‘Idol’ results show revels in cruelty

Later, though, with two of the guys, he changed his methodology. Ryan told Bobby and Jose “Sway” Penala, “One of you has the lowest number of votes, and is out of the competition. And you are going to find out” — he let seconds tick by for maximum dramatic effect — “right now. Bobby, it’s you.”

And this is just the first week of eliminations. To keep this level of intensity and excitement up, Ryan will have to unleash pit bulls onto the contestants during week six. “If a dog doesn’t latch on to your neck, you’re safe.” Or maybe he’ll really try to ratchet up the emotion, to force out some tears: “One of you is safe, but I just found out your beloved grandmother died this morning. The other will go home, where you’ll find that our producers stomped your kitten to death.”

One of the show’s producers, Nigel Lythgoe, told the press earlier this year that the eliminations are “exceptionally mean” but says it’s because “it would be very boring if we just say you’re in, you’re in.” He added, “It’s only mean in a good-hearted way.”

But it’s not good-hearted, especially because the manipulated eliminations have the power to affect future voting. Watching Brenna and Kinnik be teased with the possibility of elimination, even though neither was in the bottom two, communicates to the audience that there’s something wrong with both of them, or at least that they’re plausible contenders for elimination.

If the "Idol" producers wanted someone to leave the competition, they wouldn’t have to manipulate votes or break any rules. All they’d have to do is use the eliminations to create the perception of weakness over a number of weeks, and that person’s fans could just stop voting for them. The opposite could happen, too, with an unexpected placement in the alleged “bottom two” helping to rally a singer’s fans.

Even if they’re only trying to increase their ratings, producers get to maximize the humiliation and emotion by constructing these elimination scenarios for Ryan Seacrest to act out. And audiences love it.

Is it any wonder, then, that “American Idol” is destroying the Olympics in the ratings? The Olympics have, ironically enough, indirectly emulated “Idol”’s model. The video packages that introduce athletes tell a story, generally one that shows an athlete overcoming adversity and the potential for failure, eventually reaching their goals by becoming the best of their class.

That’s what “American Idol” does, too; as eliminations continue, the pool narrows, and one person rises above to become the next superstar. But unlike the Olympics, “Idol” allows the audience itself to rip contestants apart and build others up. And that’s why it will always win.

Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.

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