By Staff Writer, Carol Davila

            The curtain rises and the lights grow bright. Millions of screaming fans can be seen in the distance. The music starts and the crowd goes wild.
            Just as the excitement reaches its peak, a sharp voice crashes through the roaring of the fans. The American dream is destroyed in a matter of seconds.

            This is exactly what happens to thousands of “American Idol” hopefuls. The contestants travel from all over the country to show off their talent. Unfortunately, many of the singers lack the very talent that is being judged.
            Their lack of talent should not be the sole defining characteristic. Perhaps respecting someone that appears on the show would be easy enough if “American Idol” has not turned its performers into a form of cruel entertainment. The contestants want to entertain with their voices not with the mockery that is made from their efforts.
            “The show preys upon naive people who want to make their hopes and dreams a reality,” Jose Martinez (’07) said.
The most watched show in the U.S., following the Super Bowl, “American Idol” brings the embarrassment of its contestants to millions of homes. In fact, the worst singers are given more air time than the amazing ones.
            Since when did good television come at the price of people’s dignity?
            The participants are aware that they are being recorded and what to expect from the judges. Does that fact, however, give the judges and the viewing audience the right to ridicule them? Yet, they believe in themselves enough to put forth the effort to make the dream of stardom come true. American Idol “rejects” that have confidence in themselves are often portrayed as “crazed” for believing they could make it to the top. They should be praised for their ambition and courage, not mocked.
            The judges, who should base their decision on the performance of the singers, seem to make their opinion of the contestants before they open their mouth. Simon Cowell, the most unsympathetic judge, has been known to make more than his share of hopefuls burst into tears by commenting on everything from their weight to their clothing style. The peculiar style and body image of the performer does not affect their singing talent and should not be one of the factors in determining their eligibility in performing.
             “I think it’s part of what makes ‘American Idol’ ‘American Idol,’” Peter Liguori, Fox entertainment president, told television writers in an interview.
            The producers of the show are not the only ones at fault. The American audience who permits this mistreatment of the contestants should also be held accountable.
 The cruel exploitation of performers should not be a source of entertainment for the masses. In the words of the infamous Simon Cowell, the show and the judges are “simply horrible.”