Published: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 03:23 PM
Cost Analysis: It's a parade of fools
For the past couple of months my children have eagerly awaited the return of “American Idol.”
I wish I could share in their joy.
As much as I hate to get on a soapbox, the show represents to me just another contributing factor to the decline of manners and public decorum.
Millions of people will tune in over the next several calendar flips to see throngs of fools parade forward to audition for their chance at stardom. Gradually, the group dwindles down to a talented few. A star usually is found each year, whether it be the winner or a runner-up, so in that regard and with the staggering ratings, the show succeeds.
In almost every other way, it fails miserably.
Most early episodes feature both egotistical hacks and the socially inept butchering classics by Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. As the judges give them brutally honest assessments, these misfits often launch into profanity-laced tirades that are much more clearly uttered than the lyrics they just garbled. You know what they say apparently: if you can't sing it, sling it.
We can debate how much of the theatrics are staged by the show or by the motley crew of vocally-challenged losers, but this much is clear: the American public eats it up. We both cheer and mock young adults who tell authority figures, in this case a panel of judges, where to stick their opinions. We laugh again in the season finale when they cull the worst from the worst and bring them back one more time to showcase their idiocy.
Look, I'm not a humorless killjoy. I just don't find much to like about obnoxious people who voluntarily come forward to sing and then act like complete imbeciles when told how terrible they really are. It's even borderline sad to watch, as you know some of these tune manglers really do believe they are good before some sassy Brit ends up crushing their dreams.
Next thing you know, one of the more mentally unstable ones will wind up dead, maybe sitting outside a judge's home. Wait, that already happened last year. How many people belly laughed at that?
Maybe these are just modern day court jesters who are continuing the tradition of being the fool, but I don't think you need the sideshow. America will cheer true talent, whether it is Carrie Underwood or someone from across the pond like Susan Boyle.
I'm just not sure why it takes a parade of fools to find a nugget of class.
Reach Scott Cost at costanalysiscolumn@gmail.com.
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