Aug 19 2007
Australian Idol Judges – Too Tough?
I don’t watch much TV, and Australian Idol would not generally be a show I’d devote a couple of hours watching. But this season we actually “know” one of the contestants – Matt Corby (aged 16). Well, more to the point my children know him, and we’ve seen him perform. It’s a good excuse to get all the family around the TV at once (reminds me of when I was a kid)!
What amazes me about Australian Idol is how harsh the judges can be. Most of the contestants are kids or young adults, and granted, many of those who auditioned were painfully ordinary. But to absolutely demoralise and humiliate someone giving it their best shot, on national television, just seems really unnecessary to me.
I appreciate that it’s not easy listening to talentless audition, after talentless audition, but really – it goes with the territory. I wouldn’t think that one year would be much different to the next (in terms of the quality of applicants). If you’re not prepared to sift through the crap to find the gems, then don’t sign up for the gig (pardon the pun). Maybe there’s a perceived need to be nasty, for the ratings – that being nice just won’t entice people to watch.
Indeed Mark Holden himself states that they are too tough.
Holden admits the judges have probably been too tough on the contestants, but says it is a brutal business.
“Did we go too far? That’s probably fair comment,” he says.
Holden says they have finished “clubbing baby seals” – his description of the way the judges handle the lesser talents.
“Clubbing baby seals”, probably a apt analogy.
I don’t know if tonight’s Top 100 were considered “baby seals”, but a couple of quotes from Holden himself (I could well be paraphrasing here rather than directly quoting);
“…lamest bunch of shit I’ve heard all night”
“You’re a miserable cow…. a complete tool” “Do you want to be known as Northern Territory’s next tool”? (to Jasmine Anderson)
I know it’s a tough, “dog eat dog” industry. Only the best talent, or luckiest, cuts it. But perhaps these Australian stalwarts could consider a little more nurturing and a little less demoralising. I’d be upset if someone said similar things to my child. Meanwhile Holden laments about needing police protection. Cause and effect maybe?
Related: Idol Chat – Final 10
18 Responses to “Australian Idol Judges – Too Tough?”
That’s interesting – Dannii Minogue is now a judge on the latest edition of The X Factor in the UK, which started yesterday, and press reports say the other judges were horrified at the bluntness of her comments to the auditionees. There wasn’t much evidence in the first programme, and some of the contestants are pretty dire – but for Simon Cowell to say someone is too brutal is quite something.
Hi Rainbow
I wonder if it has anything to do with the judges having been in the industry, and dishing out some of what they went through?
I agree, the little I’ve seen of Simon – for him to say someone’s too blunt is something!
Thanks for stopping by
Remember they had to cut 140 down to 75 and then down to 24, so really the absolute best can only go through and their were people who mastered it.
Hey Bryce
I know they have to cut it down, and the people who auditioned know that. They certainly have to cut the numbers, no doubt. I just think they don’t have to be so mean about the way they do it. And at one stage Kyle and Mark walked off the stage during a performance. How shattering would that be?
I don’t have much sympathy for Australian Idol contestants or, indeed, anyone who signs up for a reality TV show — especially when it’s a few years down the track, as is the case with Idol. It’s not like what happens is a secret.
The things said by the judges are exactly the sort of comments said in every professional audition process in the performing arts. And if they’re not said by the judges now, they’ll be said by the gossip mags in a few weeks’ time. That’s the harsh reality of showbiz. Only a few are tough enough to make it.
What I think is more disturbing is that so many of those auditioning have obviously been told they’re “special” and “talented”. Parents who delude their children are, in my opinion, abusers.
“If you try hard, you can do anything” simply isn’t true. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never run a 4-minute mile. I simply don’t have the genetic make-up — and of course now I’m too old and fat.
There’s a big difference between “following your dream” and “living in a delusion.”
It is pretty brutal isnt it!? Apparently Holden is being stalked by some of the rejected kids.
The judges are the same every year tho when it comes to their “honesty” in appraising the contentants talents so really if you are going to subject yourself to the process as a contestant you have got to expect to be dragged through the mud, chewed up, spat out and run over in order to make it to the end.
Stilgherrian
“The things said by the judges are exactly the sort of comments said in every professional audition process in the performing arts.”
I imagine that you are right. I guess the difference there, is that the performers family, friends, and a million plus people aren’t privy to those comments.
You make a valid point about the “talent”. I thought exactly the same thing during the earlier auditions – “WHO told YOU that you could sing”?
Misguided parenting is a shame. Encouragement and support is good, but I agree there’s a need to be realistic.
Meg, you’re right about those “other” auditions not having family, friends and a million gawkers looking on. But, this comes back to the point: everyone involved is choosing to turn their life into a public spectacle. “As you sow so shall you reap…”
Still, the prize is a massive head start in the music industry. If that’ your goal, Idol could be a good leg-up. It’s just all of the work, pain and grief compressed into 3 months.
“…you have got to expect to be dragged through the mud, chewed up, spat out and run over in order to make it to the end.”
I’m sure they don’t expect it to be easy, but I doubt they’d put their hand up fully expecting to be nationally ridiculed….
In their auditions tips, the Idol judges say “what have you got to lose?”, “give it a go” “if you’re half thinking about entering…” and say last year’s winner (Damien Leith) nearly didn’t show up – he didn’t think he was good enough.
Perhaps it’s a case of them thinking “it (the negative stuff) won’t happen to ME”.
Exactly. In the same way that a speeding driver doesn’t believe HE will crash, a smoker doesn’t think SHE will get lung cancer etc.
I don’t watch Australian Idol. As a musician with perfect pitch, I’d rather shove a screw driver in my eye.
I think the judges are a bit harsh, but it’s for ratings. It’s for the scandal. It’s to make people watch. They LIKE to see people humiliated. They like to hear someone say something witty – which is just what they are thinking to themselves as they listen to the “singer”. And I agree, after listening to so much … bad singing … their tempers and patience is going to be shortened.
I don’t feel sorry for contestants because they know what they are signing up for. I agree that they have the “It won’t happen to me” ideology too … so maybe I do feel a little bad for them. Then again, I don’t watch it so I can’t say for sure. They know that even if they are good singers, they just have to hit one bad note and it will be shown on national TV in a compilation with other singers doing the same. It’s television. My friend is a good singer, and she auditioned and didn’t get past the judges. They did, however, show a clip of her singing an off note. It’s very edited and very cropped, and purely to please the audience.
I’m passionately against all Idols. The only half-decent singers turned out by the shows, anywhere in the world, were Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. You don’t even get the amazing results either – I mean, 5 minutes of fame and having to pay for all costs incurred.
/rant (hehe)
Katie
Katie LOL
Feeling better?
Watching the final 24 being decided was very frustrating – I have seen one of the people Jason Demillo ‘live’ doing a Robbie Williams tribute and he was brilliant – He didn’t even get 10 seconds of air time, let alone an explanation as to why he didn’t get through. He was in the background of so much footage but didn’t get a chance.
He was definitely better than some that did get through. It seems they must have had too many people with ‘brown hair’ already in the group because I can’t think of any other reason as to why he didn’t make it. If you can sing Robbie Williams songs you deserve to be in the top 24 and top 12 compared to some of them that got through. So often they decide the top 24 and it is a let down – why don’t they make it more people and let the disappointing people be revealed through their performances and then get a TRUE top 24 then 12.
I am starting to wonder if Aus Idol is less about talent and more about the story. Having people of different ‘cliche types’ or with a story to make the show more interesting. I don’t know about Jasons ‘story’ but hey it’d have to be more interesting than some in the past! Maybe it’s because his from NZ – but that shouldn’t matter – hey we had an Irish winner last year!
Hey get behind Jason for next year if he tries out again…but then he might be too busy doing his gigs for The Ego Has Landed tours! – http://www.egomusic.com.au check them out – it was the best night I’d had since going to Robbie last year!
Australian Idol is missing out…Australia could have done with our own Robbie! Their loss.
Louise – you are soooo right I was overseas for 4 weeks which meant I missed the first 2 episodes of Aust Idol and I got someone to tape it me – but then I was able to see the one where they just showed Jason’s crest-fallen face and I was so disappointed because I had hoped to see more of his entry specially coming as far as just missing out on the last 24 – I was forced to watch the show and I was horror struck with all the bad comments and stress they put on the contestants – it was horrible. Rock on Jason and look forward to seeing your next Robbie Tribute Show or Alter Ego Band. Regards Lynda
I have to laugh when the judges comment on the Top Twelve and how bad they are,
Are they forgetting they are the Idiots that put them through.
I think the Top Twelve this year are pretty lame , and if they are the best Australia has to offer (AS DECIDED BY THE SO CALLED IN THE KNOW JUDGES ) we dont have much to look forward to in the next Ten or so Weeks
http://blogpond.com.au/2007/09/23/idol-chat-final-10/
[…] – to think I first mentioned Matt Corby nearly three months ago, and now he’s in the final […]
I thought that Matt Corby Should have won. Natalie is pretty ordinary, she sings like many people sings so how is she unique????
Someone like Matt Corby you will probably never find a 17 year old boy who has a voice like that.He can Sing better than most men.
I liked Matt Ever since he auditioned.I knew he wud be at the Opera House