Does anyone else feel like this show is staged? Something about the grinning contestants just doesn't sit well with me. They always seem like perfect good-sports, who smile even when they loose. Their voices always seem anywhere from average to great. I just feel like they are actors, and the whole show is faked.
Do you think it's real?
Hi,
It's real. Maybe the reason it seems like that is that what ends up being a 22 minute episode on TV is actually a 3-hr taping edited down. The Contestants don't know whether or not they'll be picked out of the crowd of other contestants. They've all been briefed, however, on what to do if they are. They are told how the company would like them to behave on camera, and they're told that they might have to retake or reshoot certain moments. When the contestants get something wrong, they're first reaction sometimes isn't appropriate for family TV. Sometimes, they have to retake that moment three to four times before they get something they can air.
The contestants are definitely real people, and they definitely don't know if they're going to get chosen. When they are, it takes several minutes for them to calm down when they get up there. None of that is going to be aired because it's several minutes of total chaos. Sometimes, when they're wrong about something, they argue. When that happens, the producers have to come down and show them a replay of what they said/sang and compare it to lyric sheets. That takes time. After they realize they're truly incorrect, they normally feel a little silly about it and when they reshoot the losing moment, they're not quite so animated about it.
When I was on the show, I was so hyper, I literally screamed myself hoarse. I lost my voice for about three days. I assure you--it's real!
I'm in the Music Dept. on the show. Not sure if you've watched every episode but there are definately some people that can't sing. Also, you have to remember that a taping for a one hour show takes 3 or 4 hours. The contestants get tired, the audience gets tired, Joey gets tired. Before we roll the director always reminds everyone to get excited. When it is all editted together the audience has to look as excited during the last hour as they were initally...which is called continuity. Also, the contestants, whether they win or not are usually excited because they are on a stage in front of 300+ people with a live band, dancers... who wouldn't be a sport about that kind of attention? :)
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