Don't judge 'em

As I flipped through channel after channel today evening, all I ended up seeing was one reality television show after another. America's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, Survivor or some celebrity rehash of it whose name I cannot remember... There's a whole lot of reality on TV! And honestly, not all of it feels very "real." But that's not what this post is about. This one is more focussed on the kinds of celebrities that are making the cut as judges on most of these television shows. 

Some of the judges that we see on popular shows seem to have become famous after they became judges! Contradicting what I would have believed to be conventional wisdom that suggests someone is super successful, very famous and a star who then brings his or her expertise to the judging ring. Somehow many of the the people who didn't make it very far as artists have now become these uber chic celebrity judges who are asked for their opinion week after week. It strikes me as truly bizarre! These moderately successful people who were often at the receiving end of brickbrats from critics the world over for their albums or singles dole out advice on how to make it to a bunch of young hopefuls. Maybe it's because they were scrutinised so much as creative artists that their "judging" skills have upped a few notches... who knows!

For instance, take Paula Abdul. Sure, she's a household name now across most of North America, thanks to American Idol and her spats with co-producer Simon Cowell. But honestly, ask yourself this. Can you even remember a memorable song from her? For the life of me, I can't! All I do remember of her is that in the Nineties (or was it the Eighties?) she reminded me of a poor man's version of a Madonna-like diva. I can vaguely remember her winning something for choreography but that's about it! So unless she's a judge on the wrong show and was actually meant to make it to the So you think... set, but somehow ended up on a show about singing and music, I have no idea why she's a judge on one of the most-watched show in North America. Maybe I'm being a little too harsh here but you get the point. I truly cannot remember a tune that I can hum at the drop of a hat nor can I really visualise a video that I thought was phenomenal. And yet, she manages to share her expertise with young talent week after week, season after season. Maybe her calling lies in being a judge, who knows. But I guess I have trouble seeing how she is an authority on moulding artists to be a success when she wasn't someone who achieved that level of fame that most of these talents get by just making it through the rounds. Case in point, Sanjay Malekar who is now part of the celebrity-island-survivor-whose name I can't remember-show! 

Then take a look at David Hasselhof. Admitted that Baywatch was a world-wide success and has been translated into every possible language for televisions around the world but still. A judge on a talent show? Really? He judges people who sing (he did release a few singles I believe... and they were hits in Germany I think!) and it amazes me that he can bring a lack of musical talent as a judge and still make it work! Now that's talented!  

There are a bunch of other personalities who now set the standard of what's acceptable and what's not week after week. Whether they really have the skill, authority or expertise is entirely a whole other matter. In the meantime, whether I like it or not, many of these celebrity has-beens are finding a whole new career as judges. Just plain bizarre!