Blog by Sean Gehon, Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Since the success of talent search juggernaut American Idol, copy cat shows like Rockstar, and You’re the One That I Want have emerged in an attempt to duplicate its achievements. Even CBS attempted to revive its classic talent show Star Search. All of these shows have had varying degrees of success, or lack there of, but none have received the ratings and eventual success of American Idol. This summer, one reality show is getting another kick at the can, and maybe, just maybe, will have a more memorable run.

America’s Got Talent is certainly a debatable title for NBC’s summer reality competition. Last season saw judges Brandy, David Hasslehoff, and Piers Morgan searching for America’s next best amateur act. Unlike most of today’s talent competitions, America’s Got Talent isn’t picky. If you can sing, dance, strip, play the accordion while backing a soufflé, you have what it takes to make it on the show. Whether or not you should be on the show is an entirely separate issue. In my humble opinion, this just goes to show that television execs are getting desperate to topple American Idol as the number one show in America.

With the recent removal of Brandy as one of Talent’s judges, I find myself wondering who actually won the first season of the show. That seems like a bad sign if you can’t even remember who won one of these reality shows. Let’s face it, even if you’ve never watched American Idol, you could probably name at least two of its winners, maybe even a couple losers. As a self proclaimed reality television junkie, I’m shocked to discover that I have no idea who won the first season. Luckily with the ever growing vastness of the internet, I did a little research into this subject.

Eleven-year-old Bianca Ryan triumphed over the rest as she became America’s, allegedly, best undiscovered talent. I find it quite entertaining that she was named the winner, simply because I picked up her album yesterday while shopping, asked myself who she was, and walked away from it. While investigating this eleven year old ‘prodigy’, I discovered that she really is the poor man’s American Idol. Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner, released her debut album Thankful in April of 2003. The album went on to sell over two million copies in the United States alone. Bianca Ryan however, failed to make an impressive dent on the music industry. Ryan’s debut album landed on the charts at number fifty-seven and went on to sell just over fifty thousand copies. Somehow, Bianca has landed a five record deal with Simon Cowell’s SYCOmusic.

How does an eleven-year-old reality television winner with a less than stellar debut album wind up with a five record deal? The fact that Bianca Ryan remains unmemorable to me should stand for something. Honestly, I’m so addicted to reality TV that I could tell you who placed fourth in the first season of American Idol (Tamyra Gray if you’re curious) and who won the only season of The WB Superstar USA (Jamie Foss for any of you who have any idea what I’m talking about). Shouldn’t the winner of a show like America’s Got Talent at least be memorable? Maybe I’m just hoping for too much.

The only reason I can think for the return of NBC’s ‘hit’ show is the fact that their winner signed a multi record deal after winning the one million dollar prize. Does this necessarily warrant a second season? I certainly don’t think so. Will anyone watch the second season of Americas Got Talent? I know I probably won’t. A show that is hunting for amazing talent is just another excuse to try and leach off of American Idol’s success.

Bianca Ryan, I can only wish you well. You’re young, perhaps one day you’ll grow into a talented young adult, or maybe you’ll fade into the background along with Survivor winner Richard Hatch. America may think you have talent, I… have no idea who you are.

Sean (The BLOG is back! Sorry if you missed it!)

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