American Idol has been off the air less than one year, and already there is talk that NBC might buy and reboot the show. Let’s look at reasons why they’d do that.
Bankrupt American Idol producer now suing winner Phillip Phillips
The company that was founded by American Idol creator Simon Fuller is now bankrupt and suing one of the show’s winners for more than $5 million.
Why Ryan Seacrest said American Idol is only over “for now”
What the creator of Pop Idol and American Idol said in a recent interview offers some insight into Ryan Seacrest’s final two words on the Fox series.
I have nothing left to say about American Idol: a reflection on its accomplishments
Some thoughts about how I have no more thoughts to add about American Idol on the even of its finale. How excited are you to read that?
Four actually surprising facts about American Idol
While American Idol used to be capable of unscripted surprise, the show itself offers very little of that any more. (For sure, the final season will attempt some, and perhaps succeed.) If anything, though, that’s the story of the what the show has become: it has failed to refresh itself and instead withered into stagnation, even despite the changes in its judging panel.
But here are four things I learned this week about the show that genuinely surprised me.
For its last season, American Idol finally fixes a huge problem
American Idol is finally making a change in its last season that, had it been made earlier, could conceivably have helped the show last longer: cutting the season by more than a month.
Things Fox executives said about American Idol and Knock Knock Live, translated
Fox Television chairs and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman talked with TV critics this morning at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. They talked about the network’s reality TV, including American Idol and Knock Knock Live. Inspired by this brief Twitter exchange with USA TODAY critic Robert Bianco, here are some things they… continue reading
American Idol, cancelled, threatens seniors raising money for charity
American Idol has been cancelled and will air just one more season in the U.S., but that didn’t stop its parent company from threatening a Brooklyn charity event that uses the word “Idol” in its title. Yes, Brooklyn Senior Idol–which reports say raises money for the AARP and a high school band–received a cease and… continue reading
An episode of Survivor easily beat an American Idol finale
We have now reached a point in reality television where the original reality behemoth, Survivor, has reclaimed its title over the show that dominated all of television for years: American Idol. Yes, the 14th season finale of Idol, half of which aired opposite Survivor Worlds Apart, was easily beaten by the CBS series. Only 8.03… continue reading
American Idol cancelled and will end after one more season
Fox is cancelling American Idol after its 15th season, which will air next spring. Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr., will return for the final season’s judges, as will Ryan Seacrest as host, of course. The final season, Fox announced, will “pay tribute to the past 14 seasons of amazingly talented contestants and… continue reading
Survivor is destroying American Idol in the ratings
Survivor Worlds Apart lost 12 percent of its viewers 18 to 49 between this week and last, but the series still crushed American Idol–and basically all other shows on Wednesday night. In Wednesday ratings, Survivor‘s 2.2 and 9.35 million viewers easily beat Fox’s American Idol, which had a 1.4 rating and 7.63 million viewers. The CBS… continue reading
American Idol’s Hollywood Week starts with 6.3 songs of consequence
Hollywood Week is always my favorite part of American Idol, in part because it deviates the most from the singing-on-a-stage format and resembles non-competition reality TV shows. I always wanted to see more of their off-stage lives, but after flirting with mansion footage, the show stuck to its studio roots. Hollywood Week is the one incongruous part, and it’s… continue reading
A man who mocked American Idol is now its mentor
Scott Borchetta, the record executive who discovered Taylor Swift, is American Idol‘s new mentor, replacing Randy Jackson, who quit. A Fox press release called the Big Machine Label Group president and CEO “one of the most successful forces in the music industry today.” He will start the job a lot earlier than previous mentors. Fox… continue reading
American Idol semifinalist, Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance winner dies
Joanne Borgella, an American Idol 7 season seven semi-finalist and the first winner of Mo’Nique’s Fat Chance died early Saturday from endometrial cancer. She was 32. She also appeared as a coach on MTV’s Made, was a cast member on season two of NUVOtv’s Curvy Girls, was a model with Wilhelmina Models, and had her own fashion line…. continue reading
Alcoholism, not a blood clot, killed Michael Johns, friend says
American Idol finalist Michael Johns’ death in August wasn’t caused by a blood clot but was a result of his abuse of alcohol, according to his best friend, who claims Michael Johns’ wife covered up the real reason. However, she says he’s been harassing her. The two engaged in a legal dispute in which Torrey Gambill quotes texts… continue reading
American Idol finalist Michael Johns died
Michael Johns, the singer who placed eighth on American Idol 7, has died at age 35. He is the first finalist from the show to die; five years ago, auditioner Alexis Cohen was killed in a hit-and-run. The Hollywood Reporter reported that “the cause of death is believed to be a blood clot in his ankle.”… continue reading
Fox: Idol’s real problem is its kids
Fox Networks chair and CEO Peter Rice was very candid with TV critics about the American Idol, the broadcast network’s former crown jewel, and its strengths and weaknesses. He said the network is happy with the ratings (“it’s still a very strong show for us”) and its new creative direction (“we felt really good about the production”), but admitted it is… continue reading
All three American Idol judges will return
American Idol 14 will have the same judges panel as the 13th season, as Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick, Jr., and Keith Urban are all returning. Ryan Seacrest will also host once again. None of this is a big surprise, and indicates that the show will likely tread the same waters it did this past season…. continue reading
Clay Aiken suspends campaign after opponent dies
Clay Aiken’s main opponent in the still-contested Democratic primary election for a seat in the House of Representatives died suddenly today, and the former American Idol runner-up announced he was suspending his campaign. Keith Crisco, 71, died after falling at his home. He was 369 votes behind Clay, and “planned to concede his campaign for… continue reading
Idol will return, and eventually may have Simon, Paula, and Randy judge again (!!)
Although this season of American Idol has continued to lose viewers–Survivor has been consistently beating it among total viewers and viewers 18 to 49 for weeks and weeks–Fox will not give up on the show, and it will return next season. That’s a mostly rational decision, considering that it is not quite a failure yet,… continue reading