Should American Idol be canceled?

[Tedius Zanarukando]

I have been watching American Idol since 2008. Sadly, there is a bias in the voting patterns. American Idol's voting bloc is inspired by the prejudices of the past. Since its seventh season, the winner is always a White man who accompanies himself with a guitar, and he is usually not the best singer. The worst case of that happened on May 23, 2012, when an average White guy with a guitar with a one-octave vocal range won over a super-taletned 16-year-old Mexican-Filipino American girl with a four-octave vocal range and who is clearly the best singer in American Idol history. American Idol is just rigged.

[Oracle]

The only winners worth mentioning are David Cook, Jordin Sparks, and Kelly Clarkson. As someone who used to religiously watch the show, yes, it has become increasingly stupid in the past couple of years. It's doomed to fail.

[Whiplash]

This is a rhetorical question right? Like, a hipper version of 'is the Pope Catholic?' or 'do bears steal picanic baskets in the woods?'

[Agent Dunham]

Originally Posted by Tedius Zanarukando

I have been watching American Idol since 2008. Sadly, there is a bias in the voting patterns. American Idol's voting bloc is inspired by the prejudices of the past. Since its seventh season, the winner is always a White man who accompanies himself with a guitar, and he is usually not the best singer. The worst case of that happened on May 23, 2012, when an average White guy with a guitar with a one-octave vocal range won over a super-taletned 16-year-old Mexican-Filipino American girl with a four-octave vocal range and who is clearly the best singer in American Idol history. American Idol is just rigged.

I feel like you don't wholly understand the point of the show. It's not about picking the best singer, it's about picking the most marketable singer.

[PhoenixSun]

this is one of those UH DUHHHHHHH moments

[Bun]

I feel like it's missing its spark, the spark it had in the first few seasons. Now it seems more about who will be the next judge when JLo or Steven Tyler leaves. Come on, we all know Randy is never going to quit the show. He'll go down with the sinking ship. In any case, I quite enjoyed it in its infancy. Now the bad auditions feel more like someone trying to get their 10 minutes of fame. It's not interested me for quite some time now and I highly doubt I'll start watching it again. I say put it out of its misery.

[revan]

I feel like this show died long ago tbh.

[Tedius Zanarukando]

It's not about picking the best singer, it's about picking the most marketable singer.

The type of contestant that usually wins American Idol is a White guy with a guitar. There are already five of such winners in a row starting with David Cook. Based on what I have seen, whom I found to be the best singer of the eleventh season, who is the runner-up, is more marketable than the winner.

[Whiplash]

Ah, so this thread is a case of 'why don't people agree with me when I'm right?'. Because there are two options for who is responsible for the winner being selected. It's either:
1. The majority of viewers who vote, or;
2. The corporate executives behind the vote.

Now, we'll deal with the last one first. This is their industry, they are the ones with the most experience, knowledge and information on what they're looking for in a corporate pop-singer cardboard cutout and the marketability of the contestants. It is literally their job, so we'll work on the assumption that they know more than you about it and, if they're picking the winner, they would arguably be picking the most objectively marketable one.

As for the first group, the majority of voters liked them. Marketability = appealing to as many people who might spend money on you as possible.

Either way, the winner is by definition the most marketable one, when marketability is assessed on objective criteria.

If we assess it on subjective criteria, then it really is you just saying "yeah but I'm right and they're wrong". I'd congratulate you on looking outside the box and not judging things based on their popularity or market appeal solely, but you're watching American Idol.


And why the fuck does it even matter who won? If it's anything like Australian Idol was (god forbid), the runner-up will get a contract for an album anyway. And then never shut up or shave their soul patch because then people wouldn't recognise him.

[Agent Dunham]

Originally Posted by Whiplash

And why the fuck does it even matter who won? If it's anything like Australian Idol was (god forbid), the runner-up will get a contract for an album anyway. And then never shut up or shave their soul patch because then people wouldn't recognise him.

I'm ashamed to share his name. ;; Also, I heard that Anthony Callea scored the esteemed role of cruise ship entertainer, which I found hilarious. Don't know if it's true, though.

[PhoenixSun]

Whiplash and Agent Dunham are right. it was never about talent only about who they could sell and who they were trying to sell to.


If it was about talent, then Taylor Hicks from season 5 would never have won in the first place

it's borderline understandable to be pissed, but it was easy to figure out early on where the show was going. besides, it's better to just keep an eye and ear now the people who didn't win because in a bit you'll either see them starring or guest starring in a hit or future television series, or in Jennifer Hudson's case, starring in a movie where their voice gets heard, and they outshine the star (Beyonce) which gets them even more notice. Jessica will be fine. this guy: not so much

[Whiplash]

Originally Posted by Agent Dunham

I'm ashamed to share his name. ;; Also, I heard that Anthony Callea scored the esteemed role of cruise ship entertainer, which I found hilarious. Don't know if it's true, though.

Better than being known as 'the one who got caught fucking Paris Hilton' like whatshisface.

[blueberrymuffin]

Oh yes.

It stopped being decent around about 06 and that was 5 years ago.