Does American Idol voting reflect American racism?

[RandySF]

In the bottom three were Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone and Joshua Ledet. (WTF, America?) Jessica was the contestant with the lowest number of votes, and though she was entitled to sing for the judges' save, she only managed to get a few bars into the song before the judges took the stage, with Jennifer Lopez demanding that she hand over the mic. "This is crazy! Go sit down -- yes, we're using the save," she insisted.

After a brief huddle, Randy Jackson spoke for his fellow judges, and admonished America for their lack of votes for Jessica. "We are saving Jessica without any doubt," he reiterated, before adding, "Let me just say this ... This girl is one of the best singers in America, ever, are you kidding me? Please, everybody, please, vote for the best, it's about finding the best. C'mon!" You tell 'em, Randy.

I hate to say "I told you so" about the systemic racist and sexist voting patterns in relation to this show, but the results certainly proved that, without the judges' intervention, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet probably had no chance of winning this season, while Colton and Phillip are likely to remain our final two.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-prudom/american-idol-elimination_b_1422449.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I think it's a little bit of that, and a little bit of teeny bopper girls who don't want to see a 16

year old girl succeed no matter what her race.

Here's the thing, it's American Idol, not Randy's Idol.

[RandySF]

2. Oh, I know.

It's karaoke with cameras, but there is a pattern of winners who look and sound like the rest of the country.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Don't get me wrong---I completely agree. But, as the years have passed, more "cute"

boys are winning than girls with awesome voices.

[ohheckyeah]

4. The greatest number of votes come

from the south - that's why the winner is almost always a southerner. Last year the top two were both country singers.

[OKNancy]

5. Jessica was in the bottom because her song

was something the audience didn't know. All of the final 7 are really, really good.
I also think that there was a backlash toward the judges about Hollie ( the British girl ) The judges were really harsh with her. From my readings around the net and on other sites ( including my own site about reality tv) a lot of folks were irritated at the way Hollie was judged.
Of course the cute boys always have an advantage because of the demographics of the voters. It sucks.
However, it's American Idol and the voters want someone who fits that category.

[RandySF]

6. Fit the category in what way?

[OKNancy]

8. don't make this something it is not

fit the category like another poster said... someone tweeners like.. Justin Beiber type or a WGWG ( white guy with guitar)

[Goblinmonger]

9. But not too crazy of a WGWG n/t

[Goblinmonger]

7. Tweeners pick the winner. Hands down.

Scotty sucked last year. He had one sound, one look, and it wasn't even that good of a schtick. I haven't even watched it this year. The fact that the largest voting demographic is middle school to young high school girls tells you all you need to know about the winners.

There may be racism involved for some people voting, but generally it is just people that don't know good music that are voting--read: Bieber fans.

[HappyMe]

10. It's a middle school and high school girl popularity contest.

I saw a bit of Jessica's performance. Damn, that girl can sing!

[4lbs]

11. Look at the four female winners and see who is doing well

[Iggo]

12. I'd kinda be surprised if it didn't.

[OKNancy]

13. Final Four

African American Male
Philippine heritage female with the last name Sanchez
White guy with guitar
White girl from England, now living in Texas.

[democatman]

14. what is the the american idol singing competition really about?

does anyone know?, it should not come into it when the judges are judging the american idol contestants, look at the judging panel, they have a mix of different judges, the show is meant to be about singing talent, so in a way they are about being judgemental, but it is just meant to be judging on how good of a singer they are.

though they do also go on appearance and how people look it would seem, because when it gets down to who is getting through the auditions and into the live shows and finals, they are usually quite good looking, so it does look like there is some judging going on on how people look and other things, not just how good there singing is.

can probably find some things statistically, but just by what the show is do they say that they are "fair" judges or are they biased talent judges.

[democatman]

16. the voice usa 2016 wins over the american idol which will get cancelled after 2016

in the battle between which would be the best singing competition between the voice and the american idol, next year with the american idol 2016 and the voice 2016 auditions usa, the voice wins out, because it will be back in 2017 and so on, whereas as the other talent competitions like american idol will be cancelled after 2016.

it was a competition between the x factor, the american idol and the voice, to which talent show would be no1 and it has ended up being the voice, after the other 2 shows have now been cancellled, just american idol to return for one last farewell season with the american idol auditions in 2016.

the x factor usa been cancelled a few years ago, so now there is no competition for the voice usa 2016 you would expect it to now go on and on for as long as they like, they have no competition anymore, so there is nothing really stopping there being the number one talent competition which it comes to just auditions and singing shows.

and if the x factor uk gets cancelled after 2016, the same might apply to the uk with there only being the voice uk auditions and no other major talent competition to compete with it anymore.

http://thevoice2016auditions.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/only-voice-2016-to-audition-to-now.html

[QuebecYank]

15. I think all shows that have the audience voting are suspicious