Here you’ll find mym’s bi-weekly low down on everything pop culture that oddly enough relates to all of us—whether we like to think so or not! So enjoy reading the commentaries and contributing to the discussions! This blog is being brought to you by “MITers @ UWO 4 mym” aka “The Acronym Lovers.”

Mean American Idol

American Idol is back at it. This is unabashed entertainment at its very best and it has taken hostage over minds and hearts everywhere. But what is it? The show professes to be a singing talent competition with the genuine hope to find that next undiscovered star, while at the same time the show appeals to those with much more malicious reasons to stay tuned—to ridicule the many disillusioned and untalented singers. If the ratings are any indication, American Idol does it (celebrate the good and make fun of the bad) very well. The judges (Simon, Randy, and Paula) have all taken a part in the criticism, but this year they have been under fire for mean comments made outside the arena of singing, including remarks about the physical appearances of contestants. Self-esteem is always a tricky issue. What is true about me (my singing and my looks) may not always be what I want to hear about myself. How someone accepts and uses criticism to her advantage is what good self-esteem is made of. It is also true that name-calling says more about the caller than the called. So when Simon nicknamed one of the contestants as Bush Baby, he was really unconsciously referring to how Hollywood is one mean jungle.