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The reality of it all
16/03/2007 12:26 - (SA)
Colleen Figg
I've been watching the new American Idols competition for the last two Tuesday nights at home. I would venture to say that this show, at its start, is probably the most interesting show on TV at the moment.
The ingenuity of the outfits some enterprising people choose - not drawing the line at cowboy hats and space suits - is pure entertainment in itself.
But what really amuses me is the sheer number of people who are under the impression that they can really sing, and indeed, belong at the top of the charts, notching up hits and signing autographs left, right and centre.
Surely, before entering, they would have subjected friends and family to their audition songs? At some stage, one would assume, someone would have said, "No look Harry, you're alright for family get-togethers but leave the American Idol stuff to someone with real talent", but no!
I find I'm glued when watching the competitors' reactions to being told they cannot cut it. Some people leave the room then rush back, insisting on being heard a second time, whilst others are completely crushed and resort to tears, or beg for a second chance. Others refuse flat out to hear of it and feel that they were simply having a bad day and resolve to enter next time.
Last ditch seductive moves
A number of the females attempt to put seductive moves over on the judges, singing to them, or shaking their hips in a sexy way, and I find that my toes feel inclined to curl when I see this sort of transparent attempt at manipulation through the use of feminine wiles.
There was an alarming person this week who looked like she might have arranged a day pass from the nearest psychiatric establishment. She became increasingly hostile and eventually was virtually carted away, shouting that she was unique (I don?t think anyone doubted that).
A few react with outrage, like that very camp fellow who is utterly convinced he is America's next superstar. He feels put upon because in the last reality show he entered, there was a British judge on the panel and the same applies in this one.
I think he's beginning to feel that his chances as an American singer are being compromised by these funny Englishmen and their eccentric disinclination to enjoy his output.
An immovable object
The unavoidable fact that the man cannot sing seems not to impinge one jot on his conscious or sub-conscious mind, to my amazement! He's already going around accosting people in the street and introducing himself as the next superstar. Some scuttle away in horror at the contact, whilst others merely shake their heads and walk on.
The thing is though; I wouldn't be surprised if this chap (and other persistent ones like him) did attain a modicum of celebrity status through the sheer force of his will alone. He is, possibly, a walking example of the unstoppable force/immovable object conundrum; with Cowell et al being the immovable object and he, in all his chinchilla glory, being the unstoppable force.
Whether he is entirely off his rocker or supremely confident is a question I'm left to wrestle with. Time alone will reveal.
Send your thoughts to Colleen.
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