Simon says, “I’m sorry, it just wasn’t good enough.” Simon says, “That was dreadful.” Simon says, don’t bother getting a coach; it is too late to be a singing sensation on the latest reality TV program American Idol. For youngsters with a little singing talent and high hopes the buck stops with Mr. Simon Cowell. American Idol, in its glitter splendor is our latest insight into pop culture. After serenading the judges with brief chorus’ of a chosen song, a group of young, young men and women across the country hoping to be the next Britney Spears, or Michael Jordan of the concert stage are judged by the best in the business. After a brief performance they are voted off Survivor style by judges with supposed star finding potential: Paula Abdul (former cheerleader, dance queen/choreographer, and pop star), Randy Jackson (talent scout), and a very bittersweet, tell it like it is, witty, and smart Simon Cowell.
Though all judges have experience with the biz, only Mr. Cowell seems to have the moxie give it to some of these kids straight causing problems all on the stage and in the judges box. And, with Mr. Cowell’s charming English accent, it seems the criticism is that much more candid and aloof. I say to Simon, trudge on; our young people need more people like you in our fragile society of feelings and intentions. In our latest feel good society where showing up is all that matters, Simon is offering a hard dose of candid, professional criticism. While Ms. Abdul and Mr. Jackson cushion their critiques with “ I feel” and/or “this was not your best,” etc. etc., Simon, forced to play the heavy, is forthcoming with the truth. When they don’t cut it, he tells them straight – no apologies, pep talks, or it’s not you it’s me sort of psycho babble. When the talent is obvious, he is equally as open with praise well deserved. This forthright critiquing of the young people has landed him in quite a few tiffs with the young people (feelings hurt) and his esteemed peers (peeved). After more than a few dreadful performances many of the young wannabe’s roared back proclaiming that according to themselves they were good despite his critique. Many were ungrateful to be saved of the wasted time and money they might spend on trying becoming a star. Simon sees his obligation to the tell truth. On one particular episode he called two of the young people who made it through a final hoop losers who made it on a sympathy vote. While they might not have been losers per se, he was certainly right in that they were not the rightful winners for that particular round.
The problem is that our young people as Jack Nicholson says, …”can’t handle the truth.” The line these days is a fuzzy one when it comes to proclaiming the winner and identifying the loser. From schools who aren’t truly honoring and rewarding gifted and dynamic students in fear that other student will be intimidated to not using common sense racial profiling when necessary as to not offend other people of that race, we have become a bunch of hypersensitive, weak, clones who get our feelings hurt over the most minor censure whether or not it be the truth. And, anyone who dares speak the truth, to them be damned for seeing fault or imperfection in a fellow human being.
Criticism, assessment, and judgment, and sometimes rejection are (and should be) fundamental elements of our existence as human beings. We have a duty and an obligation to judge and criticize when we are in such a position. These standards are all we have. Without these elements we do not grow; we do not thrive; we do not do right by ourselves nor by our fellow man. We must rely on others to support us in our walk through life, particularly when they have walked the trail before us. Knowledge and expertise is invaluable. When we let that go unutilized in fear of a little rejection or critique, we lose our way.
So when we can get a little truth, if even for a moment on a pop culture reality TV series, we can get a little bit of the truth, we should all idolize that.