Oddly, why I love American Idol is the same reason why Piper will attend a Basic Obedience and Manners class.
The reality TV I've seen can be divided into two categories: 1) infomercial, and 2) learning experience. Take the Dog Whisperer for instance. Which I watch occasionally, out of curiosity. The performer = the narrator = the judge of how the performance goes. Highly edited. Cesar Millan tells you what needs to be done, does it, and then tells you how well it was done. He chooses canine body language that his training methods elicit, and he holds these up as the standard ("Calm Submissive" and/or "intimidated into non-action" depending on your interpretation, but viewers are only given Cesar's interpretation....if you want another opinion, you're going to have to find it elsewhere.) Not a surprise that each "solution" he provides is a grand triumph...when he's writing the test questions and the score sheets, and any clips that don't fit end up on the cutting room floor. Some of his work on the show is great, some is OK, and some is absolutely revolting - but in the show, all are gospel. And it will remain as-is, static, status quo, show after show. Message: he's fabulous, what's to improve? Remove Cesar Millan, replace with ShamWow, and you have yourself an infomercial complete with (only) glowing testimonials. Though I hate to cast dispersions on the ShamWow, which by all accounts is a lovely product. Plus no one's hiding the fact that they're trying to SELL you the ShamWow.
Contrast with American Idol, or any of the reality shows where there is a panel of evaluators, that are filmed live. This is the kind I'm addicted to, now that Tivo allows me to follow the story without being a slave to the TV Guide. You get to watch someone do something, then get to hear several differing, objective evaluations by experts in the field. No editing, no time for everyone to get on the same page. FAR more interesting, seeing the whole picture. There may not be any REASON for me to be able to tell a fabulous Tango from a mediocre one, or to know if a singer was "pitchy" but hey, I like learning, and I enjoy honing my observation skills. And if I'm going to learn, I'm not going to take the actor's/ singer's/ dancer's/ trainer's word for it. Nor should I. It really doesn't matter how great a performer Cesar Millan is, or not - but the life left unexamined is lacking in richness, and lacking in learning. It is unidimensional and boring. Now, add Dr. Sophia Yin's commentary on Dog Whisperer video clips, and now you've got something - http://www.askdryin.com/dominance.php - performance AND objective evaluation! Pros and cons, things to look for as an informed viewer. If you aren't interested in all this, just stick to NCIS, because fiction gets to do whatever it wants, and NCIS is great fiction.
Which leads me to two truths (in my view): First - The examined life is a better life. That is, if you're interested at all in being a better, smarter, and more capable person tomorrow than you are today. Objective observation and feedback are absolutely crucial to learning how to do something, or how to do it better. While I have taught the curriculum of the Basic class to many students, I will still benefit greatly from having the wonderful Sue lead us in our exercises, encourage us, observe Piper and I with an educated eye, and provide vital feedback. One just CANNOT be both doer and observer/evaluator and expect to expand one's horizons. I've come to believe that those that solicit and act on feedback are in a very separate category than those who do not - and are capable of so much more. Individuals who take on mentors and solicit feedback from their employees, coworkers, and bosses are consistently better at their jobs.
Piper, doing some examination of her own...
Second truth: It's good to see real and genuine emotion in others. Fear, trepidation, gratitude, enjoyment, bitterness, triumph. These are so apparent on the faces of the Idol contestants, as they make their larger-than-life journeys. Sometimes their expressions and words do not flatter them, but as real-time (or DVRed) viewers we are not shielded from this humanity. And... I LOVE this part - jerks get voted out. As it turns out, people don't like those who are petty, spiteful, and ungrateful. And we get to see these kids free of the repackaging and merchandising of more established celebrities. Season after season, we raise up those that are gracious, humble, and worthy in all their uncut glory. If only the rest of life were so fair. Possibly, if we had more panel discussions and took on more mentors...
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