American Idol knows how to do sensationalism

Hokay …

Let’s talk sensationalism.

sen·sa·tion·al·ism [sen-sey-shuh-nl-iz-uhm] –noun

1) subject matter, language or style producing or designed to produce startling or thrilling impressions or to excite and please vulgar taste.

2) the use of or interest in this subject matter, language or style: The cheap tabloids relied on sensationalism to increase their circulation.

Origin: 1840–50; sensational  + -ism

Now that we have a dictionary definition, let’s witness a few examples of sensationalism as proffered on American Idol Wednesday evening:

• It’s my buddy Seacrust (Ryan Seacrest) twittering (or tw@ttering or twextering or whatever it’s called) about the Idol Powers That Be issuing some sort of apology at some point in the coming week on the Idol …
• It’s Courtney Penry doing an impression of a chicken …
• It’s Seacrust playing to the drama of Courtney Penry’s “thing” she has about him …
• It’s the painfully severe hairstyle Jennifer Lopez sported during the Austin auditions …
• It’s the camera angle Idol’s director decided to showcase Jacqueline Dunford from during the majority of her performance, highlighting her backside more than her singing abilities …

When it comes to American Idol, sensationalism is all these things and more.

But the Austin auditions gave us two pieces of sensationalism that really took the cake:

One was simply and utterly ridiculous … not in and of itself, but because of everything that led up to it. Seacrust’s twittery shenanigans, the aftermath that followed and finally the video snippet below. Some might find him funny; I find him to be an utter doofus.

The other is pure joy without a sob story attached. Please relish in it.

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Feb 03, 2011 @ 10:00 EST5EDT