The most popular show of the past several fall and spring television seasons is without question American Idol. And logically, the most popular show of the summer has been America's Got Talent. Both offer everything someone could want in a TV show: drama, laughter, emotion, competition, etc. What more could a person ask for when choosing what program to watch two or three nights a week? Oftentimes I find myself being sucked in to these reality shows and latching on to one of the competitors and cheering for him or her throughout the season. (Oftentimes really means the second season of American Idol. Big Ruben fan. Big Clay hater. Look at those two now. Look at me now. Need I say more?)
But in reality (Get it?), I do end up watching a few episodes of these two shows every season. And every time I find myself sad when I see the people that fall somewhere between incredible and awful. These people, for the most part, think they have some sort of ability to wow the world. It's understandable that not everyone will be a superstar, but the folks that genuinely think they have a shot and are brutally shot down by Simon or worse, David Hasselhoff leave me with a rather empty feeling.
For example, a few seasons back on American Idol, a girl in her early 20's had made it to Hollywood. She assumed she was well on her way to instant stardom รก la Kelly Clarkson or Chris Daughtry. But after getting to Hollywood she was quickly let go and told she didn't have what it takes. Of course everyone's favorite worthless human, Ryan Seacrest was quick to track her down and chat with her before she could head back to wherever she hailed from. In her exit interview she expressed to millions that she had given up everything to be on American Idol. She had quit her job and was sure she could win it all. She just wanted to provide a nice life for her daughter and just knew this was her ticket to stardom. Of course like millions, she didn't win and who knows where she is these days. But the chord that struck most deeply with me was when she said, "I have no idea what I am going to do now."
These shows give our country, and for the most part the rest of the world, the impression that everyone has a shot at stardom, which I guess is somewhat true (see Hillary Duff), but it also gives us the impression that it's easy to attain said stardom. It's not. They show the fabulous people and the wretched people on American Idol and America's got talent. The fabulous ones woo us and the bad ones make us laugh. However, they rarely show the decent ones or the moderately good ones. These are the real people that this show affects. These are the people whose family and friends have encouraged them, whose teachers have let them miss class, whose bosses have given them time off to fulfill their dreams, and who ultimately are let down, and return, a little disheartened to say the least, to the daily grind.
In the case of the aforementioned girl though, she had given it all up. There was no return to her job or school. She was so sure that she could win that she threw away any hope of going back to a normal existence. And unfortunately was left in worse shape than when she came. At least she had hope when she set out to win. Sure, she could try again the next year, but we all know it probably won't ever happen for her.
So we (America) sell this notion of the American Dream that is not at all what it used to be. The American Dream once was earning a living, being grounded, caring about others and making something out of yourself (see Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King Jr.), but now it's becoming the next one hit wonder or the next flavor of the week for US Weekly or People. Unfortunately the majority of my generation has very little idea that happiness doesn't have to mean being rich or famous or the winner of American Idol, so many of us give up working to achieve happiness or our goals on the hopes that a one in a billion shot could happen. Not everyone can be an American Idol, and in the case of Ruben, not every winner will stick around for more than a few weeks, but we continue to give up education or our jobs to give it a shot.
I'm really not trying to say don't follow your dreams, but I am trying to say that there are better ways to achieve these dreams than giving up everything else to have a snotty Brit tell you you're worthless or a former Baywatch star sound a buzzer to let you know he doesn't like what you have to offer while you give it your all (assuming you actually interact with these famed judges and not just some panel of no names). Dreams are important, but to think that you can give up the things in life that provide stability and a future for yourself in the hopes of winning a reality show is not the way to realize your wishes. Work hard, go to school, find a job, take care of your family. If you want to be a star, figure out a way to get yourself out there, but don't settle to have your spirit crushed by what America says is instant ticket to stardom these days.
On a more positive note, here is an example of a feel good story from one of the discussed programs. The guy you will see here is a class act and has made Mississippi proud. Thanks Lawrence. Thanks for showing us that following your dreams doesn't always end in heartbreak and also for showing us that there are more important things in the world than fame and fortune, like really loving what you do and doing it well.
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