Another American Idol

[Aries]

Are anyone elses ears still bleeding?? MAN! I thought last weeks singers were bad! Maybe it's just my opinion, but I didn't think half the people that are "going to Hollywood" from last night actually had the deserving talent. Have they lowered thier standards...or do you think they're intentionally bringing people who will easily be iliminated? I mean that Justin Guarini/Snoop Dog/Michael Jackson thing....OUCH....my ears are still ringing!

[emalia]

I am not sure about the rest of you, but I am getting pretty tired of all these "reality/contest TV Shows." Whatever happened to Prime Time good old fashioned drama?

But what really go my goat, is when they pre-emted EVERYTHING on all teh local channels to watch the Bucs airplane fly in, then follow their bus to the stadium of people that waited WAY too long to "Welcome the Bucs Home" Party which of course they broadcasted instead of regular TV.

[Belladonna]

I can live withouth the reality shows, and I would liek a good solid mix of drama based shows and 'old=fashioed' family sitcoms. Whatever happened to the Cosby's or Growing Pains, or hell even ALF? :lol:

Those are the shows that I miss.

[emalia]

ALF RAWKED!!!!!

I think that the lack of family shows also goes along with the lack of family cohesiveness that is experienced now a days. When we grew up, not so long ago, there was still a family cohesive unit where people sat down to dinner and talked. Now if dinner can't happen in front of the TV, people get upset. I guess the networks are happy!

[Morrigan]

I don't watch the "reality shows"
I stick to Buffy, Charmed, Friends and Stargate SG1
lol oh and Hamtaro!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol other than that... don't watch TV

[Bonnie]

reality shows are so far removed from reality that it's ludicrous. I think it a telling symptom of the degradation of society that so many actually enjoy them. I know of lot of you like them, but I PERSONALLY find them degrading and insulting...both to my intelligence and my humanity. That said, I'm sure there are those that find rodeo offensive, and yet, *I* love it. So each to their own, I suppose. But you won't catch me watching them.

[Aries]

Was the Gong show a reality show, or Miss America, Miss Universe? That's the classification I would put American Idol in....I don't see it the same way as surviving on an island or in a house full of strangers to win money...I see it more as trying to fulfill a dream.

Personally, the MAIN reason I watch American Idol is my 9 year old daughter, who like I'm sure many 9 year olds do, dreams of one day being an "idol" figure, singing, being one of her greatest loves. Believe it or not, each week she comes away from the T.V. having learned something from the show...Follow your dreams...Work hard at what you want...The music industry is a harsh and hard one...Learn to recognize your true capabilities, is this dream really within your reach? Etc...etc...

Admittingly, it's not "Great Television" but it is entertainment, and something for the most part a family can enjoy together. My family doesn't really share much together on the T.V. 90% of the time my T.V. is either tuned to a kids station like Nick Jr. or Noggin for the little one...Discovery Kids for the 9 year old or TLC or Discovery for me and my husband...that is when my T.V. is on. Believe it or not this is one family who still sits down at the dinner table...no T.V. no music and we talk....about....whatever. Once in a while, it's nice to watch something, not completely brainless, that you can laugh at/sing along with/critisize/judge/debate/dance....together and THAT is American Idol....to this family anyway. Really the only other time your guarenteed to find my T.V. on is Thursday night at 10:00, when hubby and I watch ER....and that is only if it's a new episode....

[emalia]

YAY for ER, and Third Watch and Crossing Jordan, and JAG. Those are my shows. But the fact that it is festival season again means that the return of 16-18 hour days for me and the loss of my freedon to watch TV, and I only get to watch my Monday night shows that were pre-empted for the Buccaneers coverage this week.


I think that the reutn of STar Search and American Idol aren't all that bad, but I also think that it is pretty rough that they are the only alternatives to violent TV, or watching people that are stuck on an island for $$. It still amazes me what people will do for $.


and yes Bonnie, I too liek the Rodeo. Although I missed it this weekend as the Pro-Bull riders were here, that truly isn't my cup of tea. I prefer barrell racing and roping competiton. I miss being able to go to the Davie arena pretty ,uch every Friday or Saturday night for a little rodeo action.

[Bonnie]

that was me....a good fifteen years ago...

barrel racing on a horse that everyone else had given up on as too spooky, crazy, and neurotic. He'd been beaten, shocked, starved, and abused in so many ways it wasn't funny. then I get him, and within two years, he was the champion novice barrel horse, knew some basic dressage, and was trustworthy enough to throw a toddler on for a ramble 'round the ring. He died about three or four years ago with a brain tumor, but I was the last person to ride him. And at 23, he was still a pisser of a horse.

LOVE the barrel racers. Always get choked up.

[emalia]

Do they still have Rodeo every weekend at the Davie Arena?

[Bonnie]

they have the Big Rodeo..the Davie 5 Star on the fourth weekend of every month, and I think they have some local action going on most other weekends....I haven't been in a VERY long time, myself.

[jmthane]

Aries, if your daughter *really* wants to know what it's like for most of us being in the music industry, she ought to make friends with some of the musical acts at Faire. We haven't gotten to NY (yet), but I can tell you that last year, Minstrosity made a net profit of approximately $5,000 per person. (The band was John's major source of income. He's been looking for a full time day job for a while, and taking temp assignments when he can get them. Wendy and I have day jobs.) And we're doing pretty good for a Faire act - we're on the road, we're getting noticed on a national scale - we performed at 8 Faires last year. Yeah, we get to travel (and the deductions at tax time for that don't hurt, either! - but thank the Gods for TurboTax, I'd never figure this out myself :powpow: :augh: ). How many acts never leave their home base, or perform at only 1 or 2 other Faires? On a wider scale, how many garage bands or bar bands never tour, never appear as an opening act for a big name band?

$5K a year isn't much, however, it's about double what we did in 2001. Not a way I'd recommend making a living if you don't do something to supplement it. This is a bear of a profession - you really have to be willing to stick it out and accept that you are probably going to be in the 99% of musicians that don't strike it rich and become multi-millionaires.

Your daughter's coming away from American Idol with some good life lessons. It's still my dream that I can make a living doing nothing but music - teaching, playing, studio sessions (and I'm perfectly willing and able to work on both sides of the microphone), whatever. In the meantime, like the bumper sticker on my car says, "Real musicians have day jobs!" But I'm following my dreams, and yeah, it's hard work. As the band's founder, I get to work a little harder than John and Wendy, although I do delegate some of it to them. And I'm a second generation performing musician - my parents did this sort of thing, too, but Minstrosity has done much more in terms of travel and recognition than they did, and I have two things my folks don't - recordings! They think I'm nuts for doing this, but they're glad to see it working out.

BTW - I watch Enterprise and Twilight Zone on UPN, Futurama on Fox (and on Cartoon Network to catch the ones that Fox screwed up with their :cuss: football coverage that always seemed to run overtime, Andromeda (from syndication), South Park, and Pokemon (my guilty pleasure). Occasionally there will be a one-shot special on that I want to see, but otherwise, that's about it for current shows. I like the ones that seem to get cancelled, like Firefly (Fox), Legend (UPN), Nowhere Man (UPN), Max Headroom (ABC - the adventure series, which, let's face it, the TV industry is beginning to mirror the TV industry there).

[Aries]

She actually has made many friends with many of the musical talent at many faires. And I well I grew up always dating the Bass player/Singer of one band or another (or several) and always long term relationships. Even watched one mate say no to a great possibility of fame because it wasn't the music his heart was in.

Believe me, I know it's tough, and I tell her everyday, she's still very young though...and I suspect it might be just a childhood dream....however if it turns out to be a dream she chooses to persue I would support her in it completely. Hey she also wants to be an actor at Faire just as soon as she's old enough...and believe me, if you'de ever met her...THAT I can see happening.

[jmthane]

Good for you. And her. :D