I think there are some people who only watch the first episodes of the show so they can goof on the bad singers.

I have a hard time not getting sucked into it, having been on both sides of the audition process so many times. Then, I have to remind myself that it's just a TV show. A lot of the bad singers are probably aware, and are just trying to get some face time on network TV.

But, then once in a while you see someone who really looks like they are actually hurt by the criticism. Of course, they don't belong in the entertainment business if they can't take it, but it's not really amusing to me when I think they have thrown an innocent to the wolves.

On the other hand, you really can see the pros coming from a mile away. There was one guy last week who was already a professional backup singer. He walked in with all the confidence in the world, delivered a professional audition, and was passed to the next round without question.

Of course, then you wonder.... what's the point? The show sells itself as a vehicle for unknowns, but the the finals are usually dominated by professionals. But, Idol isn't the only reality show that does that. More often than not, these "normal" people are really Actors and Models. Back in the 70's my Actor friends used to try to get on "The Gong Show" to get face time. The didn't care if they got gonged or not, they just wanted time on TV.