One of the most notorious was “Survivor Sucks,” a forum to discussSurvivor.
Other shows found discussions on that platform, including a subforum known as “Vote for the Worst.”
Eventually moving to its own GeoCities website, the page was dedicated to upendingAmerican Idol.
Image via FOX
Beginning in Season 3, the first honor, shockingly, went toJennifer Hudson.
As a source for shocking content and bombshell news,VFTW became the antagonist of the series.
In Season 3, the longest-tenured contestant was John Stevens, from Top 10 to Top 6.
Image via FOX
His ability to garner enough support to eliminate the likes of Jennifer Hudson proved that this experiment worked.
The following season broughtScott Savolall the way to the Top 5, a place he didn’t deserve.
Perhaps the most infamous beneficiary of the troll site was Sanjaya Malakar.
The longest-running recipient was Season 9’s Tim Urban.
And that’s where VTFW becomes interesting.
American Idolis infamous for a string of winners who just happened to do the same thing.
‘American Idol’ made more than music megastars.
They made Broadway stars!
Eventually expanding to other programs likeDancing with the StarsandAmericas Got Talent,VFTW was the voice of the people.
And yet, VFTW, as it was, would never function today.
Through the lens of cyberbullying, VFTW would be admonished.
The troll site may have been the precursor to the beacon of viral opinions that Twitter eventually became.
Has the VFTW concept just rebranded itself, or have talent competition show fans fallen off the schadenfreude kick?
Butas long as VFTW was relevant, so wasAmerican Idol.
Perhaps reality television shows need voices of dissent to truly thrive and function.
Today’s iteration of talent competitions has softened.
They’ve been sanitized, perhaps turning too nice.
There needs to be some aggravated voices to take the opposition, otherwise it just becomes bland.
American Idolairs Sundays at 8:00 pm on ABC.
