Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Youve read the reviews:The Idolistoxicandnauseating,offering onlyhollow, vacuous titillation.
But what if thats what makes it good?
Where others see a noxious display of celebrity ego, they see a sharp Hollywood satire.
Where others see torture porn, they see black comedy.
Where others see World Class Sinner, they see World Class Sinner (Sex Noise Remix).
Take-wise, these people are sitting on valuable property.
(Still room for growth on that one, but act fast.
It will be tapped out soon.)
Are you just a freak (yeah) who wants to join the pro-Idolbandwagon early?
Heres a step-by-step guide to gettingIdol-pilled.
Step 1.
Accept a certain level of self-regard in Sam Levinsons writing.
Listen, no one is a bigger Sam Levinson skeptic than me.
I foundAssassination Nationovercooked and thoughtMalcolm & Mariewas the most annoying movie of 2021.
(As forEuphoria, Ive only seen one episode, theZendaya-in-the-diner one.
It was okay.)
Just say its, uh, camp?
Step 2: Accept its retro-sleaze wavelength.
Or maybe both at once.
The trueIdolfan embraces the slipperiness.
Accept that its funny.
Arecent episode ofThe Watchgot to the heart of the pro- versus anti-Idoldebate.
Every line reading that comes out of Rachel Sennotts mouth?
Hari Nef servingVanity Fairpop-culture writerprofile-doer?
Sure, you may say, all that stuff works.
But what about theotherhalf of the show, the part with the Weeknd being a horny vampire?
Who could watch that stuff without laughing?
Well, what if I told you …
4.
Accept that youre supposed to think Tedros Tedros is a loser.
We see him practicing his cheesy pickup lines in the mirror.
We see Jocelyn make fun of his rattail.
Hes pathetic, the Weeknd has said.
Well no, I dont think so, which means this is where I must part ways with theIdolstans.
