American Idol is a guilty, sinister pleasure. During the audition rounds, Ryan Seacrest’s interviews with wannabe singers often have that high school feel—like when the popular kid chats up the nerd who is too gullible to realize s/he is being mocked—while the cool kids scoff on the sidelines. The cruelty that serves as the meat of the show is what makes the show worth watching, as a parade of desperate, and in some cases mentally ill people, march in front of the cameras to become instant national freak shows.
The first contestant in the Boston auditions is a woman by the name of Janet McNamara who says she’s only been singing well “for like two years.” The proof that she’s “singing well” is in the pudding and the pudding is her killer scores on the American Idol Karaoke video game. And before McNamara launches into what might be the worst rendition of “Pocket Full of Sunshine” in the history of the world, cameras capture her psyching herself out in front of the mirror, telling herself that she’s awesome.
Another contestant, equally delusional for our entertainment, is Derek Hilton who says he’s “gradutating” towards music and that he sounds just like Chris Brown and the Eagles. He doesn’t. There’s also Mere Doyle, who is a devout anime fan and wants to be big in Japan (seriously). She belts out Janis Joplin and is completely crushed when Simon tells her she’s terrible.
With all the warbling and downright madness, there is of course, some talent. Justin Williams, who seven years ago while on a mission in Spain was diagnosed with cancer, is now cancer-free and gives the judges a heartfelt rendition of ”Feelin’ Good.” There’s also 16-year-old Katie Stevens who is particularly close to her grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
“I want her to see me succeed in my dream before she forgets who I am,” Katie tells cameras before performing a beautiful version of “At Last” in front of the stunned judges.
The two-hour premiere shifts from the likable, to the unlikable to the quirky to the unstable, and man, it’s compelling television. Despite all the behind-the-scenes turmoil in recent months over salary negotiations and the impending departure of Cowell, the beauty of American Idol remains intact. The reality TV singing competition goes beyond the routine clips of off-key crooners, delving into the disillusioned soul of America – and it’s a wonderful, tragic, depressing yet moving place to visit each week. The judges (Cowell in particular) crush the all-American adage, “You can be anything you want to be,” a phrase regrettably engrained into the heads of America’s children by both parents and teachers. The revelation that they actually can’t be anyone they want to be can be crippling to some, and thanks to Idol, we see the harsh reality of disappointment unfold before of our eyes.
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