Rosie vs. the free market

Rosie O’Donnell has decided to challenge the hit show American Idol:

“It’s terribly sad to me,” O’Donnell said during a harsh six-plus minute Idol attack broadcast on Thursday morning’s The View. “I don’t think America likes to watch people be ridiculed, made fun of, and called ugly monkeys, or that they’re too fat or they’re a degenerate… it’s an absurd concept that this is what’s tolerable now as consumption in America for mass media.”

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“Isn’t that what America thinks is entertainment — to make fun of someone’s physical appearance and then when they leave the room, laugh hysterically at them?”

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“I think there should be more social responsibility on [the judges and producers'] end… and personal responsibility,” she said. “It’s gone beyond a musical critique… they’re making fun of their features, their weight, it’s just not right.”

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“If you keep serving people crap and telling them its a meal, eventually they’re going to think it’s a meal,” said O’Donnell. “But humilation, in this capacity, of people who are obviously not able to make a decision on whether they are strong enough to handle national humilation, I dunno.”

If this were the first season of American Idol, I may have been able to see Rosie’s point. However, the Fox television hit is in its sixth season. There should be no surprises to the general public or to the contestants. The judges have always been critical of talent and apparently America likes it. Why else would 32 million people voluntarily tune in to see the show this week?

Rosie is simply trying to push her views as “socially responsible”. In reality, she is trying to prevent the free market from working.

The great thing about televisions is that they can be turned on and off and there are various channels to choose from. In addition, individuals are able to watch any program of their choosing. If they do not like something, they are not forced to watch it, they can simply change the channel. Television is a great example of the free market at work. Hundreds of channels of entertainment are but a click away and each individual can choose to watch whatever he/she is interested in. The fact that 32 million individuals voluntarily chose to watch American Idol seems to suggest that the free market has deemed the show entertaining.

Also, no one is being forced to show up for the American Idol auditions. The show offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to would-be singers. Individuals voluntarily show up for the competition and sign a waiver that allows the show to use any part of their audition on television. These individuals know that they are likely to be ridiculed if they cannot sing or dress in strange garb.

Those who participated in the first season of American Idol may have had a chance to gripe because they had no previous information. However, as we know from rational expectations, individuals are unlikely to be fooled twice. If a show ridicules poor performers in the first period, those in the following periods who fear such ridicule will not take part in the future auditions.

Individuals have perfect information heading into the auditions and voluntarily choose to participate. American viewers love to watch — not only the bad performers, but the good performers, as well. Rosie should let the free market work. After all, if viewers grow tired of Simon’s ranting, disapproval is but one click away.