In every city where tryouts are held, American Idol attracts upwards of 10,000 aspiring one (or fewer) hit wonders. (Justin who?) Obviously, Dawg Man, Drunky McSlurs-a-Lot and Sir Nastypants can’t personally audition that many wannabees in a few days. There has to be some sort of preliminary screening process, where someone decides who goes before the Three Douchketeers and, not incidentally, the largest viewing audience of any current show. Someone’s job is to eliminate the middling talents, and thresh out the most dynamic and the most awful/deluded/mentally disabled contestants to go before the cameras.
  Can you imagine a more horrible thing to hear from a network TV flunky? “Yeah, you’ve got a nice voice, but you’re not really great. And unfortunately, you don’t look like an escaped mental patient or sound like an alley cat being stuffed headfirst into an accordion, so you don’t get to meet the snarky Brit, the 80s pop star, or the former bass player for Journey.”
  I fear for the human race.

  Ever wonder how much retouching the images of print models undergo before publication? 
Check it out. Mouse-over for the before shots.