She bang! She bang!
Considering I just saw Confessions of a Dangerous Mind yesterday, coming across this entertainment story was just a little bit… surreal.
See, back in 1976 Chuck Barris became the face of trash television when he hosted “The Gong Show.” Among other accusations, Barris was told that he was exploiting a natural impulse to show off talent (however offbeat or imaginary such talent may be) by turning his acts into a target for ridicule.
At this point, I would like to state that the WB has done something that nobody ever thought possible – they’ve become less subtle than Chuck Barris.
“These people believe they’re the next pop superstar, even though they’re horrible singers,” Fleiss told the trade paper Daily Variety. He called the show “a bizarro version of ‘American Idol.’”When auditions were held in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Orlando, Fla., and Philadelphia, the best singers were told they weren’t right for the show, the WB said.
A dozen “uniquely talented” performers were picked to get dance and singing lessons and the chance to compete for a “talent and recording deal” the network valued at $100,000.
See, there’s a point where it goes beyond satire and beyond good clean fun and becomes exploitation and cruelty.