‘American Idol’ ’08
MANILA, Philippines—The search for the next “American Idol” resumes as Season 7 starts airing next week. But the sailing may not be as smooth as before.
Aside from the ratings dip last season, there was the lackluster debut of albums by eventual winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis. These have raised concerns that AI may have peaked and thus, the show could further spiral down in popularity. (See related story below.)
This year’s edition also has to confront the ongoing strike against the networks by the Writers Guild of America.
But in a recent conference call, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe seemed undaunted by said kinks. He told members of the international press—including only the Inquirer for the Philippines—that, as long as there’s strong talent on the show, AI would continue to win audiences.
Simon Cowell has said this year’s Top 12 would be the strongest ever.
I think we’re all paid to say this. We’ve got some excellent [finds] this year. Last year, I said it would be our strongest Top 12—and I stand by that, though a lot of people dissed that final batch. Even young Sanjaya came through despite all the hits that he took very competently.
You mentioned that you might let the contestants play instruments this year.
Yes, we did on the Hollywood week, and for some it worked out brilliantly… others just really crashed and burned very quickly.
Will you let the Top 12 do that?
We’re open-minded at the moment.
You felt that the contestants last season kind of “got lost.” How are you addressing that?
Yes, we (the producers) held our hands up and said it was our fault that we got carried away with the mentors last season. We will take fewer mentors this year, spend more time talking to the kids about their lives.
It’s a recurring complaint that contestants who don’t get much or any screen time before the semis often have trouble making it to the finals.
There were winners, too, like Jordin Sparks.
How do you plan to revive the ratings?
What I want to do is ensure the talent is strong, which is what will make people come back. That’s what we forgot at the end of last season, when we were more interested in the mentors and judges.
First and foremost, it’s about the kids, their talent and their stories.
Sounds like you think “Idol” will go on forever.
I’ve been in the business too long to think that.
Have there been any recurring songs in this year’s auditions? Last year Simon said “Killing Me Softly” became his least favorite song in the world.
We still get a lot of “At Last” by Etta James and “Amazing Grace.” There are fresher ones like “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”
How are the judges getting along this year? What are the dynamics like?
Childish, pitiful, same as every year. It’s wonderful to see ... poor kids having just sung their hearts out for Randy who can’t stop laughing while Paula and Simon have a big row, and then Simon gets up and leaves. It’s the normal sort of everyday “Idol” audition.
Fox announced that “Idol Gives Back” is coming back.
Yes, it is.
Last year you did this weird little thing where you pretended you were going to eliminate somebody, then you decided not to?
I refused to cut anybody that night [while asking] America to send money in. That would have been horrible. But... I’m not just going to say at the beginning of the show that we’re not going to cut anybody. Yes, we messed around with the kids. That’s the puppet master in me.
You can’t do that again though, can you?
No, I wouldn’t dream of doing it again. We’re taking a separate day out altogether, so what we’ll probably do is the competition on a Tuesday, the show on a Wednesday, and the results on a Thursday.
Could the relatively soft opening from Sparks and Blake Lewis make you think that perhaps the show is losing some of its musical caché?
I can’t answer that. I don’t believe that the TV audiences [are also] the record buyers.
Even if you use “American Idol” as a springboard for your career, there are no guarantees that come with it. You and the record company have to turn out the record that people want to buy. I don’t look on that as a reflection of people not watching the show next year just because Jordin Sparks’ record opened softly.
Contestants this year are a lot younger. Do you prefer them to have little or no experience?
We really love 16-year-olds, and we really love the parents hanging around all the time. There are three 16- or 17-year-olds who are absolutely brilliant this year. At the same time, when we opened up the age group to 28, we got some really good, strong people like Bo Bice (Season 4). All that matters to me at the end of the day is that they are going to be provocative or talented.
If Britney Spears expressed interest in coming on, would you have her on as a mentor?
I would have had Britney Spears last year, for sure, when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again. At this moment in time [though], I don’t think she is well enough to do anything.
People try to spoil the Top 24 or the Top 12 by trying to get that information online. Is there anything you can do to stop that?
There isn’t, to be frank. The audience is the worst because they text [results] as we’re going out. But “Idol” airs live so the country knows when Ryan says, “And the person going this week is...”
I lie all the way through the day to my own staff. I use a number system so that nobody can understand it other than myself and the director.
What about earlier on, when people try to spoil who actually made it into the competition before you have even announced who they are?
There’s nothing we can do about it either.
Where have you brought the auditions? What is the order for the airing of each place?
Philadelphia will be one of the first, then I want to go with the strength of the shows. For me, the best city this season was San Diego, which produced some very talented people.
Do you have a psychologist for the AI contestants?
Yes, we have a psychotherapist. When people are cut from the program, they’re told to understand that reality is reality, and the reality of it is, it’s only a television show.
Seven “American Idol” contestants received Grammy nominations, including four for Chris Daughtry. What does this mean for “Idol”?
What it does is validate the program. But at the end of the day, it’s their talent. We are still only a television program, and a great way to show your face to America.
source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=111359
Aside from the ratings dip last season, there was the lackluster debut of albums by eventual winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis. These have raised concerns that AI may have peaked and thus, the show could further spiral down in popularity. (See related story below.)
This year’s edition also has to confront the ongoing strike against the networks by the Writers Guild of America.
But in a recent conference call, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe seemed undaunted by said kinks. He told members of the international press—including only the Inquirer for the Philippines—that, as long as there’s strong talent on the show, AI would continue to win audiences.
Simon Cowell has said this year’s Top 12 would be the strongest ever.
I think we’re all paid to say this. We’ve got some excellent [finds] this year. Last year, I said it would be our strongest Top 12—and I stand by that, though a lot of people dissed that final batch. Even young Sanjaya came through despite all the hits that he took very competently.
You mentioned that you might let the contestants play instruments this year.
Yes, we did on the Hollywood week, and for some it worked out brilliantly… others just really crashed and burned very quickly.
Will you let the Top 12 do that?
We’re open-minded at the moment.
You felt that the contestants last season kind of “got lost.” How are you addressing that?
Yes, we (the producers) held our hands up and said it was our fault that we got carried away with the mentors last season. We will take fewer mentors this year, spend more time talking to the kids about their lives.
It’s a recurring complaint that contestants who don’t get much or any screen time before the semis often have trouble making it to the finals.
There were winners, too, like Jordin Sparks.
How do you plan to revive the ratings?
What I want to do is ensure the talent is strong, which is what will make people come back. That’s what we forgot at the end of last season, when we were more interested in the mentors and judges.
First and foremost, it’s about the kids, their talent and their stories.
Sounds like you think “Idol” will go on forever.
I’ve been in the business too long to think that.
Have there been any recurring songs in this year’s auditions? Last year Simon said “Killing Me Softly” became his least favorite song in the world.
We still get a lot of “At Last” by Etta James and “Amazing Grace.” There are fresher ones like “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”
How are the judges getting along this year? What are the dynamics like?
Childish, pitiful, same as every year. It’s wonderful to see ... poor kids having just sung their hearts out for Randy who can’t stop laughing while Paula and Simon have a big row, and then Simon gets up and leaves. It’s the normal sort of everyday “Idol” audition.
Fox announced that “Idol Gives Back” is coming back.
Yes, it is.
Last year you did this weird little thing where you pretended you were going to eliminate somebody, then you decided not to?
I refused to cut anybody that night [while asking] America to send money in. That would have been horrible. But... I’m not just going to say at the beginning of the show that we’re not going to cut anybody. Yes, we messed around with the kids. That’s the puppet master in me.
You can’t do that again though, can you?
No, I wouldn’t dream of doing it again. We’re taking a separate day out altogether, so what we’ll probably do is the competition on a Tuesday, the show on a Wednesday, and the results on a Thursday.
Could the relatively soft opening from Sparks and Blake Lewis make you think that perhaps the show is losing some of its musical caché?
I can’t answer that. I don’t believe that the TV audiences [are also] the record buyers.
Even if you use “American Idol” as a springboard for your career, there are no guarantees that come with it. You and the record company have to turn out the record that people want to buy. I don’t look on that as a reflection of people not watching the show next year just because Jordin Sparks’ record opened softly.
Contestants this year are a lot younger. Do you prefer them to have little or no experience?
We really love 16-year-olds, and we really love the parents hanging around all the time. There are three 16- or 17-year-olds who are absolutely brilliant this year. At the same time, when we opened up the age group to 28, we got some really good, strong people like Bo Bice (Season 4). All that matters to me at the end of the day is that they are going to be provocative or talented.
If Britney Spears expressed interest in coming on, would you have her on as a mentor?
I would have had Britney Spears last year, for sure, when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again. At this moment in time [though], I don’t think she is well enough to do anything.
People try to spoil the Top 24 or the Top 12 by trying to get that information online. Is there anything you can do to stop that?
There isn’t, to be frank. The audience is the worst because they text [results] as we’re going out. But “Idol” airs live so the country knows when Ryan says, “And the person going this week is...”
I lie all the way through the day to my own staff. I use a number system so that nobody can understand it other than myself and the director.
What about earlier on, when people try to spoil who actually made it into the competition before you have even announced who they are?
There’s nothing we can do about it either.
Where have you brought the auditions? What is the order for the airing of each place?
Philadelphia will be one of the first, then I want to go with the strength of the shows. For me, the best city this season was San Diego, which produced some very talented people.
Do you have a psychologist for the AI contestants?
Yes, we have a psychotherapist. When people are cut from the program, they’re told to understand that reality is reality, and the reality of it is, it’s only a television show.
Seven “American Idol” contestants received Grammy nominations, including four for Chris Daughtry. What does this mean for “Idol”?
What it does is validate the program. But at the end of the day, it’s their talent. We are still only a television program, and a great way to show your face to America.
source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view_article.php?article_id=111359
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