`IDOL' JUDGES EXCESSIVELY CRUEL THIS SEASON, SOME SAY.

Byline: DAVID KRONKE Television Writer

``American Idol'' has always mined amusement from its early season episodes highlighting the most disastrous auditions by deluded hopefuls dreaming of stardom.

As its sixth season opens, however, some are charging Fox's hit reality show with gratuitous cruelty.

During the Seattle auditions that aired last week, judge Simon Cowell -- famous for his withering insults -- told one contestant, Kenneth Briggs, that he looked like a ``bush baby.''

And Cowell also made fun of another, Jonathan Jayne, who The New York Times reported had participated in the Special Olympics.

Any criticism of the show, however, has so far not hurt its ratings. ``Idol'' was watched by an average of 37 million viewers in its first two episodes, its biggest season premiere ever.

On Saturday, Fox officials and the show's judges defended the program during a news conference for the series at the semiannual television press tour in Pasadena.

For his part, Cowell said he wasn't aware of Jayne's background.

``But I will say that to suggest that someone who had (been in the Special Olympics) shouldn't be allowed to participate in this competition smacks of censorship,'' he added.

``It may not always be pleasant to watch, but our job is not to be censors. We're trying to be representative of what happens.''

Point taken

As for his treatment of Briggs, Cowell replied, ``I take your point. It is a singing competition, and why should I call someone a `bush baby'?

``But that goes back to the appeal of the show. We've never tried to censor the show. Sometimes I'll say something and afterwards think, I wish I hadn't said that; why'd they put it in the show?''

Peter Liguori, president of Fox Entertainment, said insults are ``part of what makes `American Idol' `American Idol.' It's been on six years, and the judges have been critical for six years.

``The judges know what makes the show tick and this is just a continuation of what's been a very successful formula.''

Executive producer Ken Warwick admitted there has been some anger over the show's tone but noted ``others are saying, It's the best season yet; we love it.''

Not enough time

Warwick claimed there isn't enough time to do background checks on contestants appearing in episodes to assess whether judges' behavior is inappropriate toward vulnerable participants.

Nonetheless, after the session, Cowell said he had apologized to Briggs and said of Jayne, ``If he's offended, I apologize.''

Judge Paula Abdul admitted that Cowell says things that can be shocking.

``But you feel bad for laughing. You think, `Omigod.' But he's never changed.''

Thursday on ``The View,'' co-host Rosie O'Donnell assailed the show.

``Is that what America thinks is entertainment?'' she said. ``To make fun of someone's physical appearance and then, when they leave the room, laugh hysterically at them?''

Kellie Pickler, a season-five contestant appearing on ``The View,'' defended the series, saying, ``We all knew when we got in line for `American Idol' there was a chance we could be embarrassed on national TV.''

Going too far

Still, Bob Thompson, founding director of Syracuse University's Center for the Study of Popular Television, said he thinks ``American Idol'' may have gone too far.

``I have a really high tolerance for reality TV. I love watching arrogant people get taken down a few notches. On the other hand, I thought they totally overdid it. There were three or four people where you felt they should pick on someone their own size. It seemed cruel.

``I was really quite surprised. `American Idol' has been absolutely brilliant in everything they do,'' he added. ``This was the first time they've gone over to the dark side.''

``American Idol's'' cruel streak is hardly new. Last January, The New York Times assailed it as ``a program that teaches young people that it's extremely cool to be mean.''

It complained, ``Many (contestants) appear terribly vulnerable and some seem to border on mentally impaired. The fun is supposed to come from seeing the celebrity judges ... tell them that they are tone-deaf, fat, funny-looking or, in the case of one young man, `atrocious' and `confused.'''

Cowell said what the series doesn't show is that before auditions begin, the judges greet the contestants and warn them, ``If you aren't good, we'll give you a hard time, and if you don't want that, leave now.''

Nobody ever leaves, he added.

The show has also garnered controversy over Abdul's eccentric behavior, most recently during a series of satellite interviews with local TV stations.

Abdul attributed her performance -- widely distributed on the Internet -- to exhaustion and technical glitches.

``When I was watching myself, I thought, `Oh, god,''' she admitted. ``I've done these for years. I really am a veteran at doing these.''

That she's accused of being chemically enhanced, she said, ``is very frustrating.''

Cowell defended Abdul, with whom he routinely clashes on the show.

``Don't condemn someone for being wacky, because it makes it interesting,'' he said. ``I don't want to do a boring show.''

Thompson noted that ``Idol'' has weathered scandals in the past and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

``Most `American Idol' scandals, such as the idea of Paula having a relationship with a contestant, not only not hurt the show, but people were anxious to see the next episode to see how she's going to behave,'' he said.

As for the mean-spirited opening?

``Ultimately, this won't hurt `American Idol' one whit,'' Thompson said. ``This was a mistake made in the editing room. They'll make a course adjustment.'

david.kronke(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Fox officials and ``American Idol'' judges, including Simon Cowell, above, defended the program Saturday in Pasadena after recent criticism.

Rene Macura/Associated Press