(Okay, this may be long) I mean shows like Idol, X-Factor, America/Britain's Got Talent etc? They may claim themselves "talent" competitions but most people know that it takes more than just talent to run those shows. They do not represent the real music industry. So many times, the people who passed the auditions have a story or look behind them that can keep the ratings high. Singers with amazing gifts are frequently overlooked and/or rejected from those shows because regardless of how well they sing, they aren't what the show is looking for to combine with other contestants. It’s a playing field. Notice how the finals are usually “carefully selected†so none would look/sound the same with the others. If all the finalists look/sound the same, the show won’t be so interesting anymore, so they have to choose who they want to get ratings. Face it, as much as we want to believe those shows as “talent†competitions, but it is a TV business more than anything else. If they don't get ratings, they don't stay on air. Not to say that ALL of the contestants suck. Some do really have talents and are gifted singers/performers like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson etc. But for the most part, these shows are nothing more than just some TV business as a mean to get ratings. (Esp. if the viewers vote take into account, can anybody really guarantee that the result is purely based on quality and not just some popularity contest?)
And other I must comment is Dancing with the Stars. Okay, it may not be a real talent competition. It’s made merely for fun. But before joining DWTS, those professional dancers had been competing in some of the most prestigious dance competitions in the world. Like Karina Smirnoff, before joining DWTS, she was the #1 female ballroom dancer in the world. She has won numerous competitions i.e. US National, World Trophy, Asian Open, UK Open, US Open, Blackpool etc. She is also the 1st woman to ever make the British Professional Final with 3 different partners. With that kind of resume, you would think that she would stay there for good, but NO!!! Instead she chose to join DWTS which is NOTHING compared to those dance competitions. She may get more money and fame with DWTS (and she still is dancing anyway so it’s not like she’s giving up dancing for good). But DWTS is not on the same prestige with Blackpool or Latin Ballroom. It’s like three steps down and to me, that’s a shame coz Smirnoff’s such a great dancer and her departure from those dance competitions is such a loss to the dancing world.
So you see, my objection towards those “talent†reality shows are not just based on the fact that it’s mostly staged, but also because I personally think those shows somewhat “degenerate†the world of art. It’s no longer about ART and/or TALENTS, it’s now more about ENTERTAINMENT and RATINGS. And so often, those shows have to “tone down†its art so that it would appeal more to large mass because the audience don’t want to be bored. They just want entertainment.
Does anyone else feel/think the same as I do?
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