'American Idol' hires people to yell at their contestants

"American Idol" has bused its 61 remaining contestants to Las Vegas, where they'll sing Beatles songs. For some reason they hired Peggy, a "vocal coach from hell" according to Ryan Seacrest, who screams at them and whose version of tough love seems to be to humiliate them on camera.

The contestants seem scared and confused. It's like they've become props for the narrative arc, just another second-rate reality show.

Then they bring in some music execs to hear them perform even though nobody's ready; they rip them apart. "It's not what we're looking for." 

After that, of course, they go see the Cirque du Soleil "Love" show (hmm, how much for that product placement?) and are all inspired and whatnot.

The more manufactured this show becomes, the fewer people watch.