American Idol

[Craig S.]

It was on the front of my EW a couple of weeks ago, everyone at work is talking about it, and it's all over the entertainment Web sites.

Is anyone here watching? If so, what's the appeal of the show? My reality viewing is limited to MTV's "Tough Enough," so I'm curious what others like.

[Max Power]

Never really watched it for more than 5 minutes, ever.

Then again, I can say that about every one of those reality type shows.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Max Power
Never really watched it for more than 5 minutes, ever.

Then again, I can say that about every one of those reality type shows. Totally absolutely ditto for me. I get enough of reality in, well ..., REAL LIFE.

[JamesI]

Why do they call them reality shows? The situations are so far from real life that its crazy.

On topic, I won't watch Idol at all. The poor person who wins will be big for about a month, then disappear to the fate of all the other reality tv stars.

[SmedIndy]

Against all better judgement, I always watch Survivor, but I draw the line there.

I also love the Iron Chef too. Is that "reality TV". I'd never eat most of the stuff they make....

[JamesI]

I don't think cooking shows count as reality tv, too real.
I love Iron Chef, consider cooking some of their stuff sometime.

[VNV Nation]

I refuse to watch reality TV because it rewards networks for having no imagination and no writers.

Network TV prints money -- when shows get canceled it means that profits are less than 200 percent. For that much money, they can come up with better entertainment.

[SmedIndy]

Now I wonder if the winner is actually going to be an "artist" or a glorified lounge singer?

[moose]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Now I wonder if the winner is actually going to be an "artist" or a glorified lounge singer?
it used to be you'd find out they don't write their own songs, and you'd be surprised.

now you're surprised when they do.

[Craig S.]

I don't think most of the AI contestants can write their own names, much less their own songs. Honestly, I hear them talk during interviews, and it amazes me that they've been blessed with such big voices and little brains.

Of course, the ratings are great, so I guess we're in the minority.

[mkempton]

I've actually enjoyed some of the performances on AI, and even found one or two contestants possibly worthy of some national fame in the pop-market sort of way.

I have to admit that after knocking Real World, Survivor, etc, I saw a couple episodes of Big Brother 2 last year and kinda liked it. A nice release for 60 minutes. I've probably watched five episodes of BB3 this year, because my GF watches them. But there's nothing real about them.

Then again, people conspiring with and against each other, lying and backstabbing to get to the top, etc. It IS reality! They've put office politics and Capitol Hill on TV, only with better looking coworkers!