RE: The Silence Has Broken

30Aug08

In response to: http://gelatigecko.blogspot.com/2008/08/silence-has-broken.html

Gelati Gecko has responded to my response and now I’m here to respond yet again with my final thoughts on the matter.

He claims that the judges are too insensitive of contestants’ feelings. Gelati concedes that yes, the recording industry is:

an unforgiving judgemental bitch

and the judges should have more empathy for the not-so-lucky rejects. Now, I can see where he’s coming from. Often the judges are crude, rude, and abusive, but has that not always been the case?

These contestants go on the show having seen previous seasons, having seen the numerous ‘rejects’ that have come before them, knowing the standard of the competition, and are aware of the fact that they may be pulled apart by the judges during auditions. It’s like walking into the MCG with a rugby top on during a footy match; you know what could very easily happen.

I’m not saying that I support abuse and humiliation on TV but it doesn’t take away from the fact that people should be responsible somewhat for going on these shows in the first place.

Secondly, I find Gelati’s criticism of Australian Idol unwarranted. Sure, you’re not going to see a huge amount of depth from these artists but there’s only so much you can do with a format like this. It’s not as though artists like Shannon Noll haven’t added a little to the music scene in Australia and many of the singers on the show offer far more than other Aussie singers like The Veronicas or Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Don’t forget that Australian Idol has moved away from squeezing an album from the winner in one week before the Christmas rush and instead lets the artist have time to create a well thought out record.

To say that audiences are only watching to be

fascinated by people’s tears and tantrums

sound like the words of a cynic. Note that the audition rounds are often the lowest rating episodes for the show and the vast majority of viewers start tuning in when the top 12 contestants are performing in the weekly performances. Viewers watch it to get behind their favourite – like barracking for their favourite sports team.

Sure it’s not perfect. Some could call it tacky or too commercial, but at the end of the day, it’s one of the better examples of television in Australia.

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Tags: australian idol, dicko, gelati gecko, television