The sun always shines on TV.

Last night we were all drawn around my mother's computer, watching a video that was attached to an email that had been forwarded to her by some friend or family member. It was "inspiring", "beautiful", "hopeful", etc. It was a 12-minute video of a girl performing her heart out in front of X Factor judges, including Simon Cowell. Before she started singing, she revealed that she had been bullied in high school and middle school, and they went into this documentary segment about how she got to where she was. And one of the judges was a young female singer, about the age of the contestant, no doubt someone who's popular, but I don't know who she is cos I don't keep up with pop music these days. Apparently, this young star has, in her brief career, made a stand against bullying in her music and public persona. Apparently, she too was a victim when she was younger. She went up and hugged the emotional contestant. Then the girl sang, and you could just hear (and see) the pain of years of emotional suffering that she had gone through. Now, I'm a theatre person, but I have to say you can't fake that kind of pain that she showed as she was singing this song. And that's what the judges said. They were all moved and impressed. Simon was "choked up" and gave his best review ever. And everyone looked at the camera and said, "Take that, you bullies!"

But...These sweet moments are rare in this kind of program. In fact, I can't bear to watch them at all because of the bullying that takes place as the norm. Hopeful contestants come on and the judges routinely act like bullies, taking a big steaming crap on their hopes and dreams and talents. And that's what people watch them for is to see how insulting the judges can be, to see how they make the contestants cry. How self-serving and hypocritical to champion a young girl to get on the now-popular anti-bullying bandwagon. Would they ever be this kind and generous to all the contestants? Even if they suck, they're entitled to some dignity and respect, just for stepping out there in courage and trying to reach their dream. They don't need to be torn to shreds and sent home in tears. If you're going to be good, be good all the time.

Take that, you bullies!

As I was watching that segment, I was reminded of one of my favorite shows, Glee, which I had just watched. They just had their season premier. I was thinking about how that show has done so much to encourage and inspire young people. Less and less, people are afraid of being who they are, their true individual self. More and more, people are embracing their uniqueness. Sometimes I think the show tries too hard to push the diversity envelope. (I don't care for the new character, Unique, for example. I don't have a problem with crossdressing, but I do have a problem with the Sassy Pants attitude.) And why does Rachel's instructor have to such a bitch? I have a feeling it wouldn't really be like that.

All right, I may expand this later.