American Idol about to return, God please spare us!

It's that time of year again, that time when Fox programming executives start doing a happy dance because they are about to dump another season of American Idol upon the TV watchers in the U.S.A., and they know that there will be plenty of watchers because it's just like a train or car wreck and we can't avert our eyes and avoid watching.

I must admit that I had expected the American Idol craze, much like the Survivor craze, to have run it's course in much the way that the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? craze ran it's. Reality TV is so, well, last year, or perhaps even the year or several years before, and yet we continue to see reality TV flooding our airwaves.

Things have perhaps gotten a bit better, thanks to the popularity of some new scripted shows, like Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Desparate Housewives, My Name is Earl, How I Met Your Mother, and even a few shows on FOX such as Prison Break, Bones and a few other shows. There's also a host of coming "new series" that look like they may do fairly well, Emily's Reasons Why Not which brings Heather Graham and all her perky cuteness back to series TV.

But despite all of those great scripted shows, we also continue to be served heapin' helpin's of American Idol. First it's 2 nites a week, then it's 3 nites a week, and eventually it seems that it's the show that eats up the entire FOX network schedule. We'll see more crap-tastic "the best of the worst" shows, and a bunch of mediocre singers that all think they are the best when in fact they aren't really any better than anyone else that is in the competition. That someone wins the contest normally says much more about the lack of competition than anything else. The show becomes a big popularity contest where the cutest wins votes, while the more talented gets sent home early because they just don't have the looks or personality of others they are competing against.

When will it all end? Must we be subjected to American Idol 2019, or whatever it will be called when we see the 30th consecutive season of America's most popular TV show on America's lamest TV network? I certainly hope not. Someone plese save us before things get that bad.
13,991 views 16 replies
Reply #1 Top
Here's an internet vote for fewer seasons of American Idol please!
Reply #2 Top
I love Lost and became a big Prison Break fan (thanks to the b/f)...but I'll admit I still watch a few cheesy reality shows like American Idol. Yes, some reality tv has become tiresome like you said...but this one for some reason still manages to entertain me. I love Amazing Race even more so. Maybe they'll run their course for Me someday, but not quite yet...
Reply #3 Top
I do wish they'd bring back "The Gong Show" though, it was great fun!


You better patent/ copyright or in some other way protect that idea LW, since you know Hollywood is so ripe to recycle old ideas they will likely go for it on their own soon enough.


On the other hand, I will say that in many ways A.I. is like a modern incarnation of the show you referenced. The only thing missing is the actual gong.
Reply #4 Top
haha, my parents love that show. i think someone should make a spoof of it.

and simon should be slapped.
Reply #5 Top
You are aware they just signed the regulars (Simon, etc.) to seven more seasons of American Idol, right?
Reply #6 Top
Thanks! for reminding me that the new season starts soon!!

I think television shows are like food, some people like this kind of food and others don't.

Almost, but not quite, like either loving or hating White Castle hamburgers....

I don't like violent television shows, so I turn the dial...

Reply #7 Top
I do wish they'd bring back "The Gong Show" though, it was great fun!


ROFL, oh I LOVED that silly show! bring it back!!!
Reply #8 Top
White Castle


Yummmm, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle! Now that was darn funny stuff. Soon to be a new one of those movies... Sweden I think they are going to. Should be another funny one.
Reply #9 Top
But if it weren't for American Idol we wouldn't have Kelly Clarkson and I love her. Just think she might still be waitressing at Chilis if it weren't for American Idol. Really the first season is the only one I really watched and then just after the top ten.

You know what the really sad thing is that more people voted for American Idol than voted in our presidential election.

I think there are definately good and bad reality shows. Amazing Race - awesome, the Bachelor - awesomely bad.

BTW, check out Veronica Mars on UPN Wednesday night. I thought it was just a teeny bopper show but now its my favorite. Or you could even rent the first season on DVD.
Reply #10 Top
Midgets who come out with trained pink poodles who do nothing but poo on the floor? hahaha! Now I see what the fuss is all about, I'll have to catch an episode or two.


Nahhhh, they just have William Hung and other similarly talented individuals that think they can sing come out an pooh all over the audience with their musical stylings....
Reply #11 Top
Do you know what I dislike? People who do not like a TV program, or a certain aspect of society in general, and post ridiculous articles that don't really promote much discussion about anything important, and they rant and rave like its the Apocalypse. Here is an example that might help you grasp a valuable concept: If Bob does not like watermelon, than why would Bob ever eat watermelon if given the choice? Maybe you could read a book instead, or watch a different program. Good luck with that

QED

Jay
Reply #12 Top
Do you know what I dislike? People who do not like a TV program, or a certain aspect of society in general, and post ridiculous articles that don't really promote much discussion about anything important, and they rant and rave like its the Apocalypse. Here is an example that might help you grasp a valuable concept: If Bob does not like watermelon, than why would Bob ever eat watermelon if given the choice? Maybe you could read a book instead, or watch a different program. Good luck with that


Pot, meet Kettle.

Irony is apparently lost on this one ^^

Thanks for stopping by to troll though. Normally I do my trolling in a boat, for fish....
Reply #13 Top
I don't know...this is one show I can't stop watching. I think what makes it more fun is when JU's own Jamie Burnside does his weekly critique and all types of people chime in with their likes and dis-likes.

Sometimes just being entertained with no purpose is great!
Reply #14 Top
I entertained the idea that what I said might be hypocritical, however, the one key factor is that I say "TV Program" specifically. My point was a general philosophical idea.
Reply #15 Top

What is it about "My Name is Earl"?  I should hate the show!  But my son and I love it!

As for AI and the rest of reality?  I live it, I dont have to watch it!

Reply #16 Top
This is one of those things, like professional sports, that make me doubt my fellow man. People complain about it, people think it is silly, but somehow it has huge ratings. I felt the same way about survivor. I know people who are most certainly more intelligent than me that have NEVER MISSED A SINGLE SHOW.

If I were God-Emperor, I'd do away with them without a thought. Simon What's-His-Name would be washing my car for minimum wage like the talentless, whining queen that he is. Evidently, like the knuckle-dragging idiots in professional sports, people want to inflate him like a god on Olympus, though.

I just have to take heart that this free market will use him and spit him out and someday he'll be a has been with too much plastic surgury and a drug problem like every other freak in the freakshow.