American Idol is so...SEXIST.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

Tuesday before House, American Idol had this girl on. She had a really good voice, but she was also overweight. The judges even told her she had a good voice. Then Simon tells her that she won't be passed on to Hollywood because of how she looks. And he has the nerve to try and pass it off like it's not HIS decision with the "Well, *I* am not judging you but *some* people will". My ass! Hello?!?!?! Ruben Studdard!???!? Then to add salt to the wound, the next guy that comes in is overweight and he gets passed on to Hollywood.

Apparently you are only allowed to be fat if you are male. :puke:

[rooboy]

1. Interestingly...

the girl who just won Australian Idol was an overweight girl. It's more up to the voters than the hosts, isn't it?

[tishaLA]

2. They did put some overweight women through, though

But they were VERY obese. The secret is this: if you are going to be fat on AI, you have to be VERY FAT, not just "normally" overweight.

[Misunderestimator]

3. It was interesting... BUT she also sang "I could have danced all night"

and I think they were just being nice about her voice... It wasn't just the weight, it was the whole look, the presence and the sound of the voice. Simon was an ass about it, but she really didn't have a chance. He should NOT have made such a stupid comment, because it wasn't really true... it WAS the voice that was wrong.

Otherwise, yeah... pretty much... fat guys get away with a lot more than fat women...

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. Yeah, I always wonder about people that choose to sing theatre songs.

It's just so different from the stuff they end up wanting you to sing.

I was just disgusted that he was such an asshole about it. If you're a fat guy, you're "keeping it real" If you're a fat girl you're a pig.

[ET Awful]

4. It wasn't just her weight he was commenting on

Yeah, he's a slimeball, and I probably would have let her go on sheer talent, BUT, there's no way she would have made it through the first round of audience voting. None at all.

She wasn't just overweight, she just wasn't at all attractive. I mean, I'm no prize myself, but that girl was just not attractive, not in any way that would catch the attention of an audience.

Once again, it wasn't her weight, it was her overall appearance. She literally had a hairy neck, no make-up, bad teeth, etc. Had she spent time trying to look the part, she may very well have made it on to the next round, but she made no effort to make herself look like an "idol."

There's nothing wrong with being overweight, and there's nothing wrong with being plain or homely, but it just won't fly in a competition like that. Had they passed her on to the next round, she would have been more heartbroken after she got voted off by an audience instead of a small panel. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be rejected by a small pane than an audience of millions.

She's just not pop-star material.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. But it WILL fly if you are a guy.

Guys can be ass ugly and still make it far. It's only women that people will throw out on looks.

And actually, I'd rather be voted off in a big crowd where they just say "you're off" than be told on TV in front of millions of viewers that Im getting voted off because Im ugly.

[Darth_Kitten]

10. Quinn on the other hand.........and Althea.....

are pop-star material. Who wouldn't vote for those cuties? ;) :evilgrin:

Sorry, couldn't resist. :D

[LynneSin]

5. I watched american idol once...

....only because I was too lazy to look for the remote control

:eyes:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. Hey...I was waiting for House...

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[Misunderestimator]

9. Yeah, and Lost was a repeat...

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. No shock there.

[johnnie]

12. This is the first year I have watched that show

It isn't a really good show, but I don't mind seeing some of the people sing.
I wouldn't blame the show for being sexist, I blame the buying public. Sadly they are right when they say that a person doesn't have "the look". This country is too infatuated with entertainers and entertainment, especially the "beautiful people".
Truth is... these TV shows are out to make money and the "hot people" are the ones that the buying public want to see. I'm not saying it is right, but that's the reality of it all. Pop singers, actors, actresses, sport stars, the ones that are in the spotlight are mainly the "pretty" ones.
All I can say is that if you don't like the sexism, racism and other ism's of the entertainment industry then don't blow your money on it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Look, they're looking for someone to be a pop star. Pop stars don't need

talent, they need looks. The recording companies want, for women, a young thin babe with perfect teeth that they can make over and process and sell as a product. The voice is incidental - that all gets washed out anf fixed up in the recording and engineering and processing anyway.

If this woman wanted to be a professional musician, she'd perhaps have a chance - I didn't hear her, so I don't know - but in the world of musicians, she wouldn't have as much of a handicap.

But if she wants to be a pop star, no way. That ain't how the game is played.

Is it wrong? Eh, I don't know. Pop music itself so utterly wrong, so far over the bend into banality and worthlessness and artistic bankruptcy already, what's another little bit of evil? Not much.

And men, apparently, can be heavy and be pop stars. Just look at all the fat rappers and hiphoppers.

[sendero]

14. American Idol is so..

... contrived. Really, it is a joke, not a competition.