[Netizen]

Simon says: Blow it up
Surly judge tells ‘Idol’ staffers show desperately needs an overhaul, and he’d give Paula and Randy the boot

May 15, 2008
Recommend (6)

BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist

If you think Simon Cowell’s public criticism of the current season of ‘’American Idol’’ has been tough, you should hear what our favorite TV curmudgeon is saying behind the scenes.

According to Cowell, the ‘’Idol’’ concept needs a major overhaul; ‘’the whole thing needs to be blown up,’’ Cowell reportedly has told staff members.

A longtime “Idol” production exec adds that if Cowell had his druthers, “and there weren’t all kinds of tightly written contracts, Simon would love to see Paula [Abdul], Ryan [Seacrest] and even Randy [Jackson] replaced by fresh talent.”

Cowell is quoted as saying at a recent meeting: ‘’We need to come up with a new way to find contestants as well. Everything we do needs to be examined ... including sets, audition process, choice of musical genres for the final weeks of competition, and even how we handle the audience [for live performances] and how we say goodbye to people eliminated.’’

While ‘’American Idol’’ is still very popular, it has seen a significant dropoff in ratings this season — leading Cowell and other ‘’Idol’’ honchos to begin thinking of ways to invigorate the very valuable franchise.

Reportedly, Cowell also has raised the idea of bringing in a secondary — and female — ‘’host’’ to work with Seacrest, similar to how ‘’Dancing With the Stars’’ uses Samantha Harris to complement Tom Bergeron.

Among Cowell’s recent public comments to ‘’Extra’’ was his contention that ‘’Idol’’ needs to skew younger. ‘’We are going to have to drop the age [for contestants] from 16 to 14.’’

Whatever happens, one ‘’American Idol’’ insider says next season will see some major changes — ‘’to give us a new lease on life.’’

[silent_jonny]

Replace Randy and Paula? A new female co-host? Drop the age limit to 14?

They might as well just kill the show now. None of that will fix anything--it will just make things worse.

If Simon and the producers really want to improve ratings, all they have to do is one very simple thing:

GET RID OF THE BEG-A-THON.

It's so obvious! Can't they see that?

[silent_jonny]

And there are some things Idol can do to liven up the process.

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.

[retrokitten]

Among Cowell’s recent public comments to ‘’Extra’’ was his contention that ‘’Idol’’ needs to skew younger. ‘’We are going to have to drop the age [for contestants] from 16 to 14.’’

That would stink. How about a limit on this elevator music crap??? Again, that quote from "That Think You Do!" comes in handy....

"I don't want any of this lover's lament crap. I want something peppy, something happy, something up-tempo. I want something snappy."

[Yaelle]

I can't believe Cowell has the b*lls to think HE should still be a judge but Paula and Randy should get the boot. They have now become a hilarious TV icon as a "team," with Randy's shtick, Paula's tipsy compliments, and Simon bringing serious criticism at its most abrasive.

And even the annoying Ryan seems to fit the show. Who else would say "THIS. Is AmERican Idol!" It would be like Carson replacing Ed McMahon!