Why is American Idol limited to ages 16-29? Are there no undiscovered 30 yr. olds?

[pnwmom]

Forty year olds?

Forty-seven year olds?

Although ageism is clearly a factor in "Britain's Got Talent" (witness Simon's rolling eyeballs upon hearing Susan Boyle's age) -- at least an older person has a chance there.

[Deja Q]

1. Because America is more an ageist nation than the UK...

Hell, one would think Russell T Davies is covertly running this country (he produced a popular British sci-fi show and openly said that he would never want anyone older than 45 playing it... even though the first three lead actors the show ever had were all older than 45...)

Ageist scum...

[Brazenly Liberal]

15. Um, no. Wrong

Both the American and British versions of "Idol" - American Idol and Pop Idol - have age limitations and are also limited to singers. And both the US and Britain have companion shows - America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent - with no age limitations and any talent will do.

[Brazenly Liberal]

18. Forgot to add ---

The reason both Pop Idol and American Idol were conceived with age limitations is strictly financial. The winner is offered a recording contract with Simon Cowell's company. He wants to sign people who will appeal to the age group that buys the most records/tickets and who will have a long career ahead of them, bringing in many $$$$ (or pounds)

[blue_onyx]

22. Actually, older people are allowed on the UK show

I'm not sure if there was an age limit on their original American Idol type show (Pop Idol) but the current version (The X Factor) allows older people. They divide people into categories, like "25 and older" and "16-24." They also allow groups/duos which I think is a good thing.

[Brazenly Liberal]

32. That's a different show

and I agree with you that the way "X Factor" is done is much better. :)

[blue_onyx]

35. Yeah, I know it's a different show

Since "Pop Idol" hasn't aired since 2003, I thought it was better to compared "American Idol" with "The X Factor."

[realisticphish]

23. dude, the first doctor sucked

yeah, yeah, i know, blasphemy, but he did suck.

[Brazenly Liberal]

34. So did Peter Davison

the 5th(?) Doctor - the one who wore celery in his lapel. I'm sure he was a nice enough guy and fine in other roles, but he was totally wrong as the Doctor. My faves were Tom Baker and David Tennant.

[realisticphish]

36. oh, definitely

I liked Chris Eccleston too, but Tenant fit much better

[keroro gunsou]

44. infidel!

the 5th doctor was nice, a change from the manic energy of the 4th. the 5th reminds me a lot of david tennant, though tennant's got a lot more cheek than the 5th.

[Aviation Pro]

2. Because Americans like pretty, vapid things....

...with no talent whatsoever. The exception, of course, is Jennifer Hudson.

[Fendius]

3. im undiscovered.( and 30, you can all help a dem,)

Im an undiscovered 30 year old,) www.myspace.com/matthewmaisey
These shows are just like any other marketing machine though, The music industry has the age thing down to exact science and know how to exploit it as well, They know that age group will sell more to the youngest most manipulating listeners..
And if you do take a listen, thx,)

[OKNancy]

4. Susan has some competition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgArfS0p9q4

[pnwmom]

9. He's a good warbler, but not real competition, IMO.

Susan's heart and soul was in her song. This boy's performance was just that -- a performance.

[CBR]

11. Very talented young man but, sigh, he is cute so no fandom at

DU. On another thread a talented saxophonist was posted but to no avail, he, too, was good looking.

[OKNancy]

27. Yeah, but he is ethnic looking. Maybe Arabic??

That should get him a few points here.

[pnwmom]

43. That's not the reason. He's very competent, but too young

to have the passion in his singing that she does.

[JI7]

29. why did Simon stop him the first time and say he is doing it wrong ?

[rvablue]

5. "America's Got Talent" which is the equivalent of the British show Boyle was on

doesn't have an age limit.

I don't watch it but I think an older male opera singer won it the first season.

I think he was a cop (?), very heavy and in his late 30s early 40s.

But like I said, I have never watched the show, just some dim memories of this.

[ejpoeta]

12. i thought he was a cell phone salesman. but i don't remember really.

i tend not to watch that stuff much.

[MUAD_DIB]

21. Paul Potts?

[ejpoeta]

40. i don't think so. wasn't that guy from britain? was paul potts the cell phone salesman??

oh. well, i didn't really remember.

[Muttocracy]

37. Paul Potts won 1st season of Britain's Got Talent

http://talent.itv.com/

[BlooInBloo]

6. Susan Boyle.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. Taylor Hicks was the oldest looking 29 year old I've ever seen in my life.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Try Antiques Road Show.

Well, it's just an idea.............

:rofl:

[Muttocracy]

38. Whole new meaning to the title! :-)

[demobabe]

10. I think we need a DU Idol competition!

Surely we could publish a compilation CD of DU's finest...

[Fendius]

14. Im in,)

[Warpy]

13. They seem to be looking for youthful lounge singers

and the rare few who can go onto the stage in musical productions.

They're not looking for the greatest talents. They're looking for commercially viable young people.

[donco]

20. Well we do have a lounge. nt

[Brazenly Liberal]

16. Answer above

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5490713&mesg_id=5490939

[DJ13]

17. Young singers are an easier sell

The record producers (cough....Simon...) want vapid young people they can turn into pop stars, which they can use to sell records for a couple of years before they move on to the next vapid young person they can turn into another pop star.

The contestants are disposable, interchangeable, and arent thought of as talent, just commodities.

[JDPriestly]

19. Because age discrimination is so common no one even thinks about it.

[Captain Hilts]

24. We prefer young and pretty over here. nt

[earth mom]

25. In this country age 30 is over the hill.

Except I grew up in Southern California and I remember feeling over the hill at age 25. :yoiks:

[MiniMe]

26. She was on Britain's Got Talent, America's twin is America's got talent

And there is no age discrimination on that show. I watched one year with the rappin granny on it, she was great! So in this case, you are comparing apples and oranges.

[pnwmom]

42. Doesn't matter. None of these competitions should restrict older adults. n/t

[JI7]

28. AI is about more than just someone who can sing well, that's why they comment on style, looks etc

Simon has commented many times about how someone has a great voice but they don't have the "looks" to be "American Idol" .

this is why someone like Britney Spears was able to make it big. you could easily find people who are much better singers than she is but they either don't have the looks or don't want to do the whole image makeover and marketing thing.

[anonymous171]

30. They aren't trying to discover anyone. They are trying to create pop stars. nt

[Fendius]

41. Exactly, summed it all up with this...

[Codeine]

31. Not the same program format.

American Idol is precisely geared to discovering marketable singing stars, as is the original British series Pop Idol. America's Got Talent is the equivalent of the show Boyle was on -- older folks compete in both versions of that program.

[MrSlayer]

33. It's a teenybopper pop show.

They aren't looking for actual talent. AI is a joke.

[chrisa]

39. Because the 'American Idol' is a doll.

A Barbie doll.

No brains necessary.

[4lbs]

45. Just look at Sanjaya's crying fan girl as proof of the audience A.I. is aiming for with it's

contestants. The pre-teen and teen market prefers 16 to 29 year old singers.

I can't recall many 13-19 year old kids, male or female, swooning over a 30+ singer or band that features people that are older. At least not those living in my area, popping their eardrums on iPods.

I mean come on, the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, and Paris Hilton, released music albums aimed at this demographic.