American Idol - Heartless Bastards

Does anyone else think that those who make and host American Idol have become a pack of heartless bastards?

It seems in New Zealand we're a few episodes behind the U.S. I found this out when I was watching E! network and saw that the annoying Bikini Girl had been cut a couple episodes before she had here. Oops.

Tonight Beau and I are watching the one where the judges, in their FUCKING PALATIAL MANSION, are bringing contestants in one by one to basically tell them they're in or out of the competition. Probably the most boring of all shows of the season, but worst of all, the most cruel.

Personally, as much as I love American Idol, and I admit, I do, I have been finding each season seems to be getting more and more cruel. I know that when it comes to reality TV, "conflict" and "pain," no matter how manufactured, is what the camera loves, but these are young people, people who have big, big dreams. And sure, you can make fun of the corniness of wanting to be a STAR!!! *jazz hands* But if we can all remember what it was like to be 19 years old and feel things THAT deeply...as if your heart would truly break and kill you. Sure, some of them need a quick reality slap in the face, but that doesn't mean that the truth has to be so bitterly delivered.

Simon, whom I often agree with, since I think he is that dose of reality that is needed to counter Randy's blustering dogcabulary and Paula's sticky bullshit, seems to be becoming increasingly intolerable with the whole process, and therefore, his comments have gone from blunty honest to simply streaked with mean.

But one of the worst things of all, is this over-the-top pregnant pauses, where a judge will give a melodramatic grimace and say, "Ohhhhh, you've really taken these risks, do you really think you did well?...... I don't know......this is a really hard decision for us......we don't know how to say this..... *dramatic sigh* ........ well......We're sorry.......*sigh*.....but......"You made it! You're in Season 8!"

Meanwhile, the poor contestant, who has been trembling non-stop throughout this ridiculous performance, and has sobbed all make-up away, is now thrust into a split second of deer-in-the-headlights confusion, before then jolted into near hysterics of relief and joy. It's gruesome to watch. And unnecessary.

Why why why do they do this?? Why is Ryan Seacrest such a fake-ass...drawing out one of the most awkward and painful moments of a young person's life cause...cause it's good TV? Boy, we as the audience must be a bunch of real emotion vultures.

And yes, I do like Kara, although she can be occasionally harsh. Nice to see someone lovely, talented, and... um.... sober on the show.

Anyway, I guess I got my point across *cough*, so, although all I've seen so far is Hollywood Week, here is my early early prediction for the final 12 (and so far, I think the men are much stronger than the women):

MEN
Adam Lambert





Danny Gokey





Stephen Fowler





Scott MacIntyre





Ju'Not Joyner





Jorge Nuñez





And although I adore him, I did not put the oil rig guy on here)


WOMEN
Jasmine Murray





Ann Marie Boskovich





Alexis Grace





Lil Rounds





Stevie Wright





Kristen McNamara





And I hope Tatiana gets cut. Soon. Ugh, what a camera-playing freak.