I often wonder at the risks that must be involved when these 'talent' shows allow people who have clear problems (or borderline) to be humiliated on national television.

A former American Idol contestant, Paula Goodspeed, has committed suicide at the gates of the home of Paula Abdul, whom she appeared to idolise.

Article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/11/12/2008-11-12_paula_abdul_fanatic_paula_godspeed_found.html


Her 2006 audition:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=X88_AWDck3g

Disgraceful. A lot of the people that go on these shows are clearly not all there and for them to be ripped to bits and ridiculed by these judges on television will do nothing for their mental state. It's car crash tv and it's now claimed a life.

That the US Christmas number one sorted then.

Nothing sells like a post-humous record (ask Elvis, Lennon and Eva Cassidy).

In a strange sense, the poor lass might have finally got what she wanted.

Disgraceful. A lot of the people that go on these shows are clearly not all there and for them to be ripped to bits and ridiculed by these judges on television will do nothing for their mental state. It's car crash tv and it's now claimed a life.

I agree, that bloody Simon Cowell seems to enjoy putting these poor people down. most contestants know what there getting into, it's their own fault, but clearly some don't those ones get abused by Cowell, it's a big joke to hilm.

Anyhow this thread should not have been move into entertainment as it's not funny!

Disgraceful. A lot of the people that go on these shows are clearly not all there and for them to be ripped to bits and ridiculed by these judges on television will do nothing for their mental state. It's car crash tv and it's now claimed a life.

I can see where you're coming from, but I don't entirely agree. She auditioned in 2006, so it wasn't a straightforward cause and effect thing. I don't think you can argue that the show itself has claimed a life.

I also don't think it's worth blaming the judges. I would, personally, blame the MILLIONS of people who watch the shows for the kind of contestants that get roundly humliated during the auditions. Cowell et al are responding to what their viewing figures show the public want.

Personally, I don't watch any reality TV programmes, including Big Brother, because I think they're exploitative and voyeuristic and I don't want to be a part of that :gag: The viewers who make these shows popular have to take an element of responsbility for their content, as do the media who report on the contestants obsessively.

I can see where you're coming from, but I don't entirely agree. She auditioned in 2006, so it wasn't a straightforward cause and effect thing. I don't think you can argue that the show itself has claimed a life.

I also don't think it's worth blaming the judges. I would, personally, blame the MILLIONS of people who watch the shows for the kind of contestants that get roundly humliated during the auditions. Cowell et al are responding to what their viewing figures show the public want.

Personally, I don't watch any reality TV programmes, including Big Brother, because I think they're exploitative and voyeuristic and I don't want to be a part of that :gag: The viewers who make these shows popular have to take an element of responsbility for their content, as do the media who report on the contestants obsessively.

Quite. It remind the idiots baying for the paparazzi's blood when Diana was killed, the very same people who kept them in business by buying the rags and celeb mags that featured her so prominently.:rolleyes:

Well, the trouble is, there's a never ending queue of these deluded wannabes and frankly I think most of them get what they deserve.

Which is to be told, in no uncertain terms that they haven't got any talent whatsoever.

Nobody is forced to go on these programmes and the fact that we're on (I think) the fifth series of X Factor proves pretty much that people will stop at nothing to get on TV.

I also don't think it's worth blaming the judges. I would, personally, blame the MILLIONS of people who watch the shows for the kind of contestants that get roundly humliated during the auditions. Cowell et al are responding to what their viewing figures show the public want.


I absolutely agree, it's all one big awful monster. Yeah, some of the singers are good and deserve to do well, but the others don't need to have some jumped up knob like Simon Cowell tearing strips off them on tv. Humiliating them basically. People only watch to see that.

Well, the trouble is, there's a never ending queue of these deluded wannabes and frankly I think most of them get what they deserve.

Which is to be told, in no uncertain terms that they haven't got any talent whatsoever.

Nobody is forced to go on these programmes and the fact that we're on (I think) the fifth series of X Factor proves pretty much that people will stop at nothing to get on TV.

Of course, many of them are just deluded. But there's a high percentage of the ones that are shown on tv that are clearly mentally unstable. And I don't think it's right to make a laughing stock of them.

What next? Bring back the days of paying money to poke insane people with sticks?

R.I.P

(not that i watch such stuff)

Of course, many of them are just deluded. But there's a high percentage of the ones that are shown on tv that are clearly mentally unstable. And I don't think it's right to make a laughing stock of them.

What next? Bring back the days of paying money to poke insane people with sticks?

It's just become a modern day equivalent and variation on those hideously cruel 'freak' circus shows. I so do not get why anyone enjoys watching this stuff or what the entertainment value is. It's awful, about as much fun as watching public hangings and executions.:(:confused::huh:

It's just become a modern day equivalent and variation on those hideously cruel 'freak' circus shows. I so do not get why anyone enjoys watching this stuff or what the entertainment value is. It's awful, about as much fund as watching public hangings and executions.:(:confused::huh:

I had a big discussion with three friends about this only the other week. I was accused, implictly, of snobbery and cultural elitism because I said that Big Brother etc was just pap, so I backed up my point by saying that it's not just pap, it's exploitative pap.

I wouldn't mind (as much) if the people who watch it were prepared to say, 'Yes, I am a voyeur, yes, there is a distinctly queasy side to all this, but I don't care'. But for the most part they aren't. They defend it on the grounds that it's 'fascinating' to watch people interact like that, totally overlooking the fact that those people are specifically selected for personality disorders ort quirks that will make them 'entertaining'.

I had a big discussion with three friends about this only the other week. I was accused, implictly, of snobbery and cultural elitism because I said that Big Brother etc was just pap, so I backed up my point by saying that it's not just pap, it's exploitative pap.

I wouldn't mind (as much) if the people who watch it were prepared to say, 'Yes, I am a voyeur, yes, there is a distinctly queasy side to all this, but I don't care'. But for the most part they aren't. They defend it on the grounds that it's 'fascinating' to watch people interact like that, totally overlooking the fact that those people are specifically selected for personality disorders ort quirks that will make them 'entertaining'.

I'm totally with you on this Jess, I agree it is exploitative not only of the contestants but the viewers too who are manipulated and treated to very carefully edited highlights which show the partakers in the worst possible light. It's the whole car crash syndrome isn't it? I really do not get it at all.