American Idol Musings

I've been an on and off Idol fan since it started. The first year I was proud to say I didn't watch it at all. I didn't see much of it the second year, either, but then I slowly got sucked in. I was fully engaged last year when Jordin Sparks was in the competition. Overall, I enjoy the competition and watching the artists develop over the course of the show.

At this risk of sounding self-righteous or judgmental or smug, however, I would like to comment on the shows leading up to the competition, the shows currently on right now that feature the auditions, particularly of those who, from most points of view, have no real business auditioning. Much has been made about how cruel the shows are--how they spotlight people with no musical talent in order to make fun of them. Obviously there are some who audition for their 15 minutes of fame. They know they aren't going anywhere. They know they don't have the talent necessary. But they have a chance to appear on TV before millions of people--so they play along.

But many of the people highlighted in these shows aren't in on the joke (as one TV commentator puts it). They honestly think they have a shot, that they have talent. They enter into these auditions thinking they can make it. And then America, thanks to American Idol, sits back and laughs at them, ridicules them, and makes fun of them. I know. I've watched and joined along. I, too, scratch my head and wonder what these people are thinking. I wonder how they can shed tears or get angry when they're told they aren't going on to the next round.

And that's where I get nervous. They aren't in on it. They don't know. And in their misguided innocence they are held up nationally for us to laugh at.

Is that really the kind of nation we want to be?

Probably every one of us at one time or another really thought we could do something that the average person knew immediately we couldn't. Perhaps we thought we could write poetry or sing well enough for a solo in school or dance or cheer or speak or cook or...And when we found out that others didn't appreciate our skill the way we did, we were heartbroken. But what we needed at that point was not ridicule but loving affirmation that while that may not be our gift, we are still created in God's image with much to offer the world. We just need to find out what it is God has created us to do.

To sit and laugh at those who think they are talented and aren't is really mean-spirited, isn't it? And it says more about us than about them. What is it about us that we need someone to look worse than we do? Someone we can ridicule so that we feel better about ourselves?

Simon said it this way: "You'll see the usual parade of the absolutely useless believing they are the best singers in the world..." Because they have no talent does that make them absolutely useless?

The American Idol competition is exciting and has launched several careers. When it focuses on talent, it hits its stride. But when it's used to provide an opportunity for Simon to roll his eyes or Randy to laugh or the rest of us to sit back and rip on those the editors have chosen for ridicule, the show and our country degenerates into subhuman behavior.

Amazingly and thankfully the ratings have been down so far this year (and this when few new shows are on due to the writers strike). Perhaps we could start a movement--boycott the show until the real competition begins. Perhaps we could say through that boycott that making fun of others isn't what we want to do and be as human beings. Instead, we want to enjoy those gifted by God in this particular arena of life as they compete for the title of American Idol.

As one who has watched some of the audition shows and laughed along, I'm repenting of that and waiting until the real show begins. Perhaps you will want to join me.