Simon, Randy and everyone's favorite crackpot, Paula Abdul, are back as the newest season of American Idol kicks off tonight at 8pm on Fox. Although AI is always a ratings giant, it's expected to do even better than normal this year due to the writers' strike and a few tweaks to the show's format.I have never been a super close AI follower, but I do like to keep up to date with the weeks wonders and blunders (can you imagine not knowing about Sanjaya? C'mon.) I have a feeling I will be even more into it this year, because let's face it: There's not much else on TV right now.
Variety.com has a full rundown of what viewers can expect from the "new" version of Idol. Hopefully the slight change in the way the show is produced will get viewers more interested in the contestants and feel invested in the show. Here's an excerpt from the article:
Exec producer Nigel Lythgoe concedes that mistakes were made last year. For starters, Lythgoe says the show spent too much time on big-name guest mentors and performers, at the expense of investing viewers in who's who (particularly early in the show's competish).The show isn't completely ditching its celebrity guests, but will shift the focus away from already famous stars to making their own. The production is also getting a boost with new graphics, opening credits and some interesting upgrades to the actual set and visuals. Expect to see not only the contestants vocal abilities, but instrumental skills, too. Producers are saying that the hopefuls will be allowed to play instruments and do more than just stand and sing this year. Should be interesting.
"We need to put our hand up and take the blame," he says. "We missed out on telling the best stories. If (contestants) were uninteresting, it's because we made them uninteresting."
As a result, "Idol" is looking to shake things up this year by spending more time on those contestant backstories.
"I want to give up that time and focus on the kids," Lythgoe says. "It's the emotional hooks that sell us, and get us watching every week. I don't think last year we were necessarily an appointment to view. There wasn't a 'I want to watch Bo Bice win' or 'I want to see Justin Guarini get kicked off' feeling to the show."...
"We've had our promos talk a little bit more about 'I'm from Nebraska, I'm a cotton candy maker,' and 'I'm from Oklahoma, I'm a cowboy,' " he says. "We're basically trying to set it up that this is a show about people with stories. ... It's about people who think they're good (singers) and (are) not, and people who think they're good and are great."
So, are you going to watch American Idol this season? If so, why?