'Ritual Humiliation Of Young Singers': Behind The Scenes Of Aussie Singing Comps

While televised singing competitions have become one of the biggest hallmarks of 21st century culture, there’s no denying the negativity that they brought into the mix as well.

That’s exactly what the new LiSTNR podcast documentary The Moment It Changed: Touchdown is taking a look at, with the series premiering today, May 15th.

Focusing on the darker side of the singing competitions, the series – hosted by Nic Kelly – gets exclusive insights from former Australian Idol judges, and even winners and contestants of programs such as The Voice, The X-Factor, and even Popstars.

“We may have been A list celebrities back then, but I don't even think we'd make the Z list now,” explains Katie Underwood, who rose to fame as a member of Bardot after winning the debut season of Popstars in 2000.

From the dizzying highs to the lowest of lows, The Moment It Changed: Touchdown is a stark look at the realities of reality television, and how every aspect of the program was designed to serve ratings instead of singers and their talents.

“Australian Idol did require a bastard judge, and I guess I was happy to oblige,” remembers judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson. “I realised the role that Simon [Cowell, American Idol judge] played and how important that was to the show. And whether we like to admit this or not, ritual humiliation of young singers was kind of part of this.

“There had to be an element of jeopardy when the young hopeful stood in front of the judges and the cameras. And I was that jeopardy, I guess. I'd actually did a screen test for Idol for the producers. And really was a complete bastard. I went home that night and could not sleep and I felt awful and I talked it over with my wife. I went, ‘I'm not sure I can be the bastard judge.’”

“The bad singers, we were directed to keep them,” remembers former Australian Idol Executive Producer Stephen Tate. “That was part of the format, not a part of my career that I'm proud of, to ridicule somebody who clearly doesn't have talent is just cruel.

“Honestly, I think we were laughing at them, not with them,” Tate adds. “And I just don't think that's fair.”

The series also takes a serious look at some of the more infamous moments of shows such as Australian Idol, including a 2003 incident in which Dicko told Paulini she should either dress more appropriately or "lose a few pounds."

“Everyone fucking hated me,” Dicko remembers. Added Tate; “It was huge. The press was all over it. The mags were all over it. Breakfast radio was all over us the following morning.

“I have to say I wasn't comfortable, I didn't like seeing a young woman being made to feel self conscious about her body,” he added. “Did it need to be said? No, not really, but that was the format. In his professional world, he would say it behind closed doors directly to the artist. You, for once as an audience, got to see what we do almost every day in television.”

The series also speaks to former Idol contestant Rob ‘Millsy’ Mills about life after the spotlight, and even Casey Donovan, who quickly found herself dropped from her label in 2006 after winning the 2004 series.

“People would come in and I'd be answering phones and telling people to come in and, you know, getting their Medicare cards and they'd be like, ‘Um, aren't you Casey? Sorry. Aren't you Casey Donovan?’” she remembers. “I'd be like, ‘Yeah, yeah. Good morning. Hi. How are you? Just take a seat. The doctor will be out in a minute.’

“They'd be like, "‘Well, why? I voted for you. Why are you here?’ And I'd get this pity look and I was like, ‘I'm just here working a nine to five.’”

Despite the negative attention that Idol may have resulted in, Donovan also uses her appearance on the show to reflect on some of the positives, and to share a note of sympathy for those who have also gotten through the associated negativities of such a show.

“I will never bash Idol. It built me my career and it has given me the path and the step to get into this industry,” she remembers. “Yes, it could have done some different things, but at the end of the day, it's put me here.

“I can't remember who it was, [but they] got up at the ARIA and basically blasted all the Idol kids because [they] haven't worked hard and [they] haven't done the hard yards. It's like, mate, I dare you to go on a show like Australian Idol and come out the other side with your mind and your heart and your soul still intact because it was a different world.”

The Moment It Changed: Touchdown is available now via the LiSTNR app.

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