Too Much Profanity On American Idol

The new years TV sensation is unmissably Foxs American Idol. How big? Bill Carter of the The New York Times reported the shows executives have been startled into silence at the 2006 numbers. Its a juggernaut, widely viewed by all age groups.

Two years ago, I sat down to watch an episode, not because I wanted to (I certainly didnt), because I felt the professional obligation. I confess: I was hooked. It was dramatic, it was hilarious, it was heartwarming, it was professional all the things that make for good television.

Sadly, this year, you can add another descriptor: its also now raunchy.

By now, on a show this popular, millions of Idol fans have heard the hubbub that some groups have raised against the man playing the role of nastiest judge in this reality program, Simon Cowell. Hes heard from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for telling one contender to shave and wear a dress. Hes heard from National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance for making the unnecessary wisecrack in dismissing an obese contestant that they couldnt afford his food bill.

Its time for Fox to hear from parents over the waves of bleeped profanity in these tryout episodes, which have gone from annoying to incessant. Rejected contestants go into profanity-laced tirades, and Fox doesnt turn the camera off. They follow the angry curser down the hall to capture every bleepity-bleep-bleeped utterance, complete with the American Idol logo pasted on their mouths.

It descended to an absurd level with a metal-head contestant with dyed-red hair named Ryan Hyatt. When asked if he was the next American Idol, said [Bleeped F-bomb] yeah. Judge Paula Abdul responded, You just cursed. Were not allowed to do that. Its a family show. The curser responded, Well, Im not a family guy.

And Fox isnt making a family show if they milk this for ratings instead of editing it out.

What followed was worse. After said metal-head unloaded a satanic screech routine and was rejected, he delivered a predicably obscene rant, with Fox bleeping him 13 times in five seconds.

MSNBC.com writer Andy Dehnart nailed the current trend on the head. On these tryout shows, Idol now is no better than other sleazy Fox reality-show outings like My Big Fat Obnoxious Fianc, humiliating people by the dozens to amuse the audience. Three years ago, in their infancy, the Idol auditions were amusing. Now they've become an exercise in crassness and excessive, unabashed meanness, perfect for a Fox reality show but unbefitting a show that has the reputation as best of its class.

There were other low moments on Idol that ruin the shows potential for family viewing. Teenaged transvestite Zachary Travis auditioned in a blouse and high-heeled shoes and proclaimed it hilarious that someone would ask if he was a female. (His singing was beyond awful, which, of course, worked to goose more gossip and ratings.) While embarrassed parents struggled to explain transvestites to their young children, GLAAD was publicly demanding a productive, ongoing conversation about a ban on mocking peoples gender expression.

One newspaper explained a recent Idol show was basically one long buildup to the sincerely horrific Rhonetta Johnson's public and bleep-happy flame-out. This heavy-set black woman came to audition in a blond wig, a glittery mini-skirt and a silver tube top, out of which she was falling. Fox repeatedly promoted her tryout/tirade as coming up. They showed her not only swearing a blue-logo streak, but felt the need to put the logo over her crotch area as she made karate kicks in her mini-skirt.

The same sleazy trend has emerged on another hot talent/reality show, ABCs Dancing With The Stars, which has revived ballroom dancing by pairing professional dancers with amateur celebrities. While some of the female dancers outfits have been quite risque, it can still play like a traditional dancing show, like you might have seen on The Ed Sullivan Show.

But this show recently filled up its air time by featuring the hip-hop group the Pussycat Dolls to perform their hit Doncha, which has loose-woman lyrics about dont you wish your girlfriend was raw like me, dont you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? Thats not exactly lyrics you want your grade-school girl singing the next morning. Its like network executives panic that these hit shows have to stay current for the under-50 crowd by squeezing in obscene or hyper-sexed parts.

Parents who love Idol can hold out hope that once the freak-show phase of the competition is over, Fox will return to a fairly clean, inspiring music show that can once again be called family-friendly. Its truly sad when Hollywood thinks theres always too much of a good, wholesome thing, and never seems to think theres too much of a bad, raunchy thing.