Musical competition shows continue to be one of television’s most popular reality TV subgenres.
Beginning in the late 1940s, “The Original Amateur Hour,” a television spin-off of a radio variety show of the same name, inspired many competition and talent shows in the following years.
Many shows came in, but it was “American Idol” that elevated the subgenre to new heights. Originally debuting in 2002, “American Idol” greatly impacted the television and entertainment industry, launching the careers of multiple popular music artists like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert and many more.
Since then, more shows like “American Idol” have managed to succeed and thrive independently. That said, as with every current reality TV show, many have questioned whether these shows are authentic.
While it would be wrong to say that these shows haven’t helped their contestants build successful careers in the music industry, to say that none of it is manufactured would be a lie.
Unfortunately, entertainment is the main priority for TV shows. There have been many controversies on “American Idol” and similar shows like “The Voice,” with judges rigging the voting due to favoritism or other biases. Additionally, there have been cases where producers would allegedly influence results toward their preferred contestants.
Regardless of reality TV’s controversies, the public still can’t get enough. While these shows can seem manufactured, they are an excellent tool to introduce new talent into the industry. Even when contestants don’t win, the popularity they gain while on the show is likely to help them score jobs within the industry.
Now, thanks to social media also playing a huge part in pop culture, the fan following of these contestants could grow even more.
