For those of who actually care about American Idol -- and you have the random body part that Randy Jackson signed and haven't washed since to prove it -- there are some changes coming to the new millennium's answer to The Gong Show. Fox officials will confirm some of these changes at a press conference today to respond to rumors leaked to the Internet, that glorious wonderland of movie rumors and girl-on-girl pornography.
The Hollywood Reporter said a unidentified fan site received a staff memo from a show employee and leaked some of the potential changes. Sadly, none of them involve fitting the panel with dog shock collars that activate when they speak or letting Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten sit in as a guest judge.
The next season could focus less on the auditions and more on the actual competition, which would bring more focus on the talent and less focus on the talent that can make God cry. This has to be a bad move on their part because it violates the jungle law of reality television, which is to humiliate wannabes and losers for doing whatever they can to get on television.
I'm sure the people who tune in for the music (I'm guessing these people also watch the show in closed captioning) will find this a welcome change. However, it could alienate the sicker among us who get a schadenfreude boner when someone thinks they can sing just because they won a tri-county hog calling contest.
This also means the semifinal round will have more episodes than previous years . This will give the audience more chances to vote on their favorite contestants. Meanwhile, the phone companies will make even more money from teenage girls driving up their parents' cell phone bills with an even more endless stream of text messages. We're in a recession. Deal with it.
The show will also bring back the "wild card" round. This round will bring back one eliminated contestant for the chance to come back on the show and be humiliated on national television a second time when they get voted off again.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-15-2008 @ 1:04PM
Jimmy said...
Didn't TVSquad hire an American Idol writer last year? If so, why is someone who clearly doesn't like the show reporting?
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12-15-2008 @ 2:58PM
Dan said...
Cause TV Squad has been getting exponentially worse with each passing month...soon they will just be copying and pasting AP articles without allowing comments on them...that's the next logical step.
These are welcome changes, as the only time I'm enjoying the show is when decent singers are on. It's bad enough with the Archuleta and Sanjayas of the world, but we really don't need these INSANE MORONS coming on and acting as if they can sing. Why let the deranged have their 15 minutes when the talented don't get it? After all, last season, there were 3 or 4 finalists who hadn't had a single chance to sing for the audience yet, even though there were 6-10 minutes devoted on some of the more moronic people out there.
12-15-2008 @ 1:29PM
Ryan said...
American Idol has writers?
12-16-2008 @ 6:53AM
collin said...
I laughed my butt off at Danny's article. Clearly he doesn't care for the show, and I happen to agree with him.
And I love how someone is posting that TVSquad has gotten "exponentially worse." And this is in regards to what again? American Idol? The bastion of quality television? It's about as sacred as a tractor pull or a Japanese game show, let's face it.
Perhaps TVSquad should have someone who is more pro-AI to review the show, but it would be hilarious if Danny wrote it. I'd read his article, only because I can't stand AI.
But I'd sure read the article if it were written like this. Rock on!
12-15-2008 @ 1:18PM
rick cokely said...
Meh. The best part of the show is the auditions. Once you get to Hollywood week and then (especially) the semi-finals the whole show gets to saccharin for me to watch every week. It's always the same archtypes of people so this will be season 8 with the 8th Kelly Clarkson, 8th Clay Aiken, etc... I like seeing the weirdos and the people that are actually original.
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12-15-2008 @ 1:22PM
Jason said...
Reality programming just doesn't get it. All you need to change is add the element of full-contact to any show, and it's much more interesting. Picture it, a lonely, awkward teenage boy, 16, gets up to sing and two lines in is tackled by a varsity football team. Now that's entertainment!
Also, mud-wrestling while singing Broadway show tunes isn't a bad idea either.
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12-15-2008 @ 1:23PM
Kim said...
I still haven't decided whether I'm going to resume watching AI this year. I'm suffering from AI fatigue.
I think AI is making a mistake decreasing the amount of coverage of sucky contestants. It wouldn't hurt my feelings any because I like the performance rounds the best. However, the other three members of my family only watch the audition rounds so they can laugh hysterically at the clowns who audition. It's kind of sick.
I do wish they would show all of the contestants who make it to the top 24 (or 36 now) during the audition and/or Hollywood rounds. I think it's a big disadvantage in the voting for those who have had zero exposure prior to being in the performance round.
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12-15-2008 @ 2:00PM
JPN said...
"schadenfreude boner"
what a great phrase.
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12-15-2008 @ 2:14PM
Modwild said...
Well, that is good news. It means I won't feel like I've missed some great humiliation by not watching. The ONLY time I've ever tuned into AI is during the humiliation rounds. For my "music" I listen to CDs and satellite radio. Quite a concept.
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12-15-2008 @ 2:34PM
Ryan said...
Well I only start watching when it's the final stages anyways, so I welcome having less auditions. I may check out the Hollywood stages, but even then I just want to get to the meat of the show, you know?
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12-15-2008 @ 3:13PM
Tony said...
I refuse to tune into AI as long as Paula Abdul is still a judge. Then again, you couldn't pay me enough to watch it even if she was booted off the show.
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12-15-2008 @ 4:15PM
BJ Wanlund said...
The auditions are okay, but please, 5 weeks of auditions?! Give me a break! (gross exaggeration, but still)
At least they're cutting back on the auditions and getting almost immediately to the good part (i.e. watching the contestants perform)!
BJ
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12-15-2008 @ 5:47PM
jeff said...
They need to bring back Brian Dunkleman, the show has been going downhill ever since he left.
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