As the obscurity train known as “American Idol” continues to roll and dominate TV ratings for the third-straight season, since its debut as Uncle Sam’s version of England’s “Pop Idol,” an unorthodox star has emerged from the first-round cuts.
William Hung, a 21-year old student at the University of California-Berkeley, captivated the nation in laughter with his awful rendition of Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs.” Blessed with an unbelievable lack of rhythm and basic hand-eye coordination, Hung’s dance moves were nearly as dreadful as his voice, which consists of high-pitched broken English. After he was told, or perhaps demanded, to stop singing, the judging trio of Hollywood trash (Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul) all weighed in with their usual trite insults (aimed to not only shatter the contestant’s psyche, but to also boost their own egos), to which Hung innocently replied, “No training at all!”
Hung’s 15 minutes of fame did not stop there. He has appeared on several talk and radio shows around the country, including Ellen DeGeneres’ TV talk show “Ellen.” Not only is his career as a true B-list celebrity flourishing, he is now a living legend back at UC-Berkeley. Recently, the Hong Kong native performed at a girls’ volleyball game, drawing a crowd of hundreds.
While I tried to gain the perspective of the avid American Idol fans here on campus and what they think of William Hung, I was ultimately unsuccessful, as my inquiries were often answered with incoherent ramblings that included the terms “cute,” “seriously,” “Oh my God!” and a possibly unprecedented count of using “like” as a filler word between unclear or hesitant statements.
Everyone seems to be laughing at Hung and not with him. But the irony here is the triumph of enthusiasm over talent that makes Hung so alluring. In a show that screams cheesiness and makes its killing off the ears and eyes of millions of girls ages 12-25, Hung is the first “singer” to appeal to viewers who want to laugh. I personally always watch the first round of the show each season just to see the hilarity in people who truly believe they can sing and can’t even carry a tune.
While many hopefuls audition, get the boot and spit verbal tirades or woe-is-me speeches to the camera (which has served many of its own funny moments), Hung remains positive and has made the most of his opportunity. In a production that takes itself entirely too seriously, Hung has rolled with the punches and seems to be having a good time doing it. Part of an entertainer’s job is to entertain, and Hung truly fulfills that obligation. He may not posses much musical talent, but neither does Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard or Clay Aiken.
