It's just kinda sad that you wouldn't even give something that could be dangerous to your child a listen, I mean what kind of parent would do something like that?
Well I'm going to try and be sympathetic here for a moment, it's very hard raising a child nowadays. Often both parents need to work just to keep the family going. Even if mothers (or fathers) stay home, they don't have the extended family to help like they used to. And you can't watch your kid 24 hours a day, you'll go insane. I completely understand all of that. The US is not an altogether great place to raise or be a kid right now.
However, I still say parents sound take some warnings more seriously. Especially when experts offer an alternative (i.e. American Idol type shows). Not all warnings should be taken seriously, but somehow this one makes sense to me.
Also though, parents are way too trusting of the TV. They put their kids in front of it and trust that it will be just fine. They don't do the research. They think "Oh well, it's cute and popular, it must be fine." And when the kids are older and adoring pretty popular teen idols who end up disapointing them, the parents are left to do damage control. I have little sympathy there, heh. You need to do your homework, even with TV.