Hey you suck, now go on tv and show the world for the sake of our ratings

So this week we watched the best and worst of American Idol auditions for class. The best ones were well deserving, but the worst ones? give me a break. I want to know how some of these people made it past the first screening in the giant stadiums. Seems to me that they are just getting let through for some sort of comedic value for the show. If there were only good contestants auditioning on television, ratings would probably not be as high during the first round. People love to watch bad performances by others, seems like they get off on it. I have always wondered if they know they are getting let through because they are horrendous, or do they actually think they will be the next American Idol. Just seems a bit malicious to be completely humiliating these people in front of a national audience.