Am I really positive about talent shows?

I think I am.  Well, one.  Okay, the one I just read about but have never watched.

Superstar K is a Talent Search show on Korean channel Mnet.  I don't know that I have ever even glimpsed programming of theirs.

The Chosun Ilbo has an article describing how 1.9 million people are auditioning for the show this year.

I can definitely see the negative side of such enthusiasm.  As the Chosun says:

The deluge of audition programs has raised concerns about their side effects, as many of the students who turn up to compete do so at the expense of their studies. ...

There are even signs that people may be jeopardizing their professional lives in order to compete, as they jump from one audition to another with little regard for their employers in their bid to find a shortcut to stardom.  

Yes, there are serious risks, but this seems more benign than lotteries, where -despite public works being sponsored by such - the participants mostly lose money.  Here, even the one not selected gain some experience, some individualism and some self-actualization from the process.  I see this as something I would not choose to do but also as a great incubator for creativity.