10,000th Post Winners!
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.
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)
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JONNY!!!! YIPPEE!!!
Thanks for for the thread....((((hugs))))
Whose the guy on the far right? Does this mean we are still stuck with 4 judges? :(
Hiya Jonny!! I wasn’t going to watch without this thread, so now I guess I’ll have give it a try! ;)
I will be missing Bahbah and Carolinamom.
Thanks for the Link! MAN have I missed you and this thread!! I look forward to yet another year of irreverant comments, hysterical sarcasm, laughing til I puke.....and just being here among FRiends :-) (Face it, we all need this brief respite from the daily CRAPPOLLA in DC and mainstream media!)
ANd about that picture....introducing the thread.....thats a whole lot more teeth than in the entire state of Arkansas!! ;-)
((((((((((((((Jonny)))))))))))))))))))))) Can’t wait because of this thread!!!!
GReetings!
Well should be very interesting tonight on Idol!
DVR’ed it and was pleasantly surprised with the new judges, Steven Tyler was actually pretty funny and Jennifer Lopez is always mesmerizing to look at.
The judges do seem a bit more generous this year without Simon, I’m guessing some of those people they let through they know in the back of their minds are day one cuts Hollywood week.
I'm only here this year to find out if I can utterly strike out with a third loser! For two consecutive years in a row now I've completely chosen the WRONG contestant to win it all. I'm hoping against all odds I can keep my perfect record alive this season!
After Megan Corkskwery & Siohban Magnus I have a good shot at hitting the trifecta!
Wish me luck!
Seams empty this year. Oh I know, see too much more showing judges rather than contestants.
You just gotta think that Steven Tyler just has a Rolodex of images in his mind (that he has to suppress)whenever he sees these female contestants. LOL!
I think Laz could fix this relationship.
I hope Carmine makes it through.
Evening all! They need to get the hook!Terrible