why are Americans so quick to praise??

Recently, with all this reality competition stuff going on, I've realized that the audiences react way to quickly, and applaud every little thing a person does. for example, on American idol. these contestants will sing an "F" or something really not that impressive, but judging by the audience's response, you would think they are the second coming or something.

or like with last comic standing, they do a three minute set, and sometimes it's not even that funny, but they get a freaking standing "O" at the end of it, and they didn't do anything.

at musicals, the performances can be lackluster, but the audience always stands. it annoys the crap out of me. I'm all for giving praise where and when praise is due, but why do people nowadays applaud mediocrity so easily with no standards of what differs "good" from exceptional?

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Updated On: 8/17/06 at 12:25 PM

Stephen Sondheim offered a good take on this in the documentary film, Broadway: The Golden Age. His feeling is that, partially due to the increasing ticket costs of shows, audiences feel the need to somehow made the show MORE their own...to involve themselves in the show somehow to make them feel they've gotten their money's worth. And I tend to agree.

I also feel that mediocrity is more and more commonly accepted. Theatre, like so many other things these days, is being produced for the masses -- rather than for intelligent, discerning tastes. It's pretty easy to impress an audience who hasn't seen much to compare.

I think I can answer this question. Recently I attended a taping of Rockstar: Supernova. I feel audiences are so quick to react because majority of the time it is forced. Coming back from commerical, introducing the next singer, after judges comments, exiting to commercial there would be countdowns by the producers to start clapping. Also, after the show finished taping the producers would go back to spots in the show and tell us all to clap and scream louder. At commerical breaks the warm up guy would come on stage and tell us to be more more more. I felt it got to the point where we were all being so fake in order to please the producers. Finally, when i watched the episode air I totally could tell they edited in tons more clapping then we did and random places. At least for reality tv I would have to say that is the case.

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I will speak to the other side of this dilemma. I love theatre, concerts, and live performances. I am not trained in voice or dance. I think this ignorance is bliss and I am SO HAPPY I have this openess. I have many friends who are musicians, singers, actors and they always seem to have a gripe. "She is singing flat" "He is off-key", "that oboe is sharp", "She's singing under the music", or "they aren't keeping time with the music."

I think if someone wants to look for the worst or is trained to single out mistakes subconsciously due to their education, I feel sorry for them. They miss so much. I stand up and scream and yell for many performers who my "trained" friends scoff at. I give credit for the performance. Performers make mistakes, sound bad, have off nights, etc. I go with the overall commitment to the piece or the evening.

I think many people are truly entertained by the package and too busy enjoying the performance to nitpick a missed note or flat delivery. I guess it means they might be in their "heart" and not their "head." Truly open to the performance and not looking for flubs. I know many would think of me and others as igonorant and "not knowing better" than to stand, but maybe we are just enjoying ourselves and having a great time.

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Right, which saddens me for some people that a little thing like that can ruin the experience for them. Rarely is anyone ever perfect and I am so glad that my ears are not trained to pick out imperfections. Critique is one thing-singling out mistakes with a fine tooth comb is another.

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for example, on American idol. these contestants will sing an "F" or something really not that impressive, but judging by the audience's response, you would think they are the second coming or something.

Totally agree. For example, I didn't care for Chris Daughtry at all, yet most of America did. *shrug*

Also... It really confuses me when Emeril throws a garlic glove onto a hot skillet and everyone freaks out.

Also... It really confuses me when Emeril throws a garlic glove onto a hot skillet and everyone freaks out.

That's nothing compared to what they'll do when Ron Popeil injects some garlic into a chicken.

"...is trained to single out mistakes subconsciously due to their education..."

That is it in one. Some of us are TRAINED to notice these things, because we DO these things. We're not just audience members, and when someone goes to see a show with one of us, you need to understand that it is virtually impossible for us to simply enjoy the process, because in our heads, we're going through it with the people onstage.

I have played many theatrical scores, and because I have actually *performed* these works, I have internalized them, and when I hear a wrong note in the oboe or one of the second altos in the chorus is flat and screws up the whole chord, my response is immediate and organic. I don't sit there and LOOK for these mistakes...I notice them right away because my body and my mind are finely trained TO RESPOND to them.

It's a fine distinction, but one that must be made.

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