The end of an 'American Idol': Could 2010 finally see 'Idol' fall from the top of the TV heap?
Filed Under () by Admin on Sunday, January 10, 2010
Posted at : Sunday, January 10, 2010
Even the most highflying idols and institutions crash and burn eventually.
Ask Lehman Brothers and Life magazine. Or, if that doesn’t convince you, check the histories of Pan Am and Pee-wee Herman.
All these icons ruled their fields for a spell, only to see that spell break, proving that no matter what the government and Wall Street say, no institution is “too big to fail."
Which begs the question: Is 2010 the year this scary truth finally rises up to smite today’s mightiest TV mainstay, “American Idol”?
For eight seasons, this must-see singing competition has ruled the Nielsens as the top-rated TV destination in the nation. Yet, as “Idol” enters its ninth edition - beginning with a four-hour kickoff that straddles Tuesday and Wednesday nights - ominous clouds are gathering, and on a number of horizons.
n First, the show has lost its loosest, and so, most entertaining cannon: our lady of the non sequitur, Paula Abdul.
n Second, the show just endured the worst-selling winner in its history: the sweet but dishwater-dull Kris Allen.
n Third, meanie Simon Cowell is threatening to undermine the entire franchise by launching an amateur talent contest of his own, “The X Factor."
n Fourth, and worst of all - the show’s ratings have been eroding, fast.
Last May’s turbo-hyped, two-hour finale posted the second-lowest numbers for a sendoff show in the series’ history. The swan song broadcast, during which uber-wimp Allen beat the flaming-hot Adam Lambert, saw a 13% decrease from the previous year’s finale.
Overall viewership for the year drew the show’s weakest figures since “Idol’s” debut in 2002, back when the show was still building its brand. The 10% dip plagued “Idol” throughout last season; the series registered an equal decline during its inaugural episode in January 2009.
One year later, much has changed in “Idol” land, and little for the better.
The show’s missteps began when it crowbarred in a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, to serve as a kind of Berlin Wall between faux-hip Randy Jackson and blithering mom substitute Paula. Not only did DioGuardi’s nonsense opinions threaten to make Paula’s sound like those of George Bernard Shaw, the act of adding a fourth voice left little room for any of them to say anything at all. Worse, when the producers did let the judges babble on, it caused the show to bleed over its time limit, p.o.ing millions of fans who DVR’d the episode for its normal time, causing them to miss the all-important final verdict.
Ultimately, all the addition of DioGuardi did was to offer a handy excuse for us all to indulge our collective sexism by pitting her against Paula in the bitch-fight that never came (at least not in front of the cameras).
Clearly, all the talk about a new girl coming in just made the old one seem, well, old - something that couldn’t have sat well with Paula. Worse, the added pressure of having another judge there to potentially make her seem irrelevant probably figured big in the breakdown of Abdul’s negotiations for a new contract with “Idol’s” hardball producers.
In the aftermath, we the viewers came up the real losers. For one thing, Paula got to look like a martyr, a truly disturbing turn of events. For another, the show lost its most enduring in-joke. Whenever the “Idol” singers flagged - which, face it, they frequently have - we’ve always had good old Paula to rely on for some jaw-dropping entertainment. Her seemingly endless run of senior moments, plus her inability to form anything like a complete English sentence, let alone an opinion in any language, could inspire not just giggles but a certain kind of awe.
In Paula we had a virtual Caesar of dimness. When would we see another?
Her replacement has the opposite problem.
Ellen - who won’t be air-dropped into the proceedings until the show comes to Hollywood in February - couldn’t be more articulate or glib. But that creates its own issue within the delicate dynamics of “Idol." Ms. DeGeneres has already told anyone who’ll listen that she considers even Paula’s softball comments a little too cutting. Which means she won’t be using her comedy for its greatest purpose: to wound. Because Ellen is constitutionally bound to be nice, it follows that she can’t be funny, except when dealing with the show’s designated mustache-twirler Simon. Ellen can rank on him all she likes and never risk alienating anyone, least of all Cowell, who made his millions by playing the role of America’s ultimate hate magnet. Still, a constant ribbing in one direction can get tiresome. Especially since Ellen won’t have the strange sexual frisson Paula enjoyed with her snarky nemesis.
The classic pair’s famed spats - marked by Simon’s eye-rolling and Paula’s whining - achieved a kind of high S&M drama, with him playing savage master to her humiliated slave.
What could possibly replace the sick joy of that?
Still, the clay we see creeping up “Idol’s” feet has to do with more than just the game of musical chairs taking place at the judges’ table. It also has to do with who’s been ending up as the contest’s winners.
Choirboy Allen’s win over the devilish Lambert unveiled a conservatism in the voting body that turned off many a blue-stater - and even some avowed Christians, who recognized the injustice of it and burned up the blogs saying so. The final vote also backfired on the charts. Not only did Allen’s self-titled CD eke out the worst-selling opening week for a winner’s debut, it wound up selling roughly one-fourth what “loser” Lambert’s debut did. By year’s end, the most watched man in America might as well have changed his name to “Kris Who?"
Results that daft have threatened to sabotage the show’s urgency, making its outcome seem irrelevant. Place that gaffe next to boners like Jennifer Hudson getting the boot six places short of the crown, and the whole Daughtry debacle, and it’s enough to turn off millions.
Then, of course, there’s the Simon factor. Lately, Cowell has made noise - leaked through his brother - that he wants out of the show when his contract is up, which happens to be this year. The move may be more than just a blatant negotiating stunt. Anyone as savvy in the cynical cycles of pop culture as Cowell knows how much there is to be gained by essentially reselling “Idol” under a fresher franchise - in this case “The X Factor."
Of course, “Idol” isn’t about to topple just yet. We’ve still got Simon on board. Ellen will draw in hordes of the curious, and, it should be noted, even last year’s diminished ratings outdistanced every other show on television, and by a whopping margin.
Yet, at the same time, neither can the wounds to the brand be denied. However life-threatening they turn out to be, at least they come with one guaranteed compensation for us viewers, something the producers may actually be counting on: Who would risk missing the chance to be there when TV’s mightiest ship finally sinks?
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20 comments:
I know that i am DONE with AI. This show is a jOke. I love Adam Lambert. By By Idol.
Well, I watched only the last season, and can't even watch the reruns, let alone this coming one. The injustice of the finale just overshadows any pleasure I might derive from seeing Adam and a few of the others perform. Too bad. On the other hand, I do have Youtube and Adam is here to stay.
I agree. The whole voting fiasco of last year really reduced my interest. I do like Ellen, but I question her ability to evaluate the vocal abilities. Sure she knows what she likes, but can she tell if someone is slightly off pitch or whether someone is just doing kareoke? I'm not so sure. Whatever else we say about Paula, she does know music. And she was capable of being critical in a nice way when it was necessary. The weakest link IMO is Randy. He says the same things over and over and over. I think he could add more, but he is reluctant. I don't think I will watch AI again. There will not be another Adam.
I'll watch, but won't ever feel the same about a contestant again. I won't vote, because of the same reason. I just wanna watch to see talented singers that might come up.
I'm also curious about Ellen. She is representing the person sitting at home, and we all have our opinions, so I'm curious.
But I have to be disappointed in AI for picking JOE JONAS as a guest judge. I really can't trust his musical critiques when he and his band are very plain, vocals boring, signed on to Disney, which gives a recording contract to any actor/actress on their channel.
Plus, I need to be frank here, he comes across as quite full of it.
This is just my opinions, I'm not trying to offend anyone who likes the JoBros.
But like I said, I will watch and see.
~ Emmaline ~
Personally , I dont see anymore AI.
If you want, you can vote for album of the year FYE at http://vote.sparklit.com/poll.spark?pollID=1108660. Kisses.
I like Ellen but what does she REALLY knows about WHO can REALLY sing? If I watch, sometimes. I will NEVER vote!!! Sorry, but I feel that AT+T stubed us in the back. Too bad, But it's MY $ and I am not supporting them ANYMORE!!
I always believed the AT&T rumors about stacking the cards against Adam. Kris is a nice guy and I wish him success but the show has lost its' credibility for me and a lot of other people. Why bother voting when some people are able to vote thousands of times with one text on a phone? I like Ellen but I won't watch this year. Adam was without a doubt the sweetest contestant with the most amazing voice, good looks, and stage presence we have ever seen on AI. I don't think anyone will ever top him.
I agree, Mimi. The show LOST it's credibility. what a shame.
I don't see any good news for the new AI season because:
1) Paula is gone, and she is irreplaceable
2) Ellen is nice, but poor substitute
3) They never needed a 4th judge/Kara
4) No credibility with a Kris Allen win
5) Rumor of Simon leaving-there goes the show
6) After Adam's dynamic performances, will there ever be a better more charismatic contestant??
Bye, bye, AI!!!
Yeah after Adam, there just isn't another Idol IMO. And with the voting screw up, they pretty much lost all credibility.
8 years I waited,for someone like ADAM to come along!!! someone you just could not wait to watch!
and your phone had to be ready !! so you could vote!!he is the BEST to ever be on that show !!!
AND THEN AT&T SCREW US !!! NEVER AGAIN
LET'S ALL BUT ANOTHER ADAM CD!!FOR HIS BIRTHDAY !!!PUT IT OVER THE TOP !!
adam lambert-hes the only one i like- good dancer-good voice good human being-good personality.i dont watch ai anymore. iwont vote either.
I caught Adam' performance of Black and White, while flipping through channels looking for something good to watch. I was totally smitten by his performance, and couldn't wait for the next show. Then came the shocker - Kriss Allen won! I was soo upset. I was not going to watch AI again!! Then,I changed my mind. I feel grateful that Idol gave him a chance, because he would not be where he is today if he had not been on the show.
ADAM IS THE WINNER !!!!! I'LL BUY ANOTHER CD !! GO ADAM !!1000 X BETTER THAN KRIS
I won't watch AI9 since Adam Lambert the real idol did not win.
I feel like the People behind American Idol have been holding Adam back, to try to boost the sales of Kris Allens music. I think that is one of the big reasons you don't hear Adam on the radio. Adam completely overshadows Kris as a performer. Maybe after the new season gets underway, Adam will finally get the promotion from Idol that he deserves.
idol will never be the same whether you liked adam or not. He captivated and kept the audience guessing. He surprised us every time. people were intrigued with his every move to his choice of clothes. He not only sang but performed, he made American idol entertaining!!
I agree! AI will NEVER be the same. It took them 8 years to find a REAL idol and America was too HOMOPHBIC to see it. SO, my question is this; What IS the point of this show?
You had Adam, that there are not enough words to descibe his talent,and the OTHER one won?
If this show is about finding uniqu talent, then you messed up. Ans |I am done with this show.
There are SOOO mant shows to watch.
yea, the show is coming to an end. I don't even think they are going to make it through a full season. The show was an amateur singing contest until they hired Karen D. and then when they hired Karen D. she looked for contestants who could sing her songs instead of contestants who could be on the show.
So, when Adam came out people who never watched the show started watching the show and they assumed that the show was about people who could entertain them by singing their favorite songs very well. So they did not pay attention to the fact the show was a singing contest and that just left Idol w/o a purpose..
now Adam watched the show for a long time and I think he knew more so about it that they were looking for performers, people with stage presence so he knew that aspect of it very well and he performed up to the part but in his mind I think he was thinking about auditioning and trying to impress directors like he did when he was in theater instead of thinking of the show as a singing contest.
So when people saw Adam they locked their minds into this kind of aspect into what they wanted the show to be and thus brought its downfall!
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