TVSquad

Why is a parent of a mildly retarded child allowing them to be used by television in this way? If the child is retarded then FOX couldn't have gotten consent to show the audition on tv from the child (meaning the parent should be suing)

I know many will be uspet that someone challeneged is even allowed to compete, but its in thier 6th season, a parent should let their kid, challenege are not, have the thrill of meeting 3 of TV's biggest stares and seeing Ryan. But, wouldn't you let them know this before had??? And if FOX is airing this without parental approval, there may be a problem, I doubt an underage challenged child could give consent for her/his likeness to be aired. And if FOX aired without consent....thats a whole different ball of wax.

Simon's Bush Baby was too far on any level, theres no need to insult anything other then there singing voice. (lets face it voice insulting is a part of the show) but if someone came on the show with only one leg, sung beautifully and Simon (who remember has a monatary stake in whoever wins) goes "No, you couldn't win Peg-Leg and even if you did you wouldn't be able to tour at the level I want so NO NO NO" wed be in uproar.

Reply

While I agree, these parents and participants knew what they were getting into . . . come on, the Idol crew needs to stop denying what is obviously going on. I didn't watch Idol this season at all, but its pretty sick when you resort to insulting the handicapped on national television.

Reply

Let's be honest for a minute...who would watch any of the "audition" episodes unless there were people to make fun of?

Without that kind of entertainment there is zero reason to watch the initial episodes.

Reply

Here's the deal with American Idol....

My friend tried out for AI in DC last year and the audition process is two days and you have to go through several sets of producers/judges before you can get to Randy, Paula, and Simon.

Essentially, what my friend said is that anyone who is wearing a crazy costume or looks like William Hung automatically gets pushed to the head of the line because the producers know that these individuals will generate ratings.

So why are the AI producers lying to the public?

Reply

People always say everyone should be treated the same no matter what. Then when these guys are treated the same the Idol people are ripped. If they kept them from trying out, they would be sued. So they are damned if they do, damned if they don't. These two guys were on NBC this morning milking it for all it's worth. They now have agents and they are out seeking offers. They are not that crushed.

Reply

"if someone came on the show with only one leg, sung beautifully and Simon (who remember has a monatary stake in whoever wins) goes "No, you couldn't win Peg-Leg and even if you did you wouldn't be able to tour at the level I want so NO NO NO" wed be in uproar."
---------------

Untrue.
The show is American Idol. Not "America's Best Voice"
It's not just about the voice, it's about the image and every thing else about being a pop star.

Some peg-leg individual might do well on a show like "America's Got Talent" (in fact they may gain some preference for being the "underdog" type), but American Idol would not be the right show for them.

Reply

Why would you allow your mildly retarded son to go to an audition of this sort anyway?? And on top of that...his mother didn't even watch the show (what mother wouldn't watch her son on television?). It's one thing to allow him to audition and go with him and maybe explain to the producers his situation but from what I've read she wasn't there. I think if this were my child I would have been there and something like that wouldn't have happened in the first place. I think her being mad about it after the fact and not really participating in any of it is lazy parenting. One more thing....has anyone looked around our society lately? There are people everywhere that are slow, strange, oblivious, goofy, etc, etc, it's hard to tell the difference in someone who is mildly retarded and someone who is just plain weird.

Reply

How do we know they are slow? I think that's mean. Plus like someone said it's not Fox's job to parent.

Reply

Maybe we should all take a deep breath and take this for what it is: mindless entertainment.

In today's Washington Post, there was a blurb regarding the appearance of these two chuckleheads on AI, and how Special Olympics International really doesn't have a problem with it. They state that "...a viewing of the episode in question shows that the judges were in fact gracious and very encouraging to Jayne during his rendition of 'God Bless America'", noting that "at one point, Abdul commented admiringly about Jayne's spirit and advised him to 'always believe in yourself.'"

I'm glad someone has their head firmly screwed in place. Really, they came on the show and got treated no differently from anyone else. How's that so bad? Isn't that what most handicapped people want? All the ones I know would love to be made fun of and included and just want to be part of the "experience" of life. Relax, people. This isn't scandal-worthy.

Reply

The issue here is not whether people with challenges or disabilities should be allowed to compete (The Americans with Disabilities Act says they should.) The issue is, why have the initial auditions morphed into a Fox-sanctioned "World's Worst Singers" competition?

I am a long-time viewer of AI, but I have no intention of continuing with this season. The premier show was poorly paced, empty of suspense, and lacking in talent that we'll be seeing in subsequent weeks. If Fox wants to turn AI into a show all about how deluded people are about themselves, it's their prerogative. I won't be watching.

Reply

A couple things to keep in mind. AI makes a LOT of money and as such they are going to protect their investment. I'm quite sure that their legal staff is on top of any and all issues of liability up to and including what's aired on TV. Second, it's hard to ask for legal recourse when the affected parties are benefiting from the event for which they feel grieved. Lastly, how politically correct do we truly have to be (especially after we've signed a waiver giving complete control of our likeness to FOX)? Everyone is flawed. Does that mean that we should all walk on eggshells to avoid offending anyone and everyone? And if you answer yes to that question, isn't there a pee wee soccer league somewhere that you should be coaching to a tie right now?

Reply

Having a mentally challenged sister of my own, I have to say that, unfortunately, the issue of consent is not always black & white when it comes to adults who have these kinds of problems.

Consent, however, is not black & white when parents have to sign for their teenagers to appear on AI. What the hell are these parents thinking?? That poor 16-year old juggling kid was a freakin' mess after he was berated, not to mention that his entire school probably saw him lose it on national tv and will never let him live it down! I would love to know what the parents' thought process was - what made it seem like a good idea to let him audition?? AI can't take the blame for that, that's all the parents' fault.

This isn't a true audition anyway, it is REALITY TV, and it's so sad that the producers & cast fail to use "good judgment" or "kindness" as they make their gazillons of dollars.

Reply

I agree with everyone who's said that the parents of challenged minors are insane for allowing their kids to sign up for the auditions in the first place. Surely they've watched the show, I have trouble believing that they were ignorant of how their children would be treated. That said, all parents have a hard time seeing the flaws in their children, and can't comprehend how someone could be so cruel to them.
The challenged adults who enter, however, are legally allowed to make their own decisions (in most cases), and it's up to their loved ones to help them make the best choices.
It's cruelty like this, though, that stopped me from watching Idol after the second season. I can't take watching these people, most of them earnest but deluded, get torn to shreds. It breaks my heart.
I'd rather go out and rent The Ringer, where the special needs folks were in on the joke.

Reply

I don't think AI is the best reality show to try to get on, but when a special needs person gets an idea, sometimes the only thing that will get them off the obsession, is the fulfillment of it. That includes waiting in line.

The question is, should the producers take advantage of that. Not having seen these episodes, I really can't say.

On the other hand, my co-worker and her son went to the Deal or No Deal auditions when they were in Chicago. It was one of the best experiences of that boys life!

Reply

Wow, the level of ignorance with some individuals is truly frightening. I am particularly disturbed by comments like, "chuckleheads" and "handicapped people want to made fun of to be included".
As the parent of a mildly autist child, I have spent the last seven years trying push my daughter into the "typical" world. Situations like what happened on AI make me want to take my child and move to a deserted island. What is wrong with people that they find this entertaining?
I keep hoping,(no praying) that society will move forward enough so that "differences" will at least be tolerated some day.
Perhaps Simon, with this cruel performance, has shed some light on just how far we still have to go.

Reply

I felt physically ill when producers/judges chose to televise persons with obvious mental or emotional handicaps. Making fun of the average person with a terrible voice is fair game. Being cruel and deliberately hurting people is anything but fair.

Reply

I am the mother of a mildly retarded young man. Once he turns 18, (note key phrase) if he wanted to try out for American Idol I would advise against it, plead and bribe and refuse to take him to the audition. However, if he really wanted to do it and used his own money to take the bus to "wherever" to audition, I could not stop him. Just because someone is mildly retarded doesn't mean he can't make his/her own decisions and loses his/her personal rights (which includes doing foolish things, sadly).

I get prickly over this kind of topic because of my son, I suppose. So many people are quick to assume that because someone is cognitively challenged that they are stupid or unaware of how things work. My son loves to watch AI and will quickly chime in "that sucks!" when appropriate. He will also make comments on their appearance - gasp! How dreadful.

I believe Cowell's "bushbaby" comment was over the line and think that it will come back to bite him eventually. However, Kenneth and James have had the spotlight on them longer than any of the other crappy contestants and have brought a little more awareness to the special needs world, so I can't say this has been a total waste of time.

Reply

For the most part, I'll admit that I've been entertained by the auditions in the past. Maybe I'm more mature now or maybe the show has become meaner, but I just felt bad for some of the people. The "geek" from Salt Lake City almost made me turn off the TV. Almost.

Reply

What cruelty? These contestants are gonna cash out big. Read my take on it.

http://weargue.blogspot.com/2007/01/american-idol-makes-fun-of-retards.html

Reply

The fact that American Idol judges make fools of people is pretty much the foundation of the show, so don't expect it to stop. But Simon is assho*e!

See a real idol, Mia, at:
http://www.indierockcafe.com

Reply