Orchestrated Outrage

The "Idol" panel convened Saturday at a press event to give assembled media a dose of common sense after a seson-opener that caused a national furor over whether judges were being "too mean" to auditioners. "It's It is part of the fun and wackiness of the show," Simon Cowell said when grilled about last week's taped tryouts from Seattle. A show producer on hand also confirmed that everything that goes on air in the closely watched singing contest is carefull considred for maxium impact - and press attention. "People like the bad singers...we have to look at what will bring the ratings in, especially when it's the sixth season and you want to bring the ratings in."
In reality, nothing unusual happened last week. The British producers of the money-minting show kicked off the season with a jolt of well-planned controversy that put the season-opener on the front pages.