How will Sanjaya’s continued success on American Idol impact the show’s credibility?

Question

With all of the controversy surrounding Sanjaya’s survival week-to-week, is it too late for American Idol to regain its fans’ trust?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I think it was the judges responsibility to make sure the singers are of a higher caliber that make it to the top 24, no matter what they look like.

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Asker's Comment:

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Answer 2

Yes it is.
I can't understand how he is still there when he is such a crappy singer.

Answer 3

It may be too late for this year, but if he hangs around to third or fourth I believe AI will change the voting mechanism for next year to neutralize the Howard Stern's and the votefortheworst type of movements. However, the judges have no one but themselves to blame for putting him in the top 24 in the first place.

Answer 4

Just the fact that we're talking about it makes it valuable. If this show is such a "joke" then the joke is on you as all of these singers laugh all the way to the bank. Sanjaya included. He'sWilliam Hung with "chops". Welcome to pop culture you silly silly people. Can't you see this is ALL YOUR FAULT?

Answer 5

American Idol's trust has been eroding for quite awhile. The popularity is still there, but the trust factor has been on a steady decline for the better part of a year. The quirky panels infighting combined with the voting off of people that definitely were better then the ones kept on. You could see this with the last idol group in the week to week voting. Now the pinnacle of it all with this goofy little no talent guy that should have been eliminated a long time ago (like week one) and it has given the show a shot in the news, but the cred ability factor is gone. It is a joke amongst any adults. It's watch factor is gone. The amusement with this no talent kid while others are eliminated will spell the last stages of a cancerous condition that other shows have met with a broad audience. The teeny boppers will keep this afloat for a mcsecond as that is about their attention span anyway, but in order to get the big numbers they have enjoyed the adults are bailing ship. To bad idol brain trust you had a good thing going but your greed got in the way. Sanjaya is simply the most outrageous example of the direction this show has been going. Like O'my god!

Source(s):

Jack
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Answer 6

Actually questions like this are what create the problem in the first place. Media morons run around with microphones asking "what about Sanjaya, what about Sanjaya," which creates buzz and name recognition and maybe some sympathy votes, and fuels his continued stay in the spotlight. If you don't like him, ignore him and he'll go away. Otherwise just keep it up, but it's your drama that keeps him front and center.

Answer 7

Yes, at least 50% of the vote is controlled by the judges in "Dancing with the Stars"

Answer 8

sanjaya is a god.

Answer 9

im getting sick of him staying and when he cant sing get rid of him

Answer 10

This is my first season of American Idol to ever watch...All of the media coverage from the Today Show to the Howard Stern Show regarding the Sanjaya "joke" for him to be the next "Idol", I feel it is a very sad and cruel thing to do to a person...They are making a great reality show untrustworthy for the serious fans and performers...(an example of this is Ebay, where the sellers and buyers, like myself, are discouraged when other sellers sell a grilled cheese sandwich with a so-called "religious" picture that happens to "show-up" in their frying pan or on their plate and "abuse" the on-line auction website as a joke)...I feel it is not too late to save a good show from the ratings falling, but if Sanjaya wins (sadly to say he is not the best performer/singer), I know this will be my first and last season to watch American Idol.

Answer 11

I don't think it will erode the trust of American Idol. But I do think that it will force them to make some changes to counter act the ability of web sites like vote for the worst so that real singers can move on. For example if all three judges give a thumbs down to the vote then they can overrule the popular vote.

Answer 12

Yep, Wednesday night was our last episode. Gina got the shaft!! Sanjaya should have gone home long ago!!!

Answer 13

i can't stand watching anymore. Sanjaya is like watching a bad high school play!!!!

Answer 14

Sanjaya's continued "success" either:

Hurts American Idol's credibility
OR
Highlights the very poor judgment of those that can suprisingly dial the phone well enough to vote for him.

I lost interest in watching when Chris Sligh left before Sanjaya. Chris could sing and was entertaining.

Doesn't Sanjaya remind you of Michael Jackson when he's NOT singing? Scary...

Answer 15

There is a big conflict and hypocrisy plaging the pop/rock/R&B music fans of the modern era and it has certainly gotten worse since the introduction of MTV. We certainly don't see it in Jazz, wouldn't think of it in Classical and even in the stylish gangsta world of Hip Hop, it's not as much of an issue. What is the "it" I'm talking about? Appearance......the way the artist looks.

Pop fans say the music is most important, but the second they find out that the person singing that great melody with that beautiful voice is also a big fat slob, the honeymoon ends and the artist is rejected. And the opposite is true as well. Case in point.........Sanjaya. This kid is so sweet and pretty, he's got every 13 year old girl, as well as, every alpha gay male creaming their you know what. Who cares if the kid can sing!

So what's the problem with these pop music fans? Two things....the first being a lack of ear talent, the second being pure narcasism. Because these people don't have the ear to understand and appreciate good music and good musical talent, the only thing that's left to appreciate is visual. The narcasism comes in to play because these fans are either imagining themselves on stage as that artist, receiving praise from the audience for the way they look and command the stage, or they imagine the artist being their boyfriend or girlfriend, etc. The music and singing become almost a prop or a gimmick for the artist. It only something that lends credibility to that hot looking singer. These fans can feel better about themselves by knowing that the focus of their visual attention actually has a legitmate talent. The only important thing about the music is whether or not it has a hook, not whether it's any good.

If we took away all visual access to today's most popular singers, songwriters and bands and had the public judge them by sound only against a group of unknown but similar artists hand-picked by top musicians, two things would happen. Record sales would plummet because you would remove the fan who mostly cares about the visual and most of the popular artists would fade away in favor of the better unknown talent.

Does anyone deny that Elliot would've won American Idol last year if he looked like Brad Pitt? I'm actually amazed he made it as fas as he did, looking the way he did.

I'll end my thoughts by being reasonable about this whole subject. The visual aspect and looks of an artist will always have an impact on all fans, it's when it starts becoming more important than the music itself that bothers me.

And no! Sanjaya will not hurt this big beast called American Idol! Again, most pop fans don't care that much about the music and singing.

So you go Lyle Lovitt, Meat Loaf, Biggy, Patty Austin, John Popper and the rest of you truly talented, but ugly artists!!! We need you more than ever!!

Answer 16

Yes, it will. He is not very talented and it seems like the outcome is fixed. Clearly he is one of the least talented and entertaining contestents.

Answer 17

very much so. Sanjaya has no skill what so ever. Its very hard to believe that he is getting that many votes each week. He's not even in the bottom three!

Answer 18

I don't understand the controversy. He is getting the votes. What can you do? There is always one contestant that is around for a little too long. His time will come. He wasn't in the top 3 this past week. If he was the number one vote getter it would be a different story. The media needs to stop talking about it and then it would go away.

Answer 19

He's a jerk!!! His voice is surely bad. He and unless singing talent should be kicked out from the idol competition this week not sacrifice Glockesen and Stephanie or other who is really suitable for this show!!! F**k you, Sanjaya!

Answer 20

Damage has been done. The AI has been the getting all the laugh and the critisism of AI fans. He shouldn't have gone to being in the top 12 since he is not a good singer at all. Now, since this show is supposed to be banking on viewers' votes, then what else could we do. He's being voted by fans who do not recognize potential and talent in a contestant.

Answer 21

I don't think it is just Sanjaya who is hurting this show. I think the judges and producers left several EXCELLENT singers go during the audition rounds and seemed to pick people who just can't cut it.

Answer 22

Uh....excuse me. But didn't Paula, Randy, and Simon vote him through every round in Hollywood. Why is Sanjaya so bad all of a sudden? People need to get a ******* grip. It is American Idol, this is what people want.... ENTERFUCKINGTAINMENT! So all you haters need to leave that baby alone. Get over it. I love KiKi, but I do hope Sanjaya(Sun^jay^uh) properly pronounced:o)

Answer 23

To tell u the truth when sanjaya can't keep a note at all!!!! I don't think he's an entertainer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think he's halarious at his singing!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the way he dressed is funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really liked to watch this show in the past, thinking it was a good place for talented people to compete to become the American idol. This year, it is nothing less than a bad joke. I will not watch it anymore until Fox figures out what it is their show is supposed to be. A big joke for untalented wierdos to flaunt their wierdness and make fun of the show in general or a place where legitimately talented people can come together to entertain the public and gain favor by receiving our votes. As it stands, I don't plan on giving this show any more attention than it deserves... I thought the auditions had a purpose - to weed out wierdos and toss them out with the bath water... Maybe they need to give Simon 2 votes?????

Source(s):

me

Answer 24

American Idol is not about talent it's about how the american public has an average of an eighth grade education. The people voting are mostly teens and people that have no life or that do not have cable. Talent has always been optional when it comes to talent shows. 1/2 of the american public think that George Bush is President and smart. The only talent Simon has is that he can make fools of the American public and make tons of money off the stupid advertisers and public. Oh and he's good at berating people to the point of abuse. Who cares!!

Answer 25

The fans are the dumb one that's keep voting him in. And letting the good one go. If he wins I don't think Idol well be bad next season.

Answer 26

maybe sanjaya he can't sing. he needs to be booted off soon.

Answer 27

I don't really no how it will effect the credibility but he should be gone. I don't think he will win the whole thing though. Eventually, i think the real votes will out weigh the ones for him and he will go home but i won't be anytime soon. Even if he made it to the finals i don't think he would win. The producers probably would pull some strings and rig it somehow. There is no way the would be willing to produce Sanjaya albums.

Answer 28

i believe so me myself i loved this show i feel america has been drunk when voting i think this will be my last time watching this this yr has been horrible.

Answer 29

I truly hope that Sanjaya gets voted off. His auditions were actually good but now every show seems a challenge to him on how bad he can be and still get voted back on the show. I think he is offensive. I don't enjoy knowing that he will be on the show again week after week and someone on idol needs to do something about it. Please American Idol take Sanjaya out of our misery !!!!

Answer 30

It is not the credibility of the show that is at stake, but rather the credibility of people's voting. Sanjaya is not at all talented, but appeals to some groups...possibly gays, Indians, teenagers...the categories he falls into. Why?...who knows. These people vote in large numbers so he stays on. It is not a long living problem however, as he will be eliminated sometime during the next few weeks. He cannot stand up to the fan base of Lakesha, Melinda and Sparks who will be the final three. Melinda won the contest the first day it began..we are just going through the motions now

Answer 31

Yes, I believe the status of IDOL has been lessened with Sanjaya's continued presence. It is beginning to look as though it is more of a popularity contest for the absurd instead of a singing contest it is purported to be. Sanjaya has not even been in the bottom category on the last two episodes. The voting needs to be changed based upon viewers and the judges with the judges having more of a say as to who goes and who stays at least in the early rounds.