Have you been watching that "American Idol" ripoff/ train wreck, "X Factor"? It's got Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, and Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger. It is so much like American Idol, with the exception that people over 30 can compete and it's not Coke, but Pepsi that sponsores it. They also have a group category which Idol never had. Both shows started as British creations, which is really becoming a trend lately. Stealing from them to Americanize here. "All In The Family", "Sanford and Son", and "Three's Company" being the rare excellent exceptions. My main gripe that I have with the show is not so much the judges, who are beyond judgeing on musical talent. Paula's singing style has always been nasally and she's judging someone on their pitch?! L.A. Reid was once the head of LaFace, who's major artists such as TLC and Toni Braxton, had to file bankruptcy at one time. Nicole was a member of a group called Pussycats Dolls who were basically pin up barbie dolls with mediorce singing voices and talent to match. The only one with no real singing or musical aspirations is Simon. I like Simon. At least with him you get what you get, an arrogant snobby asshole!! Nothing more, nothing less!
My major gripe is the fact that contestant come on that show and others, hoping that they are the one and that they will be picked amonst the 1000s that the show sees and hears. The prize for this show is a 5 million dollar contract. Pretty impressive. However, the show puts the contests through the ringer to get that prize. First Hollywood week or Boot Camp. Then they weed those out in the second and third week of try outs, still weeding it down from 1000s to 100s to 50 to 30 to 16 to finally the magic number: 12. This show basically steals American Idol's platform. The main concern is that these poor hopefuls have to go through weeks and weeks and weeks of either being cut out or having to prove themselves each week as to no be cut out. I understand you have to prove yourself in order to make it in the buisiness. However, you see the joy in thier faces when they have made it through, only weeks later to be disappointed when they don't take that next step. My God: Welcome to show biz!! Anyway, I feel really bad for those who want that dream so badly. They want that chance to let the world hear them sing and reach that plateau of fame and fortune. However, week after agonizing week after grueling week, you are never safe. You are always one step from out the door. You can never relax. Those future singing stars watching at home should really take stock of that. Do you really want it that badly that week after week, you rely on four people to tell you whether you're good enough or not? Also, once you finally make it to that final journey and succeed on the show, is fame and fortune really awaiting you? My compassion goes out to those under 16 and over 30. Either this something they really want or this is all they have left. That is sad!! It's even sadder when their dreams are dashed by an early rejection. Is fame really all the important to you that you would sell your soul on national television just for the devil to rip it out a few weeks later with a bad audition?
No comments:
Post a Comment