American Idol judges get credit for helping viewers make up their minds when it's time to vote. But at least one web site may have as much power, and it picks the worst.
FOX’s phenomenal hit reality show, American Idol, is going strongly into its sixth season with a brand-new field of competitors. After two elimination shows, judges and fans alike have expressed surprise at the voting results. The show is actually notorious for strange voting, as many singers who perform badly get voted through time and again.
Just a reality TV fluke, or is there a deeper reason? Are American Idol viewers picking the worst…on purpose? One influential web site could be the cause behind the rise of some not-so-singing-sensations. When the judges act shocked that a contestant made it through, it might just be the work of an increasingly popular American Idol web site known as Vote for the Worst.
Some fans might be surprised to see who made it on the list of Worst American Idol Performances, as many fans are surprised during the Idol results show each week. After America votes, certain singers are sent packing while others get to stay on. Each week, it seems at least one contestant who totally bombed a performance gets okayed to the next round. Even so, many Idol contestants go on to singing stardom. One finalist who made it on the Worst list was American Idol 5 contestant Kellie Pickler, who has a gold record despite surprising Idol viewers with a few notably bad performances in the past.
According to Reality TV magazine, some competitors might owe their Idol longevity to the web site and its followers alone. The magazine even suggests that some performers who know they are failing ought to be sure and bomb completely – thus securing the important Vote for the Worst bid to stardom. Each week, the site nominates another Worst and beseeches visitors to cast their vote in this direction.
Why does this site do this? Because Vote for the Worst has a mission to nominate Idols that the judges and producers of the show would hate to see win. It’s as good a reason as any, as far as reality TV voting goes. Kellie Pickler and Idol winner Taylor Hicks from American Idol 5 are claimed among the Worst’s victories, as well as American Idol 6 competitor Antonella Barba.
When fans have trouble deciding who’s the best, they can always check in with Vote for the Worst and nominate the bad apple of the bunch. After all, one of them has to win. Who says it has to be the best?
