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Are "American Idol" Stars for Real, or Just for Reality TV?
abcnews.go.com — Poor album sales got three "Idol" stars booted from their record labels: Season two winner Ruben Studdard, season five winner Taylor Hicks and season five runner up Katharine McPhee. Is "American Idol," one of the highest-rated programs on TV, losing its touch?
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- randovaro, on 01/18/2008, -2/+14If you get a chance to read Ben Elton's satirical novel based around the Idol genre, "Chart Throb", I recommend it. The storyline is so ridiculous it almost becomes a parody of itself (e.g. I'm not giving anything away by telling you that the Prince of Wales enters as a singing contestant). But it's a fun holiday read and opens your eyes to how these type of reality shows work behind the scenes, manipulating both the "Idols" and the viewing public
- JulieBrownfield, on 01/18/2008, -10/+3I saw last nights show and found it incredibly humorous that they had these home visits before the contestants sang, Jeez do I think this person will have a chance at going to LA. YES. Although the princess Leigha chick was lets say unstable she did have the where with all to say everyone who made it was pretty, put together or otherwise TV ready.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -0/+12The show airs weeks after the tryouts. They have plenty of time to go to the really interesting people's houses.
I found it incredibly humorous that you were unable draw the same conclusion.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -0/+12The show airs weeks after the tryouts. They have plenty of time to go to the really interesting people's houses.
- Tinu, on 01/18/2008, -13/+2First, it's a shame those folks got dumped - all three of them had a gold record or a nearly gold record, so the company at least broke even. I yearn for the days when they would let artists develop over a three album period before dumping them. We wouldn't have some of the greatest musicians of all time if they had to ship a million records to be taken seriously. And it used to be to go platinum, you'd have to SELL a million records, not just ship them for projected orders.
Anyway, the show is losing its luster, not the artists. I watch for the horrible singing now, and to see if Paula Abdul had her crack today. Who cares who wins... they need to put a new spin on the show.- dogstar0125, on 01/18/2008, -4/+17The only reason any of these singers got gold records was the amount of advertising and promotion that went into them. Their popularity is totally manufactured in the TV show, and none of them really have the talent to stand on their own. If they did, they wouldn't be making asses of themselves on this idiotic reality show.
- norman619, on 01/18/2008, -3/+2It's a relity show dude.
- look4alec, on 01/18/2008, -5/+15Writers Strike FTW! These are not artists, they are pop stars. If they can't sell, then the labels won't sell 'em.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2Of all the pathetic uses of a pathetic, virginous phrase like FTW, this might be the least coherent.
Honestly, diggers...pleaes tell me that you don't tlak like this in the real world and think that people consider you intelligent. I can't IMAGINE if someone I knew in real life actually used the phrase FTW. I would laugh at their face and never talk to them again. Fortunately, all my friends have lives and social skills
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2Of all the pathetic uses of a pathetic, virginous phrase like FTW, this might be the least coherent.
- sarazen, on 01/18/2008, -1/+46Part of the problems is the voting style. Lots of people will call in, it doesn't cost anything and it makes them feel like they are helping out their favorite. Now actually shelling out their hard earned cash for a record...that is something else entirely.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -4/+1Good point. They should charge $0.25 a vote.... Man would there be some angry parents who got their kids phone bills though!
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2Yeah, it really should be only open to rich people. That is a good way to take a show with 35 million viewers and turn it into one with 5 million. It would have been nice to see Ozzie Smith's kid win it all a few years ago, since he could afford to vote tens thousands of times per week, and the vote total would have been MUCH lower, making 10,000 extra votes a huge difference.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -2/+11) it would not limit it to rich people
2) It would decrease the viewers somewhat, but mainly it would decrease the number of votes.
3) who would Ozzie's kid hire to make the calls? That's just stupid. If it was really a problem, limit the number of votes per phone #.- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -2/+11. Yes it would. Charging money limits the number of people who can afford it. Plain and simple.
2. It would do both. If you have any common sense at all you would know that a BIG part of hte popularity of the show is the participation factor.
3. Ozzie could hire ANYONE. And limiting the number of phones wouldn't help either. Still a burder on poor people. Ozzie could affod to buy thousands of pre-paid cell phones. It is EXTREMELY unfair to allow some people to get more voting say than others. And limiting per phone does just that. People with land lines and multiple cell phones can make more calls than a family of 5 who have just one land line phone to split their votes.
And to sum it up...if you really think that you could do a better job with American Idol, you are a complete ***** idiot. Napoleon has nothing on you. It is THE most succesful TV show in the history of teleivison in terms of ratio of profit per money spent. Number 1. And you are actually coming here and saying that you have ways to improve it? The producers of this show have made enough money off this show to buy and sell your entire family. They could hold up neough cash thatyou would gladly do anything they ask, including licking their asses after they finish their business after a Taco Bell meal. Andyou would do it becuase of just how much money they can offer. But yeah...they really hsould listne to your suggestions. Afer all, your TV producing career is so much better than theirs.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -2/+11. Yes it would. Charging money limits the number of people who can afford it. Plain and simple.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -2/+11) it would not limit it to rich people
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2Yeah, it really should be only open to rich people. That is a good way to take a show with 35 million viewers and turn it into one with 5 million. It would have been nice to see Ozzie Smith's kid win it all a few years ago, since he could afford to vote tens thousands of times per week, and the vote total would have been MUCH lower, making 10,000 extra votes a huge difference.
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1People vote multiple times, and technical difficulties have been known to have caused some contestants to lose huge amounts of votes, resulting in their early dismissal.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -5/+2No...that is what the whiny fans have claimed. Ther has been ZERO evidence that anyone has unfairly been eliminated.
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1I saw Seacrest himself on TV mention it back a year or 2 ago.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2No, you didn't. There was ONE incident with a voting problem due to the wrong text numbers being displayed for a few contestants durin the Tuesday show, and they redid the voting by reairing the show. There has never been anythiin even close to a situation where voting problems have resulted in the wrong person being voted off. And Ryan Seacreast never said anything of the sort. You are 100%, absolutely, completely lying about that. (Give me a break...even if it DId happen, Ryan Seacreast would never come out and say it.)
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1I saw Seacrest himself on TV mention it back a year or 2 ago.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -5/+2No...that is what the whiny fans have claimed. Ther has been ZERO evidence that anyone has unfairly been eliminated.
- liquidpele, on 01/18/2008, -4/+1Good point. They should charge $0.25 a vote.... Man would there be some angry parents who got their kids phone bills though!
- swordedge, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4They should dump the label. It's even possible to win a Grammy without a label. Maria Schneider proved it in 2005 when she won a Jazz Grammy.
- norman619, on 01/18/2008, -4/+2I don't put a whole lot of stock into these award shows.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2Doing it in Jazz is one thing. Doing it in a major category, especially pop, which is what Idol mainly is, is an entirely different thing altogether.
- strafefire, on 01/18/2008, -2/+31Why these idols were dropped:
1)Studio decided to create formulaic songs that did not fit the singing styles of said artist.
2)Singer had no say in the production process
3)Yes, these guys won American Idol [or was a runner-up], but no offense, we Americans have short attention spans. Release albums in a timely manner. If not, pull a Nintendo and DO NOT release it until it is perfect.
4)Again, album style was not matched to singer.
That's my take. Hopefully, these guys can either find a better company to pick them up, or do the http://www.thesixtyone.com thing and make their own stuff...- MindTrigger, on 01/18/2008, -5/+2uhhhh...yeah.
- Mullinsmcd, on 01/18/2008, -0/+7You're exactly right. The best example of this is the best selling album of last year, Daughtry. He was this really great singer who ended up getting fourth in the show but had way more creative control over his music and released an album quickly. I don't really like the album, but hes a good singer in his own right.
- Daniel591992, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2Great example. I used to watch last year and liked Blake Lewis. He was really unique and brought something interesting to the show ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KazhPADt88 ). I listened to his new CD, and it SUCKS. Something teenage girls would listen
- sadilak, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1They were dropped because the artists are not meant for the targetted audience. The targeted audience for American Idol is the 15 - 18 years old. Which is why, someone like ruben studdard, who has a good voice cannot sell records because he is not targeting the teeny boppers. Same for Taylor Hicks. Hey man, if Taylor hicks did a cover of Doobie brothers songs, I would probably buy it , because I find it easier to listen to doobie brothers than Kanye west or Teen Pop.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -2/+1How much quicker do you want them to realize their alubms? The show ends in late May, and hte album is usually out by mid November. Considering they go on tour until September, they can't possibly get it out any sooner.
- MeatBiProduct, on 01/18/2008, -3/+90Lets be real if you got famous from a reality TV show your fame is an illusion and temporary. American Idol is a glorified karaoke show.
Contestants sing hit songs almost the entire season, then when they're out on their own they have to make hits and hits aren't easy. Not to mention the people picking these 'Idols' aren't generally music fans. My parents don't buy CD's but they sure watch american idol. Any music fan that actively listens and purchases music in whatever form generally doesn't watch the show. So what does that tell you?
The target audience of this show isn't music fans - its Americans that like to listen to karaoke covers of hit tunes.- TRUEPATRIOT, on 01/18/2008, -1/+9 that comment dead on.also let me add if any of the contestants considered themselves talented they dont need a reality show to get a record deal.they all forget it isnt about the music its about the tv show.
- jh9110, on 01/18/2008, -4/+4I agree with you but tell that to Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, and Clay Aiken.
- calon9, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Watching American Idol on occasion is a guilty pleasure of mine. Some of the contestants are karaoke-esque and some are good singers, just as good as any of the other over-produced, relying on freelance songwriters, flash and no-substance pop-stars out there. But being a good singer doesn't mean you are a good or well-rounded artist. So even though I can watch the show, I've never bought or torrented any of the winners' albums. They aren't artists.
- Member148, on 01/18/2008, -1/+10I can't even figure if the judges are for real.
- Continuum, on 01/18/2008, -3/+16When Andy Warhol said "In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes", he was talking about reality tv.
- scabbers, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2It's Chico time.
- krnldmp, on 01/18/2008, -0/+9This show is teh colon blow.
- FoxFaction, on 01/18/2008, -0/+10I don't care about this show so much, I can't even think of a negative comment for it.
- greenblob, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2http://youtube.com/watch?v=-K2Yi_y7Y4w
- Mast3rDigg3r, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=omfx3pVuzDk
psycho - Error601, on 01/18/2008, -0/+39The only thing lamer than watching American Idol is talking about it on the Internet.
- scronline, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Erm, don't you have to HAVE a touch to lose it? Thank you, don't come again.
- mdowney00, on 01/18/2008, -1/+9The problem is the people that vote after the show are the complete wrong demographic that actually buys the albums. Take for example my grandparents... every week they religiously vote for one of the candidates, always the one I would least like to see win. I actually purchase music - I bought the Daughtry album and a couple of the Bo Bice songs even. My grandparents (who voted for Tyler Hicks) would never dream of plopping down $20 for that album, they just wanted to see him move forward in the contest. My parents are the same way. They 50 and over crowd has taken control of the tv show, while the 30 and under crowd are the ones determining album sales. They are not creating idols they are creating a contest that is fun to watch.
- SydBarrett420, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Dugg down for not even getting Taylor Hicks name right.
- nuggetz, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4With so many talented people in the world, I question the people that actually make it on to Hollywood. They interview so many people that it amazes me that the show still manages to promote "American Duds". Forget American idol, they need a show which judges people by their musical talent along with their singing abilities and showmanship. Anyone can sing when you have pro-tools doing all the work.
- Steroblo, on 01/18/2008, -0/+9This stuff is garbage.....it seems like people are finally coming around to realizing this stuff is all set up.....look at Tila Tequila, look at the Hills.....it's all for show.....what's sad is that there are devoted fan bases that continue to watch this stuff seriously.....
- DeviantDragon, on 01/18/2008, -0/+11I'm surprised they consider Kelly Clarkson to be a sign of Idol disappointment.
- tweetsa, on 01/18/2008, -5/+2i like two of carrie underwoods songs
- h3lx, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2Really?
lols!!1! - Kronk42583, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1"I farted once on the set of blue lagoon" - Brooke Shields
- MrMongoose, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0*slap*
- rumorsofdemise, on 01/18/2008, -0/+5I'm carrying underwood right now.
See, that's funny because it's true.
- h3lx, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2Really?
- SpeedyG, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I don't know the answer to the titular question, but I'm not surprised that ABC is more than happy to take potshots at FOX while desperately trying to glom onto the success of the show.
- darkheartlor, on 01/18/2008, -1/+12I didn't realize that American Idol was in touch with anything to begin with. The people who watch this crap are far from real music lovers. Just because you have a good voice, does not mean you should sing. You need something to sing about. I can't wait till this crap is off the air for good.
- fliped, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I hear the show is signed like 5 or 6 more seasons
- crakbot, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1It's two different things. One is a TV show people watch to be entertained and the other is having people actually go out and spend money on an album. There is some overlap but the winners are who the TV viewers wanted to see win because they liked them, not because they hope they make an album. I watch the show but have never bought any of the albums created from it and doubt I ever will.
- MScrip, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1American Idol is a reality show that has something other shows don't... merchandise. With CDs and tours, the show makes money even after the show goes off the air each season.
- SmackMyMac, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2I'm willing to bet that a lot of the "Comic" auditions are either staged or someone has a bet (or lost a bet...)
- trademork, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1American Idol is just like any other means of finding and promoting talent. Based on a huge number of factors, some of their picks are winners and some are losers. The show isn't losing its touch. It just has peaks and valleys like everything else. For every Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, who have had massive success, you have your Taylor Hicks, Reuben and Katherine McPhee who don't do as well.
- Doomsan, on 01/18/2008, -0/+6William Hung FTW!
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1She Bangs! She Bangs!
- LLamaStar, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Of millions...there will be a handful of people rising up that show potential to become stars...those are the winners and 2nd placers of the show.
Of those few winners...only 1 or 2 will actually amount to anything.- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1WEll, there has already been 3 who have ALREADY sold more CDs than 99% of artists do for their entire careers. You don't have to like their music to know that Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry are good at what they do, and are absolutely the real deal. American Idol is no different from any other stepping stone to the industry. Should we consider Christina Aguilera talentless because she appeared on Star Search and the Mickey Mouse Club?
Everyone who wins hastalent. Like someone said below, the reason why those that did not sell well did "fail" is becuase even though they were good at their genre, their genre simply is not popular. I really don't think that anyone expected Taylor Hicks to go multi-platinum. - tony23, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Just a note:
Daughtry (with a double-platinum first album) was 3rd place
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1WEll, there has already been 3 who have ALREADY sold more CDs than 99% of artists do for their entire careers. You don't have to like their music to know that Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry are good at what they do, and are absolutely the real deal. American Idol is no different from any other stepping stone to the industry. Should we consider Christina Aguilera talentless because she appeared on Star Search and the Mickey Mouse Club?
- phantasyhero, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Those winners who aren't selling albums were voted for for the wrong reason. They were voted for because they can sing well, but what they sang didn't actually appeal to everyday listeners.
- ravkass, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1When you get too used to watching the same stuff on TV, you get bored of it.. Change the name of the show and add a 4th judge.. and we'll all think we're watching something new and different.
- agsinger, on 01/18/2008, -2/+2no person on american idol is a real artist in any sense of the word...sorry
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+2If you think that Carrie Underwood is not a real star, then you are just ignorant of what it takes to be a true musician. You may not like country, but that does not mean she doesn't have enormous talent.
- biznatch11, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3I like to watch the first set of shows when they're in the different cities and most people suck, those shows are hilarious! (..."if she were a bathtub, I would caulk her"...). After that it's boring and repetitive and they sound like everyone else on the radio except usually not as good.
- a10webb, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Pop music is just that. Lame and in vogue for a short time. People with talent can maintain a fanbase other than mindless drones that can't get off the couch.
- kermithefrogand, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2It feels like the show starts off with people who are have a slight mental disability.
- b8man99, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Slight???!!!???
- mbthompson, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4*wakes from sleep*
Huh?
Wow, most American Idol winners are talentless puppets put there by producers. You woke me up for that?
*rolls over back to sleep*- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -2/+2Yeah...Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry have no talent...riiiight.
- mbthompson, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1I said MOST nitwit, not all. But, I appreciate your hutspa in displaying your ignorance for us to point and laugh at.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1The success rate of American Idol is FAR greater than any other way people come up to the music industry. If you just go by the winners, and say it is 2 out of 6 (even though 1 other has won a grammy), that is 1/3 have becoming bonafide legitimate stars.
Record companies would KILL to have a 33% success rate like that.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1The success rate of American Idol is FAR greater than any other way people come up to the music industry. If you just go by the winners, and say it is 2 out of 6 (even though 1 other has won a grammy), that is 1/3 have becoming bonafide legitimate stars.
- mbthompson, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1I said MOST nitwit, not all. But, I appreciate your hutspa in displaying your ignorance for us to point and laugh at.
- RoboPimp3000, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1You can browse digg in your sleep? Now that's talent.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -2/+2Yeah...Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry have no talent...riiiight.
- bullcutter, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Sure they're real, if you really want an Idol who does crappy car commercials for a living... I don't know about you, but I don't "idolize" any of those people.
- fixty, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Don't know. Never watched it. Don't care. Never will.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+3You obviously cared enough to click on the link, and then click on the reply link.
- xNaquada, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1***** american(&canadian+all other)) idol. ***** tv; ***** programming.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1So says a man who has dugg a few collegehumor.com submissions! Then again, I guess that DOES qualify you as an expert on *****.
- dylanfan40, on 01/18/2008, -0/+2American Idol sucks ass. And you have to hear about it on the news and the radio. I'm sick of this *****.
- Mellowman999, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0Wow, did you ever think that just because they can sing makes them creative? I mean what the ***** did you think would really happen? None of them were required to write their own music for Idol. The show has nothing to do with the winners ***** sales.
- JulyZerg, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0Actually, it gets them fame. Which SHOULD help sales, unless the ENTIRE show is staged (which is a possibility)
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Clearly someone who doesn't know anything about the law, or about the quiz show scandals on the 50s if you think the entire show is staged. The fact that they indirectly charge people to vote with text messages means that it must be 100% real. And before you give me the standard "look at the disclaimer at the end of the show. It says the producers can choose the winner." no it doesn't.
- JulyZerg, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0Actually, it gets them fame. Which SHOULD help sales, unless the ENTIRE show is staged (which is a possibility)
- invictus13, on 01/18/2008, -0/+4I ***** hate american idol . . . ***** YOU RYAN SEACREST. sorry i just really needed to get that out
- NeoCortex, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1Losing its touch? It's been a piece of ***** since the beginning.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Dude...look at your Digg History. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
- JulyZerg, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0Is it real? No. Do people like it? Yes.
Which is why it won't change. - MsGo, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1People actually did a news story on this?????
News is NEVER that slow.- kiiimiko, on 01/18/2008, -0/+0hahaha I thought the same. "Slow news day, huh?"
- phyx726, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1I remember when I'd use to turn on he television and there was always something good on, Seinfeld, Fraiser, Mad About You, Married with Children, Wonder Years...I grew up in the 90s and its only been a little over a decade and it seems there just isn't a lot of good shows anymore. Not to say there isn't, I watch Heroes, Lost, Prison Break, and hopefully JERICHO, but it was almost a certainty back then I'd find something to watch on any given day. I also don't know why like all the best shows are on Monday as well, but thats a different topic. Now I actually have to look at the TV listings to know when there isn't going to be a reality show on. It sucks so much. I miss Parker Lewis can't lose...Synchronize Swatches!
- calon9, on 01/18/2008, -0/+3Every generation says something like that. I would listen to my parents complaining about the junk on TV, saying they remember the days of I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver. I swore I would never grow up and gripe about TV like that. But then, inevitably, I started griping about the crap on TV, longing for the days of $6mil dollar man, 3s company, A-team. You'll be telling your kids one day about Seinfeld and they'll roll their eyes and go back to watching the 24/7 groin-kicking channel.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -3/+1Mad About You? Sorry...you lost crediiblity with that.
- Tomson74, on 01/18/2008, -1/+0I remember when I could turn on the television and there wasn't all this BS called Reality TV. Let alone American Idol. Let alone, Simon. Oh wait, there was the annoying as hell Spice Girls.
REALITY TV MUST DIE, and with it, AMERICAN IDOL.
Networks need to listen to the people.
Oh and we can thank this POS program for giving us Clay Aiken and Mr Ryan "I wish I could be Dick Clark" CumCrest"- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1You must be the funniest guy in 3rd grade with doozies like CumCrest.
Honestly..if you still think that using "dirty" words makes you funny, then you are lying. You are clearly not old enough to remember a time without reality TV. - Feej, on 01/24/2008, -0/+1"Networks need to listen to the people" - They *are* listening. These stupid shows still rate and I guess we get what we ask for.
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1You must be the funniest guy in 3rd grade with doozies like CumCrest.
- balilanai, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1What is American Idol?
- bingobongony, on 01/18/2008, -1/+1Yes, Taylor Hicks didn't do well, but that season had a 4X platinum...possibly 5X before it is done CD with Daughtry. Saying it is over based on one year (last year) is ridiculous.
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