01/18/2006: "Where is the Tough Love?"

AI was back for season five last night. I tuned in for about a third of it. I'm not sure I'll be a watcher this season. There wasn't a shred of spontaneity in the interaction between the judges. Whatever energy they might've had going between the three of them has long died and we're watching cariacatures parrot scripts at one another. Even Simon has crossed the line from droll, blunt honesty to cruelty. It's like watching a small boy poke a stick at a kitten. And Secrist has joined the Ashley Olsen/Lindsey Lohan diet club. Too thin. Cute last season. Ick now.

But the reason I don't think I can watch, at least not until we're past this stage, is I just don't think I can bear to watch people who are truly horrible find out on national television. Where in the hell are their friends and family? You listen to some of these people who can't carry a tune in a bucket, we're talking no range, no pitch -- read my lips here THEY SUCK. But in some mad state of delusion, they believe they've got a voice to set the world on fire. I'm all for dreaming and reaching for dreams...but people...there's got to be a glimmer of reality in that dream.

My point is, someone, somewhere is feeding that delusion. Where is the tough love? Why isn't someone telling them before they leave home that if they want to pursue a career in singing, they might want to sign up for voice lessons first? That would be encouragement. But to let a loved one debase themself in front of people who don't love them and aren't going to be kind. Well, in my opinion, it's much kinder for them to hear YOU SUCK from a loved one at home rather than finding it out before millions. sad

And as for those contestants who come out afterwards swearing the judges will be sorry when they go on to become a star...have a nice life on whatever planet or reality you live in. Those people scare me.

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