Unlocking the Mystery of American Idol's Success
Timothy Sexton
April 23, 2007
At last I have figured out why American Idol is such a modest success. (Though it is treated as if it receives record breaking ratings, in fact American Idol regularly is seen by only about three to five million more viewers than Murder She Wrote at the peak of that show's success. I don't remember the media attention given Angela Lansbury that any of the singers on American Idol get.) At first I assumed it was, like other talent shows, supposed to be a showcase for talented singers. I know from experience that there are many, many singers toiling in obscurity who are far better than such superstars as Michael Bolton and Britney Spears. As such, I could only assume that many of these talented nobodies would make it onto American Idol. Regardless, since I care not for these kinds of shows, I've never actually watched an entire episode of American Idol. That was my problem.
Like others who really don't care who wins, I cannot escape the influence of American Idol. It is a topic for discussion on otherwise legitimate news shows. Heck, even Keith Olbermann devotes time to discussion of American Idol, for reasons I simply cannot fathom. At any rate, my only contact with the show has been through seeing the replays of singing of the contestants. So you can see why I was confused as to why this show is such a success. None of them are any more talented than Bolton or Spears! So what gives? Why do people act as though this thing is the greatest entertainment to hit television in history? Why does American Idol permeate the media when even its winners are no more talented than the losers in your average karaoke contest down at your favorite bar?
Now, obviously I'm acquainted with Simon Cowell despite never actually having seen him do his shtick live. I've only seen his insults as part of aftermarket media coverage. So I know all about the appeal of the show being that he's a bitch. However, I do have a problem with understanding why anyone would actually continue to watching him. From what I can tell, he basically has one mode and it's achingly predictable. Worse than that, it's all a fake. It's obvious that Simon Cowell's only talent lies in being able to deliver a putdown written by someone else as if he just thought of it. The real problem with Simon Cowell is his credibility. Does anyone actually take him seriously? Or do they know he's just playing a part and reading a script? It's very difficult to believe any word that comes out of the mouth of a man whose whole life is a lie. I would have far more respect for the man if would just come bursting out the closet and admit he's a screaming queen instead of trying to hide it. I mean, come on, we've all seen straight men who dress and act gay, but I have never seen any straight man pull off the gay act that well! Because it's obvious he's not being straight about his own life, it's very difficult to believe he's being straight about anything.
Still, I remained under the delusion that once the really, really, really bad and laughable acts had gotten humiliated that American Idol was all about showcasing talent. It turns out that is far from the case. I have actually paid attention to the media coverage of American Idol this time around-though I haven't gotten up the nerve to actually watch it. And, of course, maybe I am suffering from second-hand exposure, but from what I have gathered the real reason for American Idol's success has nothing to do with giving a weekly showcase to actual talent. In fact, the producers-and especially the judges-don't want talent. Because what you can say about a talented singer? What can you say in two or three minutes about someone like Sarah MacLachlan or Kay Hanley? "Wow." "Fantastic." "You ought to be on a Wheaties box." Critiquing talent gets really boring really quick.
Ah, but criticizing mediocrity is even more fun the criticizing crap. Why do you think movie reviewers rarely waste time on movies with titles like Track of the Moon Beast or The Garbage Pail Kids Movie? Because there's almost nothing you can say that's going to offend anyone. And if you come out and say Citizen Kane or Schindler's List is an utter piece of dreck you'll lose your credibility. No, the real fun is in panning movies that are just good enough that there will be as many fans are there are those who'll agree with you. And that is the secret of American Idol's success. It wouldn't be as much fun to populate it with all those really lousy singers, but neither would it be as much fun to populate it with really talented singers. It's not about finding the next great singer. It's about showcasing a bunch of singers who will have just as many hardcore fans as hardcore enemies. And the point isn't to reach a winner; it's to provide a thrice-weekly outlet for viewer enmity.
American Idol has become must-see TV for so many people because it provides a guilt-free helping of good old schadenfreude. The audience isn't there to enjoy the success of their favorite singer, but rather to bask in the glory of Simon Cowell's humiliation of those they want to lose.
Like others who really don't care who wins, I cannot escape the influence of American Idol. It is a topic for discussion on otherwise legitimate news shows. Heck, even Keith Olbermann devotes time to discussion of American Idol, for reasons I simply cannot fathom. At any rate, my only contact with the show has been through seeing the replays of singing of the contestants. So you can see why I was confused as to why this show is such a success. None of them are any more talented than Bolton or Spears! So what gives? Why do people act as though this thing is the greatest entertainment to hit television in history? Why does American Idol permeate the media when even its winners are no more talented than the losers in your average karaoke contest down at your favorite bar?
Now, obviously I'm acquainted with Simon Cowell despite never actually having seen him do his shtick live. I've only seen his insults as part of aftermarket media coverage. So I know all about the appeal of the show being that he's a bitch. However, I do have a problem with understanding why anyone would actually continue to watching him. From what I can tell, he basically has one mode and it's achingly predictable. Worse than that, it's all a fake. It's obvious that Simon Cowell's only talent lies in being able to deliver a putdown written by someone else as if he just thought of it. The real problem with Simon Cowell is his credibility. Does anyone actually take him seriously? Or do they know he's just playing a part and reading a script? It's very difficult to believe any word that comes out of the mouth of a man whose whole life is a lie. I would have far more respect for the man if would just come bursting out the closet and admit he's a screaming queen instead of trying to hide it. I mean, come on, we've all seen straight men who dress and act gay, but I have never seen any straight man pull off the gay act that well! Because it's obvious he's not being straight about his own life, it's very difficult to believe he's being straight about anything.
Still, I remained under the delusion that once the really, really, really bad and laughable acts had gotten humiliated that American Idol was all about showcasing talent. It turns out that is far from the case. I have actually paid attention to the media coverage of American Idol this time around-though I haven't gotten up the nerve to actually watch it. And, of course, maybe I am suffering from second-hand exposure, but from what I have gathered the real reason for American Idol's success has nothing to do with giving a weekly showcase to actual talent. In fact, the producers-and especially the judges-don't want talent. Because what you can say about a talented singer? What can you say in two or three minutes about someone like Sarah MacLachlan or Kay Hanley? "Wow." "Fantastic." "You ought to be on a Wheaties box." Critiquing talent gets really boring really quick.
Ah, but criticizing mediocrity is even more fun the criticizing crap. Why do you think movie reviewers rarely waste time on movies with titles like Track of the Moon Beast or The Garbage Pail Kids Movie? Because there's almost nothing you can say that's going to offend anyone. And if you come out and say Citizen Kane or Schindler's List is an utter piece of dreck you'll lose your credibility. No, the real fun is in panning movies that are just good enough that there will be as many fans are there are those who'll agree with you. And that is the secret of American Idol's success. It wouldn't be as much fun to populate it with all those really lousy singers, but neither would it be as much fun to populate it with really talented singers. It's not about finding the next great singer. It's about showcasing a bunch of singers who will have just as many hardcore fans as hardcore enemies. And the point isn't to reach a winner; it's to provide a thrice-weekly outlet for viewer enmity.
American Idol has become must-see TV for so many people because it provides a guilt-free helping of good old schadenfreude. The audience isn't there to enjoy the success of their favorite singer, but rather to bask in the glory of Simon Cowell's humiliation of those they want to lose.