Uhh not really...

*tries to control hysterical laughter*

Yes.Let's look at the british version, X Factor- Leona Lewis was produced from that. Carrie Underwood and David Archuleta are VERY Talented. At the beginning stages then maybe no.But even then they are only putting the bad singers there to make people watch and that's what it does, if all you saw was all these Mariah's, Whitney's and Justin's then it wouldn't be as popular as it is. But the fact is that the winner of these type of shows CAN SING and therefore has talent. And even if the person you want to win doesn't at least you can probably expect an album from them.

It's a popularity contest, talent is a factor in it, but in the end it's about who wins the most votes. And the audience is not a good judge of talent, but more so of who has the prettiest face.

And how many people decide to go and prove they can sing?
A bunch right?
and how many of them cam actually "sing"?

A big, loud, obnoxious PFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!!!!

LOL =]

And how many people decide to go and prove they can sing?
A bunch right?
and how many of them cam actually "sing"?

I think 12 are in the finals so quite alot and like 100 in boot camp so yeah
And as I said if there weren't those people there then nobody would watch.
Not everyone can be discovered so easily. Leona was a recording artist before she went on X Factor but nobody noticed her. Talent is everywhere if we only really looked but who has that much time to be searching through America to find it without these shows we wouldn't see these people who do have real talent

And do you really think that American Idol is watched to discover people with talent (yeah perhaps those are their intentions? But why do you think people the viewers watch AMERICAN IDOL? To see has greater talent? Or for the entertainment?

Im not trying to put down these "singers" i give tehm props for the guts! heck i wouldnt be able to go through that! But the reality of it is these people bassically go into these things hoping to make it big because theie parents/friends encourage them by saying "yeah man you're great im sure you'll make it!" but thats jsut family and friends they have to encourage you othere wise they're a**holes

The entertainment comes with talent.
The overall winner has TALENT!!

Yes there is some talent there, but I would not at all say that it symbolizes talent. For something like that you would go to a real singing competition.

But it does not symbolize ALL talent but at least it symbolizes some talent in the public.

pretty much what hellgirl said.
I'll put it this way, i hate most pop,dance & rap music (personal taste) But i have a lot of respect for anyone who can make a living out of it, especially if it's what they love to do.
That is a talent.

However i think the show would be better if there was a more varied music type in it. Like when Tabby (i think that's what his name was) was in it he played stuff like the Kinks & that was refreshingly different ^_^

A lot of the people in these contests are highly backed up just by their home towns, families, friends, etc. In the last Australian Idol there was 2 guys in final 2...one had been chasing the dream to become a singer his whole life, had been writing songs, in bands, doing gigs trying so hard. He teamed up at one point with a member from Silverchair (famous Australia band) but didn't get that famous bit because of money and such. Now the other guy was a sheep shearer and admitted that he will always be a sheep shearer...he just liked singing, he enjoyed it. He had one tone though, the fact that he was from the country got every country person backing him up like anything to the final 2 which was ridiculous he got that far (luckily he didn't win because i doubt he would have used the contract and such to good use)

But yeah, it's not always about talent, it's about where you're from, what you look like, etc etc.

well sometimes

They have nice voices but... I mean... no, it doesn't symbolize talent.

Plus, that show is boring beyond belief.

I think Taylor Hicks is proof that it doesn't symbolize talent.

I love American Idol. If you say Amreican Idol does not symbolize talent then you cant say any talent show on tv from any country has talent. though on all the talent shows you have 2 have the look & voice & fans & talent 2 become famous just like in every single country.

Not really. William Hung sold something like 40,000 copies in the first week of his album being out. And he didn't even make it to boot camp! It's basically a "who can be the most amusing person" show.