1) Leave the auditions they way they are, but focus more on the talent and their stories and less time on the deluded wannabes. (Also they could shorten the audition round by a week)
2) Make the Hollywood round LIVE! And give viewers some say in the outcome.
3) Bring back the "wild card" round they had a few years ago, where viewers could vote on a group of singers that didn't make the cut in Hollywood or the semi-finals. One person from that group could advance to the Top 12.
4) Get Paula into a 12-step program.
5) Go back to the half-hour results show. FOX will lose a bit of ad revenue, but the show itself will be more dramatic and will probably bring in more viewers.
I'm not sure why Cowell wants to lower the age. Look at the fun they are having with Monchichi's dad. Just what they need, more stage parents involved. And we all know that the main producers of good quality music these days is coming from 14 year olds! /sarcasm
ITA with everything you said. They could do a crossover with A & E and get Paula on an episode of “Intervention.”
“Pauler, I’m asking you to get help today. Will you accept this gift?”
i’m not a fan of the group numbers where all the constestants prance about on stage and take turns singing. something about it just gives me the creeps.
i would be interested in seeing more interaction between contestants and music stars (from all genres), and at an earlier stage of the process.
the band seemed to play a larger role this year, which i thought worked well. more background info on the band would be cool. a segment on band auditions would be interesting to see. guest star band members would help ensure fans would tune in.
last week’s show had the contestants sing songs chosen by the judges and the producers. i liked that simon chose a song by Roberta Flack for David Cook. next season, throughout the process, perhaps they could poll the viewing audience as to which songs constestants will sing the following week. the producers could post a list of songs for viewers to choose or simply let the audience submit songs.
in the first several rounds of the live performances, contestants have very little time (around two minutes?) to sing. in some cases, that’s a good thing... still, it would be better if they had more time.
they’d pick up a lot of viewers in certain markets if they’d put the show on the road.
they could give constestants a blog to vent throughout the process and to keep in touch with fans and critics. keep the blog running even after the constestant has been eliminated. eventually someone will say something offensive or provocative that will prompt a reaction from the judges or producers. making all of the public would attract viewers.