Many people enjoy watching TV programs in which ordinary participants compete against each other by showing their talents. I agree that these shows are amusing. However, they are not an efficient way to scout potential superstars.
Talent shows are attractive because the audience can watch a random person, instead of a renowned star, do high-quality performances on the stage. For example, Susan Boyle used to be a worker in a small village before she won a prize thanks to her beautiful voice on a TV show in the UK. Even if some contestants fail to perform up to the standard, the audience will still regard this part of the show as funny.
This kind of show gives people the hope that as long as we stick to the activities that we love, we have a platform to showcase our abilities to the world. However, talent shows are not efficient in screening talented people. Thousands of people sign up for the competition at the beginning of the show. In the end, however, only a few names are remembered by the public. In addition, several years later, these winners do not become the top performers in their respective fields; most of them have even disappeared from the public.
In conclusion, talent shows provide the opportunity for ordinary people to show their abilities, but these abilities are below the professional level. In my view, the major function of these programs is still to provide pleasant content for TV watchers to pass the time.