apparently you don't need talent to begin with

yes you are right in the things you say but I guess these days they seem to be looking for the whole package.... talent, looks, style and whatever else.... bit unfair really but I guess if you are able to scrape through the auditions then the public has their say and generally they are looking for the best with talent....

I think it's going a bit far to say you don't even need talent, but I know what you mean about the comments and the suspect reasons for one persons acceptance over another's. Unfortunately, this is a fast-track into the 'pop' industry, and it's a television program that just wants ratings and to hopefully make some money of a probably average singer. They want to appeal to their key demographics: the young girls with mobile phones. It's the sad truth. They throw in some 'unusual people', like the supposed punks, metal-heads, classically trained, older, 'alternative' people just to have a broader audience, but in general it's really about the image over anything else. It's someone that they can sell, who has visual appeal. Although the people that they let in are also based on their idea of a good voice/style as well, so it's always a bit difficult because we may like something that they do not like and vice versa. I definitely have a love-hate relationship with Idol, as they have had some great talents 'uncovered' through the show, even if they never make it through. I'm almost always complaining about it though =P

I know what you're getting at and I agree to an extent, but when all's said and done, it's a TV show and it's all about image. I definately think they should stop picking on people for their weight, but I guess part of it is putting people under pressure and seeing how they react. In the media, you're always going to get things like that. It's kinda of better to know what you're up against from the start. What I really hate about idol is the amount of people they show in the auditions with absolutely no talent - like a man dresed as a dinosaur. Have you ever seen a dinosaur on the show? They have pre-auditions before you even get to the TV judges. I don't understand why they don't put the serious people through. They turn back so many people who can actually sing for the losers who dress up. Even though I sing, I would never audition because I couldn't sacrifice my integrity that much. But I watch the show anyway for the music and the awesome talent they discover along the way. =]