MANILA, Philippines?Singing reality shows are baaaaaaaaaack!

No, this will not be a comparison of ?Pinoy Dream Academy? from Endemol and ?Pinoy Idol? from Fremantle.

By now we are all familiar with the format: A group of hopefuls with a dream? a team of judges who will praise and/or criticize each performance on Saturday night? and a Sunday departure amidst tears and gracefully uttered good-byes. The only difference is that PDA has in-house coaches and teachers.

What does this writer have to say about said contests?

?Idol? junkie

First, allow me to admit that I am an ?American Idol? junkie, faithfully watching episode after episode and, whenever I?m in the US, voting for my favorites. This year, I was home in Manila for much of the competition so I wasn?t able to vote for my favorite, eventual winner David Cook. But I watched, nevertheless, playing couch critic. I?d probably be most akin to Simon Cowell, with his sharp tongue and brutal assessments? he?s the one thing that keeps me watching every season.

Sunday before last, I didn?t watch either PDA or ?Pinoy Idol,? but I did get some of the dirt eventually, at dinner with my brother Gerard and his wife. She had seen bits and pieces of that Sunday?s ?Pinoy Dream Academy,? including videotaped reactions of the scholars who were skewered by Gerard (who?s one of the judges). One shed copious tears after he ripped her apart with his ?smoke, mirrors and pretense? critique, and another muttered invectives under her breath because of his obvious dislike of her sexy interpretation of a song that was decidedly not sexy.

Let me tell you right now, he?s not going to get any nicer? unless he witnesses a truly stellar performance.

To be honest, I don?t like watching a judge be super-nice and super-sweet. That?s kind of a cop-out, and not necessarily an accurate reflection of how the real world can be. If you?re a singer and you?re unable to stomach a harsh criticism of your performance, then stay home and sing for your family who will applaud you and stand up for you, no matter what. Besides talent and stage presence, it?s necessary to be equipped with a strong stomach and a level head in order to take all these things with a grain (or even a bucket) of salt.

Clue in the critique

So, to the would-be stars of tomorrow on those shows, a piece of advice from someone who?s been performing longer than any of you have been alive: Take each piece of criticism in stride, no matter how harsh or unkind it?ll seem at first. There will be a clue in that critique as to how you can improve your performance for the following week.

For example, if a judge was averse to your song choice, take the time to think about the reason. Was the song right for your range? Did you totally miss the mark on interpretation?

Pay it forward

Figure out who you are and where your voice lies... have an intensive conversation and work session with your coach... be completely objective about your abilities? and go from there. Don?t expect to go from zero to hero in a week? this craft takes time? there are no instant results. But do expect incremental improvement. Those judges?and the audience? will take notice.

Don?t take it personally, as difficult as that can be.

And to the judges, my own two cents: Be honest. You owe it to the contestants to give it to them straight. It won?t do any of them any good for you to sugarcoat the bitter-tasting medicine you may have to deliver. At some point in your own careers, you were meted doses of it as well, and lived to tell the tale. So pay it forward, and let a new generation of performers feel your brand of tough love.

You?ve already proven to be generous with praise when it?s absolutely appropriate? and I know first-hand that you?re all very nice people.

Break a leg, everyone? this couch-critic will be watching.