An Opinion Line comment in Monday’s Eagle had this to say about R.D. Liebst’s letter to the editor about the WE Blog meet-up:
“I am a regular blogger on the WE Blog site, and I still have time to be a fan of ‘American Idol.’ There is room in my life for both. Don’t be so judgmental. Not everyone who likes to watch ‘American Idol’ is an imbecile.”
Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post made a similar argument in his column:
“Please hold the high dudgeon about how a cheesy television show isn’t sufficiently grim for op-ed pontification. An astounding 41 million viewers watched the last hour of Wednesday night’s over-the-top finale.”
I don’t happen to watch “American Idol,” but I admit to watching a couple of equally mindless reality television shows. I agree with Robinson that Americans should be able to enjoy some “good, cheesy fun” every week without being judged for it. But I also think that if Americans care more about “American Idol” than the real issues facing this country, we have a serious problem.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
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37 Comments
But people like Mr. Liebst are few and far between.When the only thing people under the age of 35 want to talk about is an inane show that somehow makes them feel more empowered than they do in real life, what is wrong with this picture???
I am in LOVE finally someone commented about something I wrote that was in the Eagle! That mean there was at least one more person that get the WE for more then the sports section or funnies!!
Sometimes I half expect if I mention President Bush to some one under thirty. They will look at me and ask “wasn’t he a character on SNL?”. And their friend to reply “No stupid…He was on South Park Duh!”.
Good on ya! it shows that you can walk and chew gum at the same time. But I am a fear the majority will only think about this government and who is elected to run it. When November gets here and then not think more then the time it takes in the voting booth.
Actually I see “American Idol” as a perfect example of how politics is really like in America. It’s perfect for the teens who are watching and learning. They are so similar it’s scary.
They are both just song and dance and just pay to lip service.
People vote on personality, looks, and who sounds the best.
There are always winners and losers and no matter what, a fan (voter) will be really upset at the outcome.
Both gets constant media attention and commentary 24/7.
I’m pretty sure people on here can come up with more similarities.
I am and always have been a music fan, regardless of type. I have my personal genres, but I can admire excellence in others. I watched American Idol for a number of reasons, not the least of which is entertainment.
Both Joe and Writerdog make good points, but to me, watching is both fun and entertaining. There is more to life than politics.
Very true, JM, there is more to life than politics, but does it have to be so inane? The overkill (one local radio station does a 4 hour “commercial” for Idol every morning), the hype (front page news on who “won”)is a bit much. I mean, who cares? Does it really make a hill of beans difference (except to the “winner) who wins? Will it be easier to pay bills today because someone won a fixed contest? No. The overkill on the hype is more than I care to tolerate.
Now there is a movie about the tv show..and sadly…it includes the truth that more people “vote” for a singer than they do for the president of the united states.
People have died protecting our right to vote..and yet a singing contest is more important to many people than our country’s future.
Sad…very, very sad.
Just let the Taliban or Osama disrespect AI and 40 million people will hunt them down.WMD’s and human rights?Who cares.Yes, I enjoy AI.It’s not mindless if you are or have been a singer or musician.If you have a tin ear and couldn’t tell the difference between a treble cleff and a cleff pallet, well, just don’t vote please.
A mindless game of chance?Deal or No Deal.
A REAL PIECE OF CRAP:Survivor.
People from all walks of life enjoy AI. Several bloggers here enjoy it. Nathan and I had a mini-discussion on it on a previous thread (Gitmo PR).As a trained singer I like to watch the try-outs. I close my eyes and “armchair judge” based solely on the voice. And hubby lets me know if I need to open my eyes and take a look at whatever shenanigans are going on. I find myself agreeing a lot with Simon - but I would be a bit more tactful.I enjoy watching the season for song choices, how they make it their own and yeah I admit - they usually have some eye candy pieces that don’t have the greatest voice but are fun to look at (Ace, Constantine and Kellie).We’ve got to have some ways to relax, we can’t be serious all the time. This is just a harmless way for us to chill out. Besides - not everybody wants to talk about nuclear war and presidential speeches.
I don’t think all people who watch American Idol are morons. Just most of them.
Todd must be a Survivor fan!!
Don’t get me wrong..I am not condemning the show or people that enjoy it…freedom of choice and all that.
I get tired of it being hyped everywhere I turn. It is inescapable. Where is the respect for our freedom of choice to not have blasted at us everywhere we turn? *sigh*. Turning off the tv is one thing, but when it comes at us from everywhere, it is a bit much.
I realize it is an advertisers and networks dream…but I find it overbearing..
I don’t watch any reality shows. I couldn’t tell you who won American Idol. Is this their 5th season?
I know one idol couldn’t read or write, that is about it.
I’m a nerd. I’m watch Mad Money on CNBC, Nova and Frontline on PBS…also Kansas Week. I watch C-Span on the weekends, usually BookTV. I watch the evening news and watch CNBC in the morning.
Shows that I watch: “24″, “The Wire” - HBO, and I did watch the “Sopranos”, but this season is a complete let down. Talk about running out of material. So I stopped watching the last two episodes.
If I’m not on the net I’m reading a book or writing. That is me. Never got into fads like American Idol or other reality shows.
I find American Idol inane, boring, mean, and……We’ll be back with how J R feels,,,right after this!
The comment is not an indictment of everyone that watches Idol or any other show. But when the show is more important then what is happen in, to or with your own country. there really is something wrong, when you can have a ten minute conversation about a show you watched last night and not even know that the NSA had been collecting the phone numbers that Americans have been calling? When you have not heard that there has been warrant-less wiretapping going on in the United States. And not have an opinion one way or another? But can evaluate the performance of everyone of the contestants on a game show? People this country is in trouble! More trouble then the majority know or seems to care about. And it would seem to be willful ignorance! They do not want to know, for to know would mean that something major is wrong.
I do not think about Politics, the war, terrorism all the time, right now the Tell-tubes are on the T.V. WAIT… my grandson is here! Really just because I can name them all does not mean I watch them….ok.
To quote the inimitable John Prine:”Fifty million Elvis fans can’t be all wrong!”
To quote Anatole France (1844 - 1924):
“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”
Touche’!!
That makes you wonder about the last two elections.
Touche’!!!!
I have to wonder how many of the Idol bashers watch sports on a regular basis. Is March Madness any different than American Idol?
Not much difference at all. I dislike out of control hyperbole regardless of the topic. I got so sick of basketball coverage I wanted to hide. I find the superbowl just as tiresome. They all get huge audiences and therefore sell a lot of advertising. I just get tired of the non-stop bombardment.
I like model trains…I suppose the general public would get tired of headlines, news stories and radio shows devoted to the newest Atlas release of a GP 50 locomotive….
I find American Idol boring. I imagine people who enjoy AI probably watch professional wrestling. Kind of the same mental level.
A show that is family friendly, fun, enjoyable, and clean.
I like American Idol.
I suppose I should be watching Sex in the City instead?
Sigh…
my tv watch list:real time with bill maherbig loveentourageweedstwo and a half menncaa basketball especially kugolf channelmajor golf tournamentssome nfl and college footballmsnbcthis week w/ george stepanopoulosmeet the pressdisney channel..my kids like itamerica idol…my kids like itsurvivorreruns of friends
i get all that tv watched along with i usually am reading some book, i play at least nine hole of golf a day, cook supper, clean the house, work at least 40 hours a week.
i guess my point would be that it works both ways. if all you do is politics there is something wrong with that. you may be as out of touch with the world we live in as i feel bush is and that seems like a hugh problem to me.
raptor, you’ll have to come to Parsons next year on Memorial Day for the Katy (MKT rr) Days.
Big swap meet and a whole weekend of RR related things to do and see.
clark, I envy you all that time to play golf.
THANKS, Tracy!!
Watching the first tryouts for AI has to be some of the funniest stuff on TV. That some of those people think they can sing is amazing, but if they’re willing to stand up in front of millions, I’m willing to laugh.By the way, I picked Taylor to win it all the first time I saw him.
It’s all about entertainment, JR. Loosen up and have some fun. Didn’t MOTHER say something to you about that one time?
It is never good to speak in absolutes so I will just say that MOST AI fans are imbeciles. The same holds true for fans of the excerable West Wing.
Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!!
I believe it was in the movie “Battle of the Bulge “, if you have seen it you know what part I am referencing.Chocolate cake and Americans, “They do not have a sense of defeat”. The eccentricity are a part of our national make-up. Being an American is more than mere survival, it is also “the good life”.
I like Boston Legal, I find it witty on several levels normally.
The Shield is one of the few things on the jew-tube worth watching.
V.L.R.B!!
I don’t watch much TV, except for an ocassional movie at night. Before reruns began for the summer, I had finally gotten my viewing schedule down to one show per night. They include:
MediumCSI (no Miami or NY. They just aren’t the original)
Law & Order SUV
Criminal Minds (my favorite of the season)
Conviction
Real Time with Bill Maher.
As for AI and any other reality show, I really haven’t bothered. No Survivor here. I did watch Mr. Romance on Oxygen a year ago when it aired, but mainly because it was sponsored by my publisher and I sort of know one of the authors who appeared on it.
I find much of TV mindless, tending toward moronic, and most that I’ve really liked in the past and have won high praise and awards are cancelled as soon as I become addicted. I just gave up.
It is never good to speak in absolutes so I will just say that MOST RACISTS are imbeciles.The same holds true for BIGOTS.
Wdog? Excellent the chocolate cake post! I often think the same thing. (I just love the “Panzerleid” song in that movie. Gets my German blood up.)
I watched American Idol once and not all the way through. I find the cutesy way they cut to commercials every 14 seconds or so off putting.
Count me among the “Lost”
I used to enjoy Malcolm in the Middle til they scheduled it out of sight and then cancelled it.
I liked Commander in Chief. Invasion is also gone leaving a cliffhanger never to be resolved. I found Boston Legal clever but got on board late. American Inventor shows promise. I like that Com Cen. reairs The Colbert Report so I get a chance to catch it. Saw a good treatment on George Washington on the History Channel and look forward to their take on the founding fathers next week.
Tracy,
Just to throw around some philosophical logic for you…
“It is never good to speak in absolutes…”
The very statement you made is an absolute about making absolutes.
If you hold true your statment about it never being good to make absolute statements you invalidate the very statement you make.
Ian,
I actually agree with you. I love watching The Shield.
I am addicted to LOST too now.
Yes Nathan.In layman’s terms that’s called a circular argument.Thanks