Thursday, February 13, 2003
Reality Hits Hard
So I imagine all fans of American Idol now know how Frenchie was disqualified for some risque pictures she took for an adult website. The message boards at American Idol are full of Frenchie commentary - how she will be missed, how her past disqualifies her from being an 'idol', how she was the major talent in the competition. The most powerful messages are those of Fox's manipulation of the show - evidence shows the show producers knew that Frenchie had posed for nude photos as early as November, yet allowed her to compete until February sweeps weeks to grab ratings in the controversy that would follow her ousting. A shrewd marketing plan, to be sure, but one that may backfire for the show, if it is seen to be manipulating the viewers. The one person that seems will be benefiting the most will be Frenchie; listening to the Idol producers discussing today's events, it seems likely that Frenchie is being signed right now by Simon's label, independent of the show's rigid guidelines. Go Frenchie!
As reality shows become even more numerous, the fact that many of these people are just as fallible as the rest of us, if not more so, becomes more and more apparent. Today, when the bachelors confronted Trista in a studio format, one bachelor was conspicuously absent - Greg T., who was arrested for apparent cocaine possession hours after leaving the show two weeks ago. The host acknowledged his absence, and quickly went on to the other bachelors :)
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