Lessons From American Idol
When reality TV first exploded on the scene, I sampled all the shows. Survivor, Amazing Race, Big Brother, and American Idol. While I actually enjoyed some (other than the current President, Dr. Will on Big Brother is the greatest pathological liar in the history of television), the one I stuck with longest was Idol.
Every season, I would tell myself I’m done. Then my wife started watching those hokey audition shows and, before I knew it, I found myself sucked right back in. Many times I wondered, Why is this so compelling? After all, it’s just a glorified talent show. Sure, Paula would babble incoherently and Simon was his usual insufferable self. But I finally came to the conclusion that the show struck a nerve because it’s about the American dream.
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First, as we all know, the vast majority of contestants have absolutely no business being there. It’s part of the fun but also part of the dramatic tension. Other than the ones doing it for a goof, most really believe they’re good, that they deserve to be the next chosen one. In a word, they’re delusional. When Simon would tell them how horrible they were, they stared at him in disbelief. He was trying to do them a favor and, of course, they didn’t believe him for a moment.
As a writer, I’ve had similar experiences. Other writers send me their stuff all the time. Years ago, my editor told me he could tell if someone can write after reading one paragraph. At the time, I just figured he was jaded. Now I know he’s right. Just like the Idol contestants, these folks think they’re the next big thing. When they solicit my feedback, I don’t do a Simon Cowell on them; I always try to let them down gently. But some of them still get pissed off.
Why do I continue to put myself in this position? Because every now and then, I’m pleasantly surprised. Over the years, I’ve met a couple of very good writers who have become friends. Nothing wrong with that. Plus, if you’ve read my work, you know I’m a believer in Karma.
As my editor also likes to say, “Publishing is a rigged game.” With the economy heading toward the toilet again, that’s true now more than ever. The few big houses that remain rarely take a flyer on unknown authors. They stick with the brand names. I’m sure there are parallels in the music business, which is why Idol provides a decent alternate route for those with real talent. I don’t always agree with the judges’ selections. (It seems like the singer who gets bounced in the last three or four weeks is almost always more deserving.) But there’s still an emotional appeal seeing someone work hard and ultimately get their shot. It’s all any of us can hope for.
