What do you get when you take the show that gave America thesinging 'Velvet Teddy Bear' and combine it with Stage Parents?
You get the latest FOX reality television show, "AmericanJuniors."
"American Juniors" follows a similar format of its predecessor"American Idol," except kids are the contestants and parents seeingdollar signs are the entertainment.
The moms and dads bringing their children to this competitionhave dreams of their child being the next Ruben Studdard.
These determined moms and dads should slow down and take thetime to examine the past of children stars in television, music andsports, who were burned out before they were 20 years old.
A young talent should be developed and not shoved into thegrown-up world of entertainment. Sometimes a child's mind cannothandle the limelight and pressures of being a superstar.
America watched the three child stars from "Diff'rent Strokes"become drug addicts, robbers and a security guard.
And then there is the story of Jennifer Capriati.
Once Capriati was a 14-year-old tennis prodigy. Capriati rackedup $5 million in endorsements before she played a pro match. Herparents, Stefano and Denise, watched the big bucks roll in andlater watched their daughter spin out of control.
Capriati was arrested in the mid 90s for theft and drugpossession. Since Capriati has matured, she has become a grand slamchampion and one of the top players on the tour.
Not until recently has Capriati enjoyed success on the women'spro tour.
Some child prodigies turn out to be successful out of the blockslike Tiger Woods, Venus and Serena Williams and JustinTimberlake.
Those four success stories have inspired parents to have milliondollar dreams for their babies.
Stage parents across America will now pay close attention to thedevelopment of three young men, one who cannot drink alcohol yet,the other can not legally drive and the third just finished pottytraining.
If 18-year-old LeBron James, 13-year-old Fredy Adu and threeyear old Mark Walker make good on the mega dollar endorsement shoedeals, more and more parents will try to use their offspring as aget-rich-quick device.
Little Mark Walker, a basketball prodigy, is a prime example ofhow far parents are going these days pimpin' their children afterhis parents signed a deal with Reebok.
Walker's mom LaShawn said, "our Mark has the heart, drive andambition to succeed. We hope that when people see him play theyrealize that good things really can happen to hardworkingpeople."
How is he hard working at three? A three-year-old can barelytalk let alone develop their low post game.
So, stage parents, out there, let your children enjoy theirchildhood. They will have plenty of time to work hard when they areadults.
Parents, stop the madness or before long newspapers andtelevisions report that a major shoe company has signed anembryo.
