Let me start by saying I am an American Idol fan, and tune in every week. The show has turned into as much of an addiction as coffee for me.
I work as a video editor for a local television station in my town. Each morning after American Idol airs I am responsible for putting together a two minute piece on the previous nights show to air during our morning newscast re-capping the performances and results for the contestants from North Carolina.
This season there have been several statements made on the show that have had our morning producers asking “Can we really air that?”
Every Tuesday and Wednesday night families all over America crowd around their television sets to watch the performances, and vote for their favorite singer. Those same comments that were ok to air at 8pm with millions of families watching, we are questioning for air at 7am with a much smaller viewership.
I’ve always thought that local television up until around nine was for the most part kid proof. There may be a few hairy spots in some of the programming, but never something that would need to be censored if it aired again in the morning.
One comment that comes to mind was when Simon referred to Kellie Pickler as a “naughty little minx”. The comment wasn’t particularly risqué, but it does bring up several adult themed conversations. Moms and Dads watching knew what he was talking about, but is that something you want to explain to your five year old who’s also in front of the television?
Is that a comment that is appropriate to air at 7am on the news while you’re getting your kids ready for school? Was it even appropriate to air in the first place?
FCC-wise the show is fine. There have been several comments this season however that made air during the show and were removed when the story aired on our news the next morning.
There have been several other comments made on the show that while not “inappropriate” have been mean-spirited, and projected an image that I might not want my child to emulate.
My question really lies in prime time “family” television in general, not just American Idol. This show is presented as a show families can get into watching together, so where do you draw the line given that younger audiences may be watching?