Will a new judge help fix “Idol”?
The growing backlash among viewers and critics this year made it plain: Fox needs to upgrade “American Idol” in the presence of the franchise gets in earnest stale.
So why have the in the first place two changes announced for the network’s top-rated reality TV singing competition focused on stuff that doesn’t need alteration, namely, the departure of savvy producer Nigel Lythgoe and the addition of a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi?
The arrival at “Idol’s” New York auditions last week by DioGuardi, a singer-songwriter who has worked by the Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Paris Hilton and fellow esteem Paula Abdul, is particularly puzzling. Given that the judges’ remarks are often the show’s most leaden part, that’s the last event that indispensably stretch. Here are five ways we hope DioGuardi actually improves “American Idol.”
1. Pick better contestants. Due respect to David Cook and Jordin Sparks, but that the past two “Idol” seasons have felt hobbled by a collection of mostly underwhelming contestants (yes, Sanjaya Malakar and Kristy Lee Cook, that’s a swipe at you). Fifteen minutes trolling Greenwich Village clubs would net better singers than “Idol” offers all season; maybe DioGuardi can raise the tribunal a bit.
2. Get Paula off the crazy train or on it, entirely. Stress over competing with DioGuardi (who, frankly, combines Randy Jackson’s credits and Simon Cowell’s attitude with Abdul’s sex appeal) determine either pinch “Idol’s” barely other female judge completely over the edge or power her to become it in concert at last.
3. Upgrade judges’ comments. The judges’ banality became a serious problem last interval: Jackson was incomprehensible, Abdul was hopelessly trite and Cowell was over egotistical to be entertaining. A fourth judge shortens everyone’s comments, and surely someone smart enough to make Paris Hilton sound like a singer be able to make this clump interesting again.
4. Upgrade the auditions. We are in the same manner through the whole extent of the hours of audition shows ricocheting from intentionally bizarre freakazoids to poignant features forward real contenders. DioGuardi built a business on digging up new talent, so maybe she can coach some kids with potential into even better audition performances.
5. Sexual tension. If all else fails, she be able to chuck with Cowell and watchman Ryan Seacrest turn out all “Fatal Attraction” on national TV. Because any woman tangles with that bromance at her own peril.
