To establish something right away: I am not particularly under the illusion that American Idol is fair, or even always about talent. I know and accept that the show is probably biased and produced to the very hilt.
But I still enjoy it. It's entertaining. The high level of production adds to it, in my opinion. Yes, they pass on some great talent, and yes, they put through such train wrecks as Sanjaya Malakar. Love him or hate him, he understood perfectly well that he was there as a sort of court jester.
So I'm not delusional enough to think that AI is balanced, but I'm not bothered by that. I still manage to love the show somehow. Maybe I'm just not enough of a TV snob, which, by the way, is possibly the worst medium you can be an elitist about.
With that preface, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to the premiere tomorrow night. Even if it's just the auditions, I am completely ready for the show to be back on the air. I've missed being able to over-analyze weekly performances and obsess unhealthily over contestants. I seem to learn the first names of all the contestants, and yet I remember the last names of about five from all of last season.
I'm also excited for some of the changes that are being put into effect this season. Most important is probably that they're lightening up on mentors. I think the mentors are good to a point, and helped widen the style spectrum a bit, but they were definitely overused last season. Diana Ross or Tony Bennett are one thing, but the Gwen Stefani? What the hell was that? We need to focus more on our contestants and less on celebrities.
Next on my list is the allowance for instruments this season. Sure, Taylor Hicks got around that with his harmonica, but I'm talking about real instruments. At first it was just during the audition rounds, and now the Hollywood cuts, and Nigel Lythgoe still isn't sure if they're going to continue this on into the actual competition. I, for one, hope they do.
Once we get to the competition rounds, for every episode, I will be posting my thoughts, criticisms, and ramblings. And for every episode, I will post who I think needs to be going home and who most deserves to stay. And then, after every results show, I will post my reactions to what actually happened.
In other old news you've already heard, but haven't yet had the privilege of hearing from ME, Simon Cowell, the acerbic British judge infamous for actually telling the contestants the truth, something highly controversial here in the States, has stated that he only plans to judge two or three more seasons of Idol before turning his seat over to someone else. He said that by then, America would be too sick of him to bear watching him judge any more. Personally, he's my favorite judge. This is in direct contradiction to what he said earlier last year, that he would "rather drop dead than retire." But, for the purpose of sheer speculation, let's think about who might become his replacement on the show:
But I still enjoy it. It's entertaining. The high level of production adds to it, in my opinion. Yes, they pass on some great talent, and yes, they put through such train wrecks as Sanjaya Malakar. Love him or hate him, he understood perfectly well that he was there as a sort of court jester.
So I'm not delusional enough to think that AI is balanced, but I'm not bothered by that. I still manage to love the show somehow. Maybe I'm just not enough of a TV snob, which, by the way, is possibly the worst medium you can be an elitist about.
With that preface, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to the premiere tomorrow night. Even if it's just the auditions, I am completely ready for the show to be back on the air. I've missed being able to over-analyze weekly performances and obsess unhealthily over contestants. I seem to learn the first names of all the contestants, and yet I remember the last names of about five from all of last season.
I'm also excited for some of the changes that are being put into effect this season. Most important is probably that they're lightening up on mentors. I think the mentors are good to a point, and helped widen the style spectrum a bit, but they were definitely overused last season. Diana Ross or Tony Bennett are one thing, but the Gwen Stefani? What the hell was that? We need to focus more on our contestants and less on celebrities.
Next on my list is the allowance for instruments this season. Sure, Taylor Hicks got around that with his harmonica, but I'm talking about real instruments. At first it was just during the audition rounds, and now the Hollywood cuts, and Nigel Lythgoe still isn't sure if they're going to continue this on into the actual competition. I, for one, hope they do.
Once we get to the competition rounds, for every episode, I will be posting my thoughts, criticisms, and ramblings. And for every episode, I will post who I think needs to be going home and who most deserves to stay. And then, after every results show, I will post my reactions to what actually happened.
In other old news you've already heard, but haven't yet had the privilege of hearing from ME, Simon Cowell, the acerbic British judge infamous for actually telling the contestants the truth, something highly controversial here in the States, has stated that he only plans to judge two or three more seasons of Idol before turning his seat over to someone else. He said that by then, America would be too sick of him to bear watching him judge any more. Personally, he's my favorite judge. This is in direct contradiction to what he said earlier last year, that he would "rather drop dead than retire." But, for the purpose of sheer speculation, let's think about who might become his replacement on the show:
SIMON REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES
1. NIGEL LYTHGOE
1. NIGEL LYTHGOE
Another Brit (in)famous for being tough on contestants on other shows he's judged, Lythgoe is a very likely possibility, because he's the producer of American Idol, and he is a quite popular judge on Idol's little sister, So You Think You Can Dance. He shares Simon's perfectionism and honesty, as well as a bit of his crankiness, although not to the same extent.
I would not be surprised at all to see Nigel Lythgoe take Simon's place when the acidic Englishman steps down.
I would not be surprised at all to see Nigel Lythgoe take Simon's place when the acidic Englishman steps down.
2. PIERS MORGAN
This one's a bit less likely, as Morgan is neither as popular nor as accessible as Lythgoe. In fact, unlike either Simon or Nigel, Piers seems to be a genuinely unpleasant human being. He's listed here because he's mean, English, and associated with Simon already on the Cowell-produced Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent.
It is possible that Piers Morgan could replace Simon. But if America thinks Simon is unpleasant, they'd be in for a shock.
It is possible that Piers Morgan could replace Simon. But if America thinks Simon is unpleasant, they'd be in for a shock.
3. DONALD TRUMP
Oddly enough, The Donald is SIMON'S choice. I can't really seem to find any justification for that idea, other than the fact that Simon likes him and he's done the whole judging kind of thing on The Apprentice. He doesn't know music. I don't really think he'd be a good replacement. In fact, the only replacement I can think of that would be worse is Rosie O'Donnell.
Also, I think that puffy hair might distract me.
And last but not least...
Also, I think that puffy hair might distract me.
And last but not least...
4. 'WEIRD AL' YANKOVIC
Go ahead and laugh for a minute, but then think about it. He's funny and has personality and great stage presence, AND he has a real background in music. He understands it. I honestly think he'd be one of the best replacements you could find for Simon. I'm being serious. Weird Al is a musician and a comedian. He'd be able to judge effectively and keep the show entertaining.
Well, I believe I've bloated this post more than enough. I probably should have put the Simon replacements in their own post, but this will do. Hope to see you again, lurkers, loiterers, and denizens of the internet.
Well, I believe I've bloated this post more than enough. I probably should have put the Simon replacements in their own post, but this will do. Hope to see you again, lurkers, loiterers, and denizens of the internet.
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