'Idol' producers deny cruelty towards "challenged" contestants

I was glad to see the judges were not so cruel to the ones that could not sing last night. Nothing wrong with the way they treated the people trying out last night, I do hope they will continue to use a little tact. I know of two people who have stopped watching Idol now because they did not like the way the judges treated the people last week . If each person who watches the show know two that did not watch this week then that would sure drop the rating. I just love the show and am hoping the judges will listen to the viewers comments. I too will not watch if they keep up the cruel remarks.

The fact that American Idol judges make fools of people is pretty much the foundation of the show, so don't expect it to stop. But Simon is assho*e!

See a real idol, Mia, at:
http://www.indierockcafe.com

What cruelty? These contestants are gonna cash out big. Read my take on it.

http://weargue.blogspot.com/2007/01/american-idol-makes-fun-of-retards.html

For the most part, I'll admit that I've been entertained by the auditions in the past. Maybe I'm more mature now or maybe the show has become meaner, but I just felt bad for some of the people. The "geek" from Salt Lake City almost made me turn off the TV. Almost.

I am the mother of a mildly retarded young man. Once he turns 18, (note key phrase) if he wanted to try out for American Idol I would advise against it, plead and bribe and refuse to take him to the audition. However, if he really wanted to do it and used his own money to take the bus to "wherever" to audition, I could not stop him. Just because someone is mildly retarded doesn't mean he can't make his/her own decisions and loses his/her personal rights (which includes doing foolish things, sadly).

I get prickly over this kind of topic because of my son, I suppose. So many people are quick to assume that because someone is cognitively challenged that they are stupid or unaware of how things work. My son loves to watch AI and will quickly chime in "that sucks!" when appropriate. He will also make comments on their appearance - gasp! How dreadful.

I believe Cowell's "bushbaby" comment was over the line and think that it will come back to bite him eventually. However, Kenneth and James have had the spotlight on them longer than any of the other crappy contestants and have brought a little more awareness to the special needs world, so I can't say this has been a total waste of time.

I felt physically ill when producers/judges chose to televise persons with obvious mental or emotional handicaps. Making fun of the average person with a terrible voice is fair game. Being cruel and deliberately hurting people is anything but fair.

Wow, the level of ignorance with some individuals is truly frightening. I am particularly disturbed by comments like, "chuckleheads" and "handicapped people want to made fun of to be included".
As the parent of a mildly autist child, I have spent the last seven years trying push my daughter into the "typical" world. Situations like what happened on AI make me want to take my child and move to a deserted island. What is wrong with people that they find this entertaining?
I keep hoping,(no praying) that society will move forward enough so that "differences" will at least be tolerated some day.
Perhaps Simon, with this cruel performance, has shed some light on just how far we still have to go.

I don't think AI is the best reality show to try to get on, but when a special needs person gets an idea, sometimes the only thing that will get them off the obsession, is the fulfillment of it. That includes waiting in line.

The question is, should the producers take advantage of that. Not having seen these episodes, I really can't say.

On the other hand, my co-worker and her son went to the Deal or No Deal auditions when they were in Chicago. It was one of the best experiences of that boys life!

I agree with everyone who's said that the parents of challenged minors are insane for allowing their kids to sign up for the auditions in the first place. Surely they've watched the show, I have trouble believing that they were ignorant of how their children would be treated. That said, all parents have a hard time seeing the flaws in their children, and can't comprehend how someone could be so cruel to them.
The challenged adults who enter, however, are legally allowed to make their own decisions (in most cases), and it's up to their loved ones to help them make the best choices.
It's cruelty like this, though, that stopped me from watching Idol after the second season. I can't take watching these people, most of them earnest but deluded, get torn to shreds. It breaks my heart.
I'd rather go out and rent The Ringer, where the special needs folks were in on the joke.

Having a mentally challenged sister of my own, I have to say that, unfortunately, the issue of consent is not always black & white when it comes to adults who have these kinds of problems.

Consent, however, is not black & white when parents have to sign for their teenagers to appear on AI. What the hell are these parents thinking?? That poor 16-year old juggling kid was a freakin' mess after he was berated, not to mention that his entire school probably saw him lose it on national tv and will never let him live it down! I would love to know what the parents' thought process was - what made it seem like a good idea to let him audition?? AI can't take the blame for that, that's all the parents' fault.

This isn't a true audition anyway, it is REALITY TV, and it's so sad that the producers & cast fail to use "good judgment" or "kindness" as they make their gazillons of dollars.