American Idol 2011--Live Thread

In Memory of

Barbara Harris & Miriam Parrott

Bahbah & Carolinamom

1 posted on 01/18/2011 5:53:21 AM PST by silent_jonny

10,000th Post Winners!

Texasflower

Retrokitten

MaggieF

Retrokitten

Netizen

Lil’Freeper

Netizen

Lil’Freeper

CounterCounterCulture

Retrokitten

2 posted on 01/18/2011 5:54:00 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

To: mystery-ak; twin2; EmilyGeiger; CAluvdubya; ConservativeMind; jocon307; kingu; TonyWpi; homemom; ...

“Is it Wednesday yet?”

As always, if you want on or off this ping list, just let me know :)

3 posted on 01/18/2011 5:54:42 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

Big Changes

No Simon.

No Clive Davis.

No Tuesday nights.

No celebrity mentors.

No weekly genre themes.

No (traditional) semi-finals.

With the dead weight cut from the judges' table, the only familiar faces left are Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest and producer Nigel Lythgoe who has nearly overhauled the entire show for it’s tenth season.

“Once something works, you don't mess around with it too much," he [Lythgoe] said. "We're now being given the opportunity -- we are ten years old -- of recreating the magic that we started with."
"All these shows have to evolve. You know, if you keep on the same thing for ten years you're going to suffer. And this is an evolution, it's a brand-new thing and it really feels that way," Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell added. (source)

The evolution includes two new judges (Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez) a new music director (Ray Chew) and a new permanent mentor (Jimmy Iovine) who will be just as visible on the show as the judges.

The competition itself will offer new challenges.

"We are no longer going to get the country singer to sing rock and the rock singer to sing folk," Nigel Lythgoe said ... "They are now going to stay with what they believe and what Jimmy believes is their genre that they need to work in."
"No mentors. Jimmy is the resident mentor, so mentors -- Miley [Cyrus], or anybody else -- [are gone]," Lythgoe said. "The styles of music are going to be more decades rather than individual artist's music. And that's, I think, is really important -- to be able to develop what they are good at."
"Every week, they need to progress. You can't just tell someone, 'Hey, you know something, you sounded better last week.' Well what are you going to do about it? They have to be coached and brought forward."
"They need to present themselves a lot better," executive producer Ken Warwick added. "For example, last year we got, as producers, to be honest, sick to death of them standing there hiding behind a guitar and just singing... it's going to be a big step-up musically. And so far the talent we've seen -- and I know we say this every year -- but it's surprised a few people."

And about the semi-final round ...

While he didn't offer any specifics, Lythgoe also told reporters the producers are also considering changing the format of American Idol's middle rounds.
"I think those middle rounds, we're looking at finding other ways to do that so that we actually present to America who we think the best singers are," he said. "The middle rounds have always felt a little uncomfortable to all of us."

AmericanIdol.com adds:

The contestants who make it through Hollywood will then head to Las Vegas for the first time ever to perform Beatles songs on the Cirque du Soleil LOVE stage Wednesday, Feb. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The auditions will conclude on Thursday, Feb. 24 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) when the judges reveal – in an exciting new twist – 20 semifinalists (10 guys and 10 girls).

It's usually 24 semifinalists. How they'll widdle 20 down to 12 (6 guys, 6 girls) is a little unclear.

To make it even more confusing, according to this article out of 325 kids in the Hollywood Round (the largest number ever), 60 will travel on to Vegas, then 40 will return to LA where (I guess) the judges will hand-pick the 20 semifinalists.

4 posted on 01/18/2011 5:56:25 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

To: silent_jonny

5 posted on 01/18/2011 5:56:25 AM PST by maddog55 (OBAMA, You can't fix stupid...)

New Faces

JUDGE Stephen Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), better known as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is also known as the "Demon of Screamin'" and is equally known for his on-stage acrobatics. During his high-energy performances, he usually dresses in bright, colorful outfits with his trademark scarves hanging from his microphone stand ... (read more)
JUDGE Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), often nicknamed J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, fashion designer and television producer. She is the richest person of Latin American descent in Hollywood according to Forbes, and the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. according to People en Español's list of "100 Most Influential Hispanics" ... (read more)
MENTOR James "Jimmy" Iovine (born March 11, 1953) is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Born in Brooklyn, Iovine began his career as a recording engineer in the mid-1970s, working with John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen. He went on to produce albums for U2 (Rattle & Hum), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks ... Nigel Lythgoe: "I think Jimmy Iovine will bring a lot of toughness... he's the type of guy who can stand there, look you in the eyes when he's heard your CD, throw it in the bin and say 'Not good enough.'" ... (read more)
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ray Chew (born c. 1968) is an American musician who specializes in keyboards and contemporary and orchestral arranging. Chew was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band from 1980 to 1983. As of the late 2000s, he is the music director for the syndicated television series Showtime at the Apollo, and the bandleader on the The Singing Bee ... Chew was the bandleader during the 2008 Democratic National Convention and at the Barack Obama Neighborhood Ball in 2009 ... (read more)

6 posted on 01/18/2011 5:57:46 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

7 posted on 01/18/2011 5:59:21 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

To: silent_jonny

8 posted on 01/18/2011 6:03:50 AM PST by maggief

To: silent_jonny

9 posted on 01/18/2011 6:03:52 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

MAGGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FR is slowwwwwwwww, LOL :)

10 posted on 01/18/2011 6:05:37 AM PST by silent_jonny ("Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thess. 5:11)

To: silent_jonny; All

Thanks, Jonny, for being our fabulous host another season! Just set my dvr this morning and will be joining the party later. Kara was on with the Friends this morning...she has a new show for competing song writers on Bravo.

11 posted on 01/18/2011 6:13:25 AM PST by Miss Didi ("After all...tomorrow is another day." Scarlett O'Hara, Gone with the Wind)

To: silent_jonny

Thanks for the ping! Looking forward to another fun season!

12 posted on 01/18/2011 6:25:33 AM PST by LA Woman3

To: silent_jonny

Hi Jonny! Does this start this week already?

JLo's got some cellulite junk in her trunk. lol

How does this guy fit in? MENTOR James "Jimmy" Iovine

13 posted on 01/18/2011 6:28:41 AM PST by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)

I guess I got to get a dvr...

14 posted on 01/18/2011 6:29:28 AM PST by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)

To: silent_jonny

I only watched the try outs which was the best part of the show,imo. Simon Cowell was American Idol.

15 posted on 01/18/2011 6:52:04 AM PST by kickonly88 (I love fossil fuel!)

To: silent_jonny

Is it me, or does Paula look really bad this season?

This season doesn't even interest me. Without Simon, the show just isn't American Idol. IMO

You can keep me on the ping list though, as I love reading through ya'lls comments. ;)

16 posted on 01/18/2011 7:35:03 AM PST by Lucky9teen (Jobs? Nope! Economy? Nope! Disarm the U.S? Yep! Impeach the treasonous Marxist Muslim usurper bast)

To: silent_jonny

We’re back!!!

After reading of the changes, I think it will be a good thing. I’m kind of excited.

Sorry, I know it’s the first day and all...but I have a meeting Wednesday night and will arrive late:)

I will need that hall pass thing-y.

17 posted on 01/18/2011 7:49:01 AM PST by twin2

I think Ozzy would have been pure gold for this show.

18 posted on 01/18/2011 7:51:09 AM PST by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL (*********************End automatic pay raises for congresscritters**)

Sure does have a purty mouf.

19 posted on 01/18/2011 7:51:31 AM PST by RetSignman ("It's about saving our Republic, STUPID")

To: silent_jonny

What a tuchus.....

Old joke, lay her face down on the ground, and use her butt for a bicycle rack...

20 posted on 01/18/2011 8:07:28 AM PST by ken5050 (Palin/Bachman 2012 - FOUR boobs are better than the two we have now!)

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