The controversy surrounding American Idol

This season's American Idol has generated controversy in the early weeks for two reasons. One- some of the comments by the judges were particularly mean. Second- it is claimed that the show exploited the way it portrayed the talent or the lack of it for some of contestants, particularly the not-so-good ones.

While I personally did not enjoy the early episodes, it amazed me that people with absolutely no talent whatsoever would show up for the auditions. Worse, they would actually believe that they were good singers. Even for a lay person like me with little musical talent, I cant believe how some of the worst singers would actually get distraught when they would be told the truth. Are people really so deluded? Have they got no idea about where their talent lies? Even if people did set them up, how did they come to believe so strongly that they had musical talent when clearly, a lot of them were tone deaf! Some of the comments from the judges were admittedly mean, but if I was listening to a hundred auditions day in day out with 97 of them extremely poor, at some stage, my patience is going to wear thin too. Secondly, people volunteer to be on the show. And it is the sixth season, not the first, so they should by now get used to Simon being mean, Randy being honest and Paula being .....incomprehensible and unpredictably sentimental...so people to act surprised about the initial episodes is a surprise to me. Some of it made for good TV and clearly, some people who didnt make it made it to other shows, so they can leverage their 15 seconds of fame to whatever heights they want to take to.

The show is a success because of the stars it produces- from Kelly to Clay to Carrie- it has taken raw talent, made them go through a rigorous process that hardens individuals to face the realities of the music industry, gets the public to vote so that we are an integral part of the success of these individuals. My wife and I watched the Grammys and werent as kicked about the success of Dixie Chicks as with the success of Carrie Underwood, who would have been singing in a church in Chicotah but for this show.

The show in a lot of ways encompasses what reality really is- life is not always fair, but if have talent, work hard, are willing to take the knocks and stand up every time, you are bound to succeed. And the sooner you know you dont have the talent in a particular field, it is better to exit and try something else rather than chase a mirage.

I am excited now that the field has been whittled down to 24, excited both about watching the show every Tuesday and Wednesday and also the conversations amongst my friends that happens straight after the show about who was the best. American Idol community lives on....despite all the controversy.