession, I haven't watched it before because I didn't have TV until last summer) it's reflecting the culture "war" between Christian fundamentalist types and those who tolerate and support differences.

It's definitely not considered "cool" to admit to watching and (gasp) enjoying AI, at least not in some circles, so I'm curious. Do you? And if so, who are you rooting/voting for?

[H2O Man]

1. Other.

I don't watch it. I am in no position to say if it "sucks."

[WillParkinson]

2. Same...

I do not watch it. I do not care for "reality" shows in general. I would not say it sucks as some of my friends enjoy it.

[Habibi]

22. Ditto.

[surrealAmerican]

48. + 1

The whole competitive "talent show" idea just doesn't appeal to me.

[redqueen]

57. I used to watch it. I don't think it sucks... but I got bored with it.

So I vote "other" too.

[Dulcinea]

59. Same here.

But I will admit to watching the auditions featuring people who sing about as well as I do after a few pints of Harp. :beer:

[madokie]

3. Not on your life would I

[laureloak]

27. Why? Don't you believe in the talent of our American youths? nt

[barbtries]

4. don't know if it sucks or not

don't watch.

[Obamanaut]

5. Nope, don't watch. Before the digital switch, we only rec'd one

teevee channel, now we don't even have that, and haven't missed it. NETFLIX, reading, music and we're happy with this.

We never did watch any of the 'reality' shows after two episodes of the initial showing of Survivor.

edited to add: don't know if it sucks

[laststeamtrain]

6. AI is one of the main reasons the Taliban takes up arms against 'western' modernism.

:sarcasm: (But only barely).

[livvy]

7. It's my only vice. I'm not proud of it, but I'm willing to confess. lol n/t

[cali]

21. I'm not in the least bit ashamed of enjoying it.

[Kahuna]

38. You actually picked a very good year to start watching. Never have

they had an abundance of talent like this year. There were many who didn't make the top 12 who were insanely talented.

[izzie]

8. I do not know if it 'sucks' as I do not watch.

I tend to keep TV as a back ground thing or watch old movies. I seem to have it on while I read for no reason but habit.

[Vinca]

9. It's one of my guilty pleasures. Sometimes you need to put your brain

on the shelf and just rot for an hour. Actually, I flip back and forth between Idol and Olbermann because I don't want to miss Adam.

[sandyj999]

10. Me Too! : )

Sometimes there is just so much negative junk that I enjoy sitting back and watching "entertainment". I enjoy the show and will have to find some other "mindless" entertainment to watch. It sometimes feels good to just shut off my brain.

[Kahuna]

13. For more mindless junk, try So You Think You Can Dance. Those kids

are really fabulous. It's a dance competition produced by Simon Lythgoe, formerly of American Idol. Simon L. is also one of the judges. Three of their alumni(Lacey, Chelsea and Dimitri) were pros on Dancing With the Stars this yesr. It starts in Idol's time slot next week.

[Jennicut]

43. I love that show as well, LOL.

[Kahuna]

47. I actually like SYTYCD better than Idol. There are very few "karaoke" dancers...

They HAVE to be skilled and trained to survive. If they are not, they do not last very long.
:applause:

[Jennicut]

110. Agreed. I like Mary and all the choreographers and different types of dance.

My girls like it too.

[Kahuna]

11. I'm power voting for Adam Lambert tonight!!!

:bounce:

[onehandle]

12. No, and I didn't watch "The Gong Show" either. Which it is a descendent of. nt

[dysfunctional press]

35. actually, it's Not a "descendant of the gong show"...

they are both descendants of "The Original Amateur Hour" with ted mack

[Another Bill C.]

14. I can't watch it.

I've been an entertainer for 47 years. I know what the contestants are putting on the line when they go onstage. Watching some two-bit hack ridicule them is not entertaining to me.

[Blecht]

15. It's revealing about the viewer

It shows that the viewer is entertained by the belittling of others. It has nothing to do with "cool" or uncool.

[cali]

20. bullshit. I'm entertained by the singing

and the choice of songs, etc. way to flail about with a broad brush.

[Blecht]

64. I guess you only see what you want to see

I'm glad you can enjoy it and ignore the main purpose of the show, which is obviously to mock people who have dreams they will never realize.

[stray cat]

26. Clearly you only watch the belittling parts of the tryouts - I guess you find it enterataining

I actually skip the episodes early on that you seem to enjoy.

[Blecht]

67. I haven't watched it since the first season

And then I only made it through a couple of episodes. I don't enjoy watching people's dreams get crushed by twisted little men with lots of money.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

32. blah, dee, blah....

such b.s.

There is way more going on than what you are saying.

We (my kids and I) anticipate song choices and how well they may be executed. When a true talent emerges it is really terrific.

There is very little "belittling" - there is harsh criticism though. As there is in the world at large no matter what you elect to do.

The people who don't watch it should not have a real opinion - period.

Sure- it is fluff but it is fun and intense. Not every moment of anyones life needs to be discussing politics..I am capable of both.

[Blecht]

71. People who haven't seen it may not be qualified to comment

I have seen it, and I think it's a sick show. That's my opinion, and it's based on watching it during the first season.

I admit it's addictive, but so are a lot of things that aren't especially good for you.

[rucky]

55. Are you entertained by your comment?

that's even more revealing.

[Blecht]

73. No

My comment reflects my views of the TV show and the people who watch it. "Entertained" isn't how I would describe my feelings. I think a word like "revolted" would better describe how I feel about the whole thing.

I think it's a sick show. If it were truly a competition to see who has the most talent, why do they need to show the people with no talent getting humiliated? It must be that it wouldn't get ratings if they only showed the people with talent, which is very revealing about the state of reality television and its fans.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

79. You are the one

doing the belittling -- But it's good if you are the one dishing it out, right?

[pipi_k]

63. I don't watch it to see people being belittled, actually

In fact, the belittling comments always embarrass me. I feel sorry for quite a few of them who seriously believe they have talent and then end up being insulted.

But there are some who go on the tryouts with the intention, apparently, of only being "famous" for about five minutes. I don't feel sorry for the ones who dress up like chickens or vampires or whatever.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

70. Everybody likes to see other people get belittled.

I'm enjoying watching you do it right now.

So while American Idol does reveal things about their viewers, that ain't it.

[Klukie]

16. I have watched it every season....

with no shame attached. I usually can appreciate music in all forms. I can't tolerate the music snobs who don't watch because..... all of america is watching so it must not be worthy. A lot of these people will dismiss anything that resembles pop culture to appear above it all. Whatever... I enjoy it and it doesn't make me any less cultured.
Oh...and I love Adam Lambert. He reminds me of Freddie Mercury.

[Buzz Clik]

17. Other. I don't watch -- I've never watched it. I have no idea if it sucks or not.

[LEW]

18. Yes

Go Adam!

[Orsino]

19. Fox *always* misdirects us.

They want us tuning in not to see new talent blossom, but to see our fellow citizens put in their place. They want us hanging on every carefully scripted put-down Simon recites. It's the Thirty-Minute Hate. Pour all your rage on the various contestants, or on the judges if you think you're smarter than that. The second most important goal is for you to go to bed exhausted, and to go to work too dull to question your boss or the forces running your government. Most important of all, of course, is to make Rupert Murdoch richer and better able to organize your life.

Bread and circuses. I'm surprised to see Idol discussed so frequently on DU--the show has obviously been a huge win for Murdoch.

[Lint Head]

23. American Idol is the 'shiny object' they people pay attention to

will their rights are being stolen.

:dem:

[Greyhound]

24. Wow, I'm absolutely gobsmacked.

Imagine that one as morally and intellectually superior as you deem yourself would watch, and enjoy, an American Icon.
:rofl:

BTW, "cool" has nothing to do with it. It is mean, demeaning, and insulting to both the participants and the viewers. Rather than the celebration of talent that it could be, it revels in the abuse and moral bankruptcy that has become America.

[laureloak]

25. AI is a TALENT show. This year has great talent.

I don't think Kris Allen is deserving of a finalist, but Adam Lambert is a once-in-a-lifetime find. And Danny G. is also very talented. It's great that these young singers get the exposure needed for their careers to take off. The best talent isn't always the winner of AI and that's a big strike against the show. The AI voting system turns the contest into a teeny-bopper and old-lady popularity contest. Too bad.

BTW, I don't see how anyone can be a fan of non-talent reality shows then put down AI.

[Kahuna]

36. They had great talent to spare this year. Rickey Braddy, Von Smith..

Kristan McNamara, Mishivonna, Ann Marie Boskovich and Felicia Barton would have all been worthy contenders. They didn't even make it to the top 12.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. i used to watch it and got bored. I just started this season watching

Dancing With The Stars and really enjoy it in a nostalgic sort of way. It reminds me of when I was a kid going to hotels in the Catskills and watching the dance acts. :)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

29. Yep...

Watch it. Enjoy it. it's fun from start to finish.

GO ADAM!

[peace13]

30. I don't watch it so I voted 'no' but that doesn't mean it sucks.

It means that I don't watch it.

[abq e streeter]

31. I haven't watched enough to know if it sucks-- I'm sure many contestants are very talented

but the first and only time I ever watched it, I was witness to Simon Cowell (sp.?) just brutally attempting to crush a young man's dreams and self-confidence after a performance that wasn't great but not awful either. I've been a professional singer/ musician for many many years now, and the kid that Cowell just humiliated that night was considerably better than me at the same age. I thought it just sickening that this narrow-minded, mean person ( Cowell) had somehow become a celebrity simply by coldly and rudely attempting to crush dreams, and vowed I'd never watch it again. And when I talk to young people about it, I remind them to think about how they think John Lennon, Joey Ramone, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Kurt Cobain etc etc etc... people who didn't conform to some predetermined type of "showbiz" vocal performance but had something powerful to say artistically, would have been treated on there. Every one of em would have been cruelly cut down and humiliated, especially by that asshole Cowell.

[dysfunctional press]

33. never watched it, never will.

not my kind of programming.

[Stuckinthebush]

34. Yes, absolutely

It is fun and entertaining. Now, I don't vote because I'm too lazy and cynical, but I do watch.

I find it quite amusing that there are some liberals who lament the terrible tragedy of AI. Some deep thinker above even made a nice blanket statement that those who watch AI get off on watching others degraded. We will always have the better than thou liberals as we have the better than thou conservatives.

Those killjoys aside, I watch because it is wonderful to see young people get to do what they love and who, for the most part, have wonderful voices. How marvelous is that?

Yes, AI is goofy at many times. Yes, Simon Cowell can be an ass. Yes, Paula Abdul is a little wacky. Yes, listening to Secrest can be compared to fingernails on a chalkboard. But the talent is good and the show pushes most to hone their skills more each week.

It is also a great opportunity to sit with my children as a family watching something that we all enjoy together. Wonderful!

[ProfessorGAC]

37. No, But That's A Matter Of Taste

I don't have any attitude about people who do watch it. It's just not my kind of TV.

There's lots of other things to watch, so i'm ok, and people who like Idol are ok, too.
GAC

[Ishoutandscream2]

39. Don't watch it. I don't know if it sucks or not

And I'm not a TV snob. The boob tube is on most of the day at my house. I'm usually watching baseball or my wife is watching movies. Kids are watching Disney and Nick.

[KatyMan]

40. We watch it at home

When we lived in the UK we watched a show similar to it called X-Factor, which is really good as they allow groups. Usually either Idol was in season and showing over there or X-Factor was on, so we had this sort of program to watch most of the year. I don't know if it's lowbrow or highbrow, or any sort of brow at all, but it's pretty harmless, fun to watch, and there's usually some great talent. There's also a lot of those sappy types that sing goofy ballads, but if other people like that, great. We're all for Adam this year, though; I don't think there's been as good a finalist as him since Bo Bice.

[Bill McBlueState]

41. No, but I don't necessarily think it "sucks."

I just have other stuff going on in the evenings.

[Jennicut]

42. We watch it. I love Adam. I don't care what anyone says. Its something I can watch with my kids.

Adam is a great singer....Kris not so much. My husband loves it more then me, he is the musician of the family.
Plus, its not violent (unless Ryan and Simon go at it) and not overly sexual (unless you count Paula's disturbing outfits). My 3 and 4 year old can watch it at night.

[Klukie]

74. My kids watch it with us as well..

They are 4 and 5. I get a real kick out of their observations.

[salguine]

44. If they got people like Iggy Pop or Richard Hell on there I'd watch it, and that's no lie. Or

Jim Carroll. That'd be a riot. Or John Lydon. Now that would be must-see TV.

[L0oniX]

45. No ...and get a fucking life!

[tomreedtoon]

46. No. I'm not as sadistic as you.

Anything that puts a vindictive jerk like Simon Cowell or Gordon Ramsay in the position of judge, jury and executioner is foul. And anything that allows these slimeballs to hurt poor, stupid, illusion-haunted people is like a real-life Saw movie.

[cali]

85. critical thinking is clearly alien to you.

sadism has jackshit to do with why I'm watching it- and sorry, I don't watch it until they pick the decent singers- because I have no interest in watching the awful auditions.

[sweetpotato]

49. Never watched

Overrated karaoke contest.

[Echo In Light]

50. Ditto. Neither my wife nor I have ever watched it even once.

[Mudoria]

51. No, because I'm not really a fan of reality shows.

I watch the occasional "Hells Kitchen" or "Ghost Hunters" but that's only if I can find nothing else to watch or do if it happens to come on when I'm bored. But I've never watched "Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars" a single time.

[tammywammy]

52. I've watched it once or twice maybe

But I'm not gonna say it sucks. I have friends that watch it for entertainment, it's just not my deal. To each their own. :)

[footinmouth]

53. I love this show

I've watched it from the very first season and have never missed an episode. I'm not a bit ashamed. I like being entertained and I love that it gives the contestants the vehicle to realize their dreams. Some real success stories have come from that show. I still remember a very nervous & green Jennifer Hudson from Season 3. I'm sure AI opened some doors for her and gave her the confidence to go for the role of Effie in Dreamgirls.

[Javaman]

54. I found that burning out my eyes with red hot pokers was far more enjoyable. nt

[cali]

58. wow. melodrama sure is you thing. n/t

[Javaman]

69. and odd grammar and/or spelling is "your" thing. nt

[cali]

77. it's called a typo- duh. particularly easy to do when your index

and middle finger on your left hand are splinted and buddy taped.

[Javaman]

78. so now who's being melodramatic? lol

cheers!

[cali]

82. uh, you're sitll the champ, dear.

I didn't make a laughably melodramatic comment. that was you.

[Javaman]

95. man, you have absolutely no sense of humor.

please it's only a frigging TV show.

get over yourself.

Jeez. :eyes:

[derby378]

56. Not anymore

The last time I was really into it was the season when Fantasia Berrino won. It was a crying shame what happened to Jennifer Hudson being booted early, but she did just fine for herself afterwards. My heart goes out to her over the tragedy that hit her family.

[pipi_k]

60. I take a perverse delight in admitting I watch it

Just to disgust the people who would rather die than admit to even watching commercials featuring shows they think are suitable only for cretins or Neanderthals.

I also enjoy football and NASCAR racing

And educational shows on National Geographic and the History Channel

I love Classical Music and ballet.

I love rock music, rap, blues, and Gregorian chants, just to mention a few genres

And my personal library contains books of nearly every conceivable type.


I'm highbrow and lowbrow and everything in between.

:7


PS...I'm rooting for Adam

[Klukie]

75. Wow...

my soulmate....I thought maybe I was the only one who took a perverse delight in admitting I watch it (great line by the way). :hug:

[ecstatic]

61. A culture war? I don't think so

Adam and Kris have two different singing styles. Adam is more into rock and Kris is more current. Adam was my favorite but Kris blew me away last week with his rendition of Heartless. This contest has nothing to do with religion.

[Feron]

62. I love AI.

Personally I'm a fan of both Kris and Adam. So it doesn't matter to me who wins.

[Texasgal]

65. I love it!

I've watched every season.

I don't give a shit what the elitist snobs have to say. I think it's a great show!

I watch, but I do not vote. I really like both kids although I think that Adam is exceptionally good!

[cali]

81. personally, I think those railing against it- not those that just say they don't watch-

are likely to be a wee bit intellectually insecure.

[Toucano]

66. These results surprise me.

I don't watch American Idol, but I did watch the first three seasons, off and on.

It is just a talent show. Mainstream talent is still talent.

For me, all reality shows I've seen are worn out by the third or fourth season.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

68. Aren't you always ranting against the evils of television?

Jesus.

[cali]

72. I didn't have tv for almost 20 years

but got cable last summer to watch the conventions etc. I'm enjoying it, but yes, I think it's a lousy thing for kids which is why I divorced myself from it while I was parenting.

[johnnie]

76. Yeah, I watch it

I don't give a crap if people don't want me to watch it, I am still cool.

Seriously though, it's just a friggin talent show. I don't quite understand why people hate it so much except that I know when I was a teenager, I was a music snob too. I then grew up and now I just enjoy listening to other people sing and play music. I don't think everyone should watch it, but it is a little strange to see the hatred for it.

[NeedleCast]

80. I used to, but lost interest

I don't think it sucks, I still like the opening few weeks of try-outs and think they're often funny. However, when you look at it from outside and realize the "bad" try-outs have already been screened and everyone knows their bad except the person doing the singing, it's sort of plays out. Most people seem to think that the actual try out in front of the judges is the first try out. It's not.

[Occam Bandage]

83. I watched and liked Season 2. Tried occasionally to watch later seasons; couldn't get into 'em. nt

[reflection]

84. Nah. My achilles heel is football.

Although there could be comparisons drawn between AI and football.

The most glaring difference I can see is that AI votes for the winner, whereas football is won on the field.

[book_worm]

86. Sure. Why not? I know there are lots of TV snobs around here

but it's non-offensive and talent shows have been around forever.

[Patsy Stone]

87. Yes, and proud of it.

Also, in my line of work (the music and video distribution business), watching AI is anything but uncool. We try and guess how many of them will get contracts and what type of music the album will be. We try and bet how many we will sell of each of them. Not to say it isn't schlock, but I also watch other crappy reality shows too knowing full well they're schlock (Real Housewives of New Jersey, anyone?).

Kris was my dark horse pick from day one, and I'm happy he made it as far as he did. Will he win? I don't know.

Regardless of who wins, don't worry about any of them; they will all get at least one album out of it.

[chrisa]

88. People who call AI watchers

"Idiots" or "Sheep" are pretentious.

[bedazzled]

89. i've never seen it, but have heard it PLENTY

i have to listen to the radio at work, and can
say that i am very unimpressed with the winners
i've heard.

songs about vandalizing cars don't appeal to me,
i guess.

i've heard fans talking about it, and they seem
to know every contestant from every year. that's
kind of an impressive feat of memory...

[Forkboy]

90. No, but I love the concept.

I just can't handle the music itself.

I don't get why so many judge people on what they watch.

Now, having said that, I'm putting my Invader Zim DVD in. :)

[bridgit]

91. no

[proteus_lives]

92. Never cared for it.

Don't hate it or anything but no interest.

[rucky]

93. Going to a watch party tonight.

My family's squarely in the Lambert camp. It should be fun.

[Kahuna]

97. Are you going to vote? nt

[rucky]

104. I got my texting thumbs ready!

[Kahuna]

105. Who are you voting for? This is not a trick question. I like Adam..But..

Kris is good too. It's just a matter of what you like. :pals:

[rucky]

106. Adam

I like Kris, too, but I feel like I've seen him a few times before.

[Kahuna]

109. That's my Boo...

:hug:

[flvegan]

94. No, I don't.

But if folks are entertained by it, more power to them.

[Ohio Joe]

96. Other - No

I think I fit the cliche of the middle aged man. I pretty much only listen to the same crap I listened to in high school. I mean come on... no good music was made after that :D

[superduperfarleft]

98. No.

American Idol sucks. And you should feel bad for watching it. Really really REALLY bad.

[KamaAina]

99. For me, it jumped the shark when they stopped having Hawai'i contestants

Jasmine Trias, Camile Velasco, and Jordan Segundo were front page news out here. Seriesly.

[Initech]

100. The only way they could get me to watch AI is if:

They give Paula Abdul a bottle of Jack Daniels, some uppers, and a crowbar, and lock her in a steel cage with that corporate stooge Ryan Seacrest for an hour and a half. :popcorn:

[azmouse]

101. I've watched since the second season.

It's entertaining in a horrifying sort of way! :)

My husband and I are pretty good at picking who will win from the time the final 12 are announced. The judges usually give it away by their comments.

I like both Adam and Kris this year. I'll be happy no matter who wins... even though it's been obvious from the start that Adam is the judges' pick.

[blue_onyx]

102. I disagree that....

"it's been obvious from the start that Adam is the judges' pick." I think Danny was the contestant that the judges/producers really pushed for in the beginning. I think Danny's failure to live up to expectations and Adam's popularity and strong performances made him the favorite as the season went on.

I like Adam and Kris so I won't be upset with whoever wins.

[madamesilverspurs]

103. Never watch it.

And it annoys the heck out of me that "news" covers Idol and Survivor instead of stories of genuine importance. Yeah, I yell at the TV that if I wanted to know what was going on with those shows I'd watch them. Same response for earth-shattering bulletins from the sports world (like a quarterback with a hangnail), when sports already has more than its share of airtime in "news" broadcasts.

[Parker CA]

107. A good distraction from the other stuff in life. I think Adam will take it if he reigns in his

high pitched notes he seems compelled to include every show. Tracks of My Tears had zero high notes, and IMO was one of the best performances he had all season. Should be a good one tonight, but he's going to have a tough time against middle America and the teenage fan parade fawning over the good looks of Kris.

[ohheckyeah]

108. Yes, I watch it and have every season.

This year it's Adam Lambert all the way.