American Idol confusion!

[CRB#33]

I don't watch it too often, but I did last night and once last week.

While watching last night, I realized that all the performers have to go through a primary audition before they get into see Simon and the gang.

How on earth do the majority of these people get past the first step?????

I mean some of these people really cannot sing and have no talent at all!

I guess it's for effect for the show? This way they can get Simon to act like a buffoon on TV and increase their viewer number?

It's kind of irritating. It's all an act.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think I remember someone on the boards saying either they or a friend had done the audition thing for AI. THey said that the 'officials' passed every third person through. Then those go through an audition process. I guess it all makes for good t.v. I think it tends to be a waste of time. I'm kind of tired of Simon telling people that they are wasting his time when 'his' people have sent these non-talents through. It's just plain sad to see what people will do to get their 15 minutes of t.v. fame.

 

[katerkat]

And the producer deliberately let the really bad people through. It's kinda sad that they're not showing as many of the good auditions this year - we saw, what, four out of 50-some-odd people go through last night? I mean, I like laughing at the bad people and argumentative people as much as the next guy, but I like to see the good ones and try to guess if they'll be the next Clay.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by CRB#33
......How on earth do the majority of these people get past the first step?????

I mean some of these people really cannot sing and have no talent at all!

I guess it's for effect for the show? This way they can get Simon to act like a buffoon on TV and increase their viewer number?

It's kind of irritating. It's all an act.

LOL, CRB!!!! From all I have read here on the DIS (always a good source of the heartbeat of the nation) and heard on the radio and news, think mid-70's (maybe you were too young for you to recall) The Gong Show, Chuck Barris. Seems like a similar show. Think Gene, Gene, the dancin' machine, LOL. Afterall, it is a 'reality' show, so it must be real.

 

[SoonerKate]

I've had friends go to auditions the last two years -- in Houston and Miami.

The last two auditions, people have gone through the first round in large groups (I can't remember if they're 30 or 50 people). Basically, in some groups, producers look for good people, and in other groups, they look for terrible people who will make "good" tv. If you're an incredible singer who winds up in a group where they're looking for "good" tv, it's basically better luck next year.

They basically do the same thing in the second round. In the third round, you actually sing for Simon et al.

 

[CRB#33]

DAN!!! OMG!!!! Gene Gene!!! No I'm not that young!!!

I am however....

 

[Towncrier]

I have to wonder how the Unknown Comic would do on American Idol.

The previews for tonight's show from Hawaii look like they may have saved the worst for last. Did you see the person who comes to the audition wearing a Pooh costume???

 

[CBRorBust]

Kristen Holt is a DJ here in DFW and she was explaining to the listners that everyone must sing in front of 3 producers first.

The producers pretty much only let through the really bad ones and the really good ones. All the kind of good but not outstanding ones get the boot from the very beginning. Then the producers take notes and write like...."OUTSTANDING" or "Sounds like a drowning cat" on their sheets.

If you notice on AI, the judges always look down at the sheets they have in front of them to see what the producers wrote. They get ideas of what to expect from this person. That is why you see either the good, the bad, and the....well you know.

 

[Mishetta]

I saw a "Simon" interview last week & the interviewer asked him how the really awful ones get to audition for him & his answer was something about, "if they are truly genuine & very bad, they get on." He says that lots of people are bad but don't get picked to audition for him & the gang because they just want some attention & get on TV (imagine that! ) but others really think they are good but are just horrible...so those are the ones that get on.

Truthfully though, would AI be as much fun to watch if ALL the contestants were great? My DS & I are rolling on the floor laughing sometimes depending on the "artist!"

Oh and Dan ~ I must be older than I want to admit since I vividly remember the Gong Show!! I can still remember that I hated watching Chuck because he always had a mouth full of saliva & I kept swallowing since it was aggravating me! (Is that a gross thing to remember, or what???)

 

[ead79]

I agree with y'all. I wish we got to see more of the good people than the bad ones. I like a few bad ones mixed in, but give me a break! That's ALL they have shown this season.

My husband actually tried out for AI this past year, and he said it was interesting to watch the producers letting people through to the next round. He said there were some people who were put in a line with "attractive" people, some of whom could sing and some of whom couldn't. He also said that the producers told them that to get through this year you had to be able to "perform," not just sing well. I haven't seen much good performing yet, but we'll see.

 

[Robinrs]

OMG!!

I remember just ROLLING on the floor at Gene Gene the Dancing Machine!!

I found a clip of him here: http://www.ifilm.com/filmdetail?ifilmid=2458532&cch=

And those people on American Idol think they're unique!

 

[Dan Murphy]

LOL, Robin, great video. Chuck Barris, JP, and Gene, Gene. Yikes!!!!!!

 

[stormi65]

is why Simon complains about these non talented people wasting his time- when the producers are the ones sending them through. It is beginning to seem very fake to me. So far, I have not seen any really stand out contestants. Maybe when we get to know them better.

 

[CBRorBust]

Did anyone see the girl last night that wore the Hawaii loves Simon shirt?

I thought she was pretty good. And they didn't let her through. I felt bad for that girl, then a few people later, they let someone in that wasn't very good at all!

 

[minniecarousel]

...and what was with the guy who said he'd give some of his winnings to charity - they didn't believe that he was "sincere" (just before him they showed a pretty girl who said she'd buy herself a Thunderbird, when asked that same question). I thought that guy sang very well, what are they looking for?.... gold-diggers?!?!

 

[Jdubbs]

The Gong show was the best. Thanks for that video.