Snide Simon Cowell No Idol Of Blogs

Many Bloggers Say "American Idol" Snarkmeister Is Too Mean, Albeit Amusing

(CBS)  Blogophile is written by CBSNews.com's Melissa P. McNamara

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What Rhymes With Scowl?

Appearing on "American Idol" has never been for the faint of heart. After all, the show gained acclaim, in part, because audiences tuned in to hear Simon Cowell's harsh comments about contestants.

But have the judges crossed the line this year? Some claim that the judges' attacks on this year's contestants have become too personal, and downright mean.

The tryout of Jonathon Jayne, a Special Olympics athlete, drew heated criticism on TV after Cowell criticized his appearance, in addition to his performance. Cowell said another contestant looked like a creature from the jungle — a "bush baby."

For its part, Special Olympics International told the Washington Post that "American Idol" should be commended for giving one of their former athletes the opportunity to be seen on national TV.

But the blogosphere wasn't as understanding. But many bloggers question why contestants want to go before the judges — never mind the cameras — if they clearly lack real talent.

"Unfortunately for the vast majority of them, they are either not taking it seriously or are extremely delusional about their talent," Jimmy Moore blogs.

Some attribute it to the quest for stardom, at any cost. "The deluded, painfully untalented true believers in skills they don't possess are matched by the attention-seeking dolts who simply can't have imagined that they ever had a chance of advancing," David writes at Resurrection Song.

"Still, it was hard to not feel a twinge of pity when the first wannabe fell into racking sobs and despair when she embarrassed herself in front of her favorite singer (the guest judge, Jewel) by performing a terrible impression of the famous singer."

And what does it say about our society that audiences like to watch people being mocked on national TV? This season has drawn its most viewers. "When did our culture become obsessed with making fun of one another? Isn't that what this show really is, anyway?" Ashley Graffeo writes at Pretty Boring.

"We're just making fun of all the people who actually have the guts to wait on day-long lines in order to sing in front of three famous people."

But a blogger at The Rosewater Chronicles makes the point that perhaps the people who are being mocked aren't even aware. "It's clear some of these folks are incapable of discerning the social cues — incapable of understanding how they are being humiliated. Does humiliation require self-awareness?" the blogger writes. "Regardless, because the producers prey on ignorance, American Idol is a mean show."


Game Imitating Life?

One of the most controversial video games out now is the Super Columbine Massacre Role Playing Game. The game has come under fire since it was released in 2005, but it garnered even more attention this month when the alternate media festival Slamdance took the game out of its annual Guerilla Gamemaker Competition.

The game was created by Danny Ledonne of Colorado, and it lets players take the roles of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. In the game, you can wander through the hallways of Columbine, surrounded by victims crossing your path.

On its Web site, Slamdance said it withdrew the game, in part, because the organization "does not have the resources to defend any drawn out civil action that our legal council has stated can easily arise from publicly showing it."

But those who have tried the game say it is actually a serious game that makes you think about the Columbine tragedy. "What I found was not a shallow, uninformed and deliberately insensitive creation, but something that I would shelve in the realm of ‘Serious Games'; games designed to teach, to describe, to instruct and to provoke thought," Playgirlz writes.

Wired's Clive Thompson also tried the game and agrees it falls in the category of Serious Games. "Ledonne (the creator) has done a surprisingly good job of painting the emotional landscape of the pair," he writes. "... You certainly can't argue that the game merely trivializes the killings, or voyeuristically revels in them," he writes.

"Super Columbine Massacre RPG! may not be the most high-tech affair ever made, but it appears to present another perspective on the most infamous school shooting incident in U.S. history," James at Geek.com adds.

Many say that Slamdance's stance was contrary to the spirit of its mission to support independent gamers. "It is our belief that the removal of Super Columbine Massacre RPG from the festival finalists, while within the rights of the organizers, was short-sighted and detrimental to the overall project of supporting independent game makers," Tracy Fullerton writes at Ludicidal Tendencies.

Perhaps the Slamdance organizers have simply attracted more attention to the game. A blogger at Kokatu puts it best: "Pulling this game certainly has created more fuss than leaving it in would've."


Law Hits Home

A California assemblywoman is set to introduce a bill this week that would make her state the first to make the hitting of a toddler or a baby a crime, the Los Angeles Times reports. And by "hitting," Democratic Rep. Sally Lieber includes spanking a child younger than 4 years old.

If the bill were to pass, the punishment could get you a misdemeanor, which would be punishable by up to a year in county jail. Lieber told the Los Angeles Times she's confident she would win Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's support. But, she has many detractors online.

Lieber has said such a law is needed because spanking victimizes helpless children and breeds violence in society. But many bloggers take issue with this.

"Leaving aside the debate about corporal punishment, it's clear that there's a difference between spanking and child abuse," Doug Mataconis writes at The Liberty Papers. "Child abuse is already illegal, as it should be. Ms. Lieber seems to be saying that any form of physical punishment, no matter how mild, should be punished by the state."

"This woman, Sally, sounds like she does not have children or has never spent half a day with a toddler," a blogger at A Few Of My Favorite Things weighs in.

Others say it's not the state's role to regulate such matters. "Nanny state ... a swat on the butt could now be punishable with up to a year in jail! One has to wonder if all these legislators do is sit around and listen to the sound of their voices reverberating in the rotunda ..." Eric Jay writes at Neophyte Pundit.

A blogger at Red County, California agrees. "I do think that Ms. Lieber should keep her nose out of raising other people's children. Parenting is a great enough challenge without unwarranted government intrusion," she blogs.

But bloggers who agree that spanking is child abuse had much to say as well. "It seems barbaric. It seems to me to enforce the idea into a child's head that it's ok to use physical violence against people when they make you mad," Rick writes at Bent Corner.


Joost

Are you Joost? Since the "state of the art" entertainment technology was unveiled last week, it's been all the talk on blogs and winning rave reviews from those who are intrigued by the concept.

What is Joost? The creators, who are also behind the Internet telephone service Skype, call their service "a new way to watch television." It's a free global TV distribution company that combines aspects of file-sharing software and regular broadcast television. Basically, it promises to make watching television on the Internet easier and more accessible.

While Joost isn't available yet, those who have tested it are early fans.

"Boy, does it sound cool ..." Peter Black writes at Freedom To Differ, a sentiment most bloggers share. "I find it fascinating, and truly believe we are on the verge of a major disruption to broadcast and cable television," Ed Holloway, a Joost beta tester, writes.

"It is an important, and disruptive development, because the emergence of high quality television distribution over the internet via services like Joost threatens the hegemony of existing television networks," Sam Rose writes at Social Synergy.

Many have faith in the product because of the success of the founders' other work. Skype was sold for $2.6 billion to eBay Inc. in 2005. "These guys have hit home runs with these every time. I'm willing to bet this one's out of the park, too," Zane blogs.

Mark Evans agrees. "I also think Joost will be another entrepreneurial success for Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friss, who appear to have the Midas Touch in the wake of Skype's sale to eBay," he blogs at Hey We're Talking Tech.

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[rf35]

Why was S A D I S T starred out?

[rf35]

Sorry kids, AI is about the total package and that includes looks. The main reason I, and probably thousands of others, watch the audition episodes is to hear Simon's rude comments and chuckle at the morons who never should have left their houses. I'm sure that makes me a ***, but whatever. And if these kids need therapy after their auditions, they were unstable to begin with or lived incredibly sheltered lives. As for Paula, she's an alcoholic, so you can bet she's usually toasted by the time they start taping.

Make spanking illegal?!? How about making stupid laws illegal? Or stupid legislators who want to intrude more and more into our lives. Next thing you know, they'll want to tell us what position to use to make the kid in the first place!! How about we just send all children immediately after birth to some facility where people approved by Ms. Lieber can raise them in an environment where they will be %u201Cuntouched by human hands.%u201D *** like this is why I hated the three years I was stationed in California.

[shazan1]

The only reason why I and millions of other viewers watch American idol from the beginning is to find those singers that has talent and who we would like to support from day one. However, we are presented with all these people that cannot sing and we hardly get to see the people that can sing. I think that I speak for most viewers when I say we are sick and tired of watching you make fun of and exploit those that either cannot sing or does not look like the everyday person.As for the judges. What is wrong with Paula. Most times she looks like she is either on something, tired, bored but mostly unable to contribute anything lucrative in choosing singers. She seems to LOVE the young "good looking" men and her reaction to watching these men sing is starting to sicken me and I am sure most other people as well. As for Simon Cowell well at first we loved his honesty and we still do. But to come on the show in a bad mood and then take his meaness out on people, even people that can actually sing is just "plain nasty, rude & cruel". Randy I used to admire because he had back-bone and was able to stand up against Simon and truly listen to people that has talent.Either which way these people are not getting a fair deal in their auditions.This is a talent reality show not a freak show.

[maidinaboite]

I know you can advise someone that they are not cut out for singing as a career. There are so many ways it can be done. "I'm sorry but you are just not good enough to enter into the next level" "What we are hearing is not what you think you sound like" "Go home, record your own voice singing all your favorite songs, and then judge for yourself by playing it back. Play the original artist version and compare them. It is difficult to know what you really sound like until you do that."

It is not necessary to attack the self esteem of a person. It is not necessary to cause them to need therapy after you have opened your mouth. You don't have to call them names, nor do you have to compare them to something distasteful.

Comments such as,
"You look like ... ( an unattractive animal )",
are just not necessary.

I will go as far to say that I believe with all my heart that last years Idol was voted on by many watchers who were so mad at Simon that they did not vote for Katherine because it was clear that Simon was rooting for her. She was the better singer. I think that Simon's nasty uncalled for comments infuriated the public to the point that they voted for anyone else many times over and over. Simon robbed Katherine of being American Idol.

In the same way that many people should not sing because they are just not good at it, Simon should not be a Judge because he is simply not good at it.

[prvideo]

Anyone who has tried to make it in this world knows how tough success can be to achieve, in any field. Try making a regular living in any other country. It's a beatch out there. Many of these contestands are delusional "instant fame" wannabes. It don't happen like that, folks. Schwab's Pharmacy closed a long time ago.

[actornaught]

This isn't a pure singing competition, the contestants can compensate somewhat for their singing with personality, looks, or the lack thereof. I believe Taylor Hicks wouldn't have passed the first level if it weren't for his entertaining style that overcame some inconsistent singing. I wouldn't doubt that more than one was given a nod for how they handled the
grilling.

An interesting thing you'd have to admit, many of our greatest pop stars, such as John Lennon and Rod Stewart, would've been given the hook as well.

[jjreding-2009]

Simon may be doltish at times, but I can't get over the fact that so many of these wannabe's who truly can't sing say how he doesn't know what he's talking about and he doesn't know how hard they worked to get there, etc. It's all silly. My big beef with AI is that they put through too many who are not talented and then allow them to remain for weeks on end (think Kevin Covais) when they obviously don't have a chance of winning. If the show truly wanted to create new superstars, they should only put through those who are highly talented - out of the tens of thousands who apply, there have to be at least 24 who all have a chance to win. Jennifer Hudson is just the most recent to make good on the show's premise, that there is serious talent in America that nobody knows is there and who have the right kind of outlet to showcase that talent.

[jairod]

This guy needs to be taken out and dumped into the Boston Harbor (no "U")with the rest of the English tea trash. Why do we need this English reject to denigrade Americans? What? He couldn't make it in England so he came to the USA where we are much more forgiving and less prone to put some one down for personal reasons. Never mind that he is abusive in the extreme. and probably beats his wife, yells at his kids, and kicks his dog. For fun, he watches his dasughter's gold fish fight for breath out of the water. I'm sure he laughs the whole time. I vote to kick him out of the country, and I mean KICK where the sun don't shine. that includes that English jerk that was on that cooking contest show, and anyother Englishman that thinks he can show us something. The only thing they've shown is how rude and sicially unexceptable they can be. Thanks for nothing you bunch of English sewer rats.

[choney2]

The Bible says spare the rod, and spoil the child, their's a diffrence not abuse. And being able to control your own child on a airplane! They should not be acting out so much that the people had to land a plane to get rid of her. And the parents get mad because others don't want to listen to her screaming! How long and how loud must she of been, it's not like she is a small Baby! She's going to be in control of that household in a couple of years.

[dargay]

who the heck cares about blogs??

[choney2]

Ok, everybody Simon can be a bit on the rude side. But we all know that this world is looks concious. If it weren't their would not be so many people going up under the knife. What ever it is that these people see at home in their own mirriors. Or Their Grandmothers or freinds that are telling them, " oh girl you can sing." And know *** well that they can't! That's the problem, they want to be rich and famous. Ouick fast and pronto with as little work as possible. I blame the media for showing a lot of people with little talent that are getting rich so fast. When stars now can sing to a back up tape, and still charge a fortune in ticket prices. When folks like Madonna, Britney, and Ciara are commanding major money with very weak voices. Thats what helps to make these people believe they can do it to.

[random_radar]

Let's forget American Idol and talk about the new California law that criminalizes spanking...

This is how it works...

Step 1: child wants toy, gets angry, and hits sibling and makes her cry. This childish act of domineering violence is obviosly wrong.

Step 2: concerned parent gets angry, and spanks offending child and makes him cry. This childish act of domineering violence is obviously right to show that childish acts of domineering violence will be punished.

Step 3: concerned legislator gets angry and passes law to fine or imprison parent and makes her cry. Parent does not like this childish act of domineering violence by the government, but the government believes it is just to inflict childish acts of domineering violence to punish childish acts of domineering violence.

This all sounds pretty hypocritical. The government is acting just like the parent and the child. So who is going to spank the government? Why is the government justified in taking the same action that is being punished? Maybe THREE wrongs finally do make a right?

[drinuk]

Simon Cowell will I'm sure have both of these lads back on in the final, it will make him look good. He is mistaken that success and wealth gives him the right to be so nasty in the cruel world in which he works. However the real cruelty comes from the last 12 onwards, the winner will have been chosen by then and will get the best songs, the best arrangements, lighting and sound. Watch carefully Oh! and don't believe your vote counts either, thats just to pay a few bills.

[hissteps4u]

Get a Life. American Idol is a Hit Because of Simon not despite him. This Program was a huge success in England first and has shown the same success in the US as well as 20 oher country off shoots which have been franchised by Him.

In reality the Music Industry is Brutal and the kind of frank openess which the judges offer is simply truth. True enough he does not need to go as far as he does at times but then thats the Apeal for the audiance whats Simon going to say?

It is Pure Audiance appeal at its best and plays on emotions which are at the heart of us all. Thats why it is a success and why Survivor is a hit, Amazing Race as well and even why Deal or no deal has become a Hit program. its the Promise of a Fortune if one can last out all the others challenges and survive to the next round.

Idol is a well thought out program and the fun of it is those who can not even carry a tune attempting to enter a contest which is designed to discover raw talent in singers and giving them a platform to potentially gain a huge contract and become a hit.

Some of the contestants have gone on to great things and TV and even movies so it is a huge platform for potential wantabees

[perception5]

Let's stop pretending here......... the ONLY reason why Idol is taking shots is because it's on the FOX network.........that's it..... Americans, if they pay attention, will see that the shots are coming from our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack, and those more radical liberals on the blog.......

[ssdc9]

In my opinion Simon owes Kenneth Briggs a major apology for attacking his looks for which he cannot help. That was totally uncalled for and crossed the line. This is singing/performance competition and that is where the commentaries should end. All the judges were rude in the way they acted to both Kenneth and Jonathan. Kudos to Jimmy Kimmel who had both of these guys on his show Friday night, and turned what could have been a devastating experience into a positive one for both of them. He allowed them to vent and treated them to a high profile time at a celebrity golf tournament, interviewing the players. This will be a wonderful experience that they will remember forever thanks to him. Jimmy you are my Idol for that!

Just Call Me Simone!
Rochester's American Idol Music Critic
Check out my blog on the American Idol website

[olebd]

I never did understand the popularity of American Idol, Survivor Wherever and othe pop culture trash spewed out and called entertainment.

Who cares what this dude's opinion is on anything? Where did he come from? What gives him the authority? Seems like a egotistical, cranky no-it-all to me.