With promises to make the show more contestant-focused and employing an attempt to cut back on celebrity guests, the American Idol changes and surprises just keep coming. These new twists are blatant attempts to freshen a popular show people are slowly becoming bored with…but are the surprises actually working to do exactly that?
American Idol Surprises
Hollywood Week for season seven was oddly bereft of group night and filled with musical instruments instead, though for the most part this seemed like a flop during the week-long audition round. Now, weeks into the competition, the first mentor of the season (musical superstar Dolly Parton) is set to take the stage. By this time in the past, fans of the show are usually treated to guest judges, plenty of mentors and tons of TV fluff that has nothing to do with the contestants themselves. This year, the contestant interviews are longer, the clips are richer, and the singers are shoved into audience faces in a big way. So…how’s it all working our for Idol?
New Twists
Some changes to American Idol are disappointing at best. Hollywood Week without group night is a Hollywood Week bereft of the usual drama and catfights, terrible caterwauling and cantankerous quips. Instead, fans watched as contestants took the stage one by one to astound and amaze…or completely fall flat all on their own. True, the season seven version of Hollywood Week offered new elements (the get-through-one-round-free card was a biggie) and new performances, but there was something oddly lacking about it all. Group night has ever offered an intriguing dynamic, and often the performances given are truly spectacular when the groups go well (and laughably terrible when they don’t).
The absence of guest judges during the audition weeks was barely missed, as the show’s success rides on the interesting mix of Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell bickering amongst themselves. Mentors this season will be fewer and farther between, meaning there will be fewer clips of superstars coaching these would-be stars of tomorrow.
Attempts to Freshen the Show
Season seven’s emphasis is on the contestants (and on a staggering amount of cross-promotions which are tedious at best) gives viewers the opportunity to get up close and personal with their American Idols. More back story, more clips, more history, more moments shared - and very little of it has anything to do with singing. The show has ever been more like a political campaign than a true talent search, with the most popular surging ahead despite so-so vocals because the public connects with them on some different level. After six years, Idol is finally offering the focus to these singers - instead of the big stars they can nab to tutor them.
But, has any of it worked? Is this a different, more unique American Idol in season seven, or just the same old show slightly repackaged to seem somehow fresh again? The tiny changes FOX worked out for this season have barely changed the make-up of the show, a brilliant move considering Idol enjoys the number one ratings spot. It is not a different Idol by any means, but there are enough little twists and turns to keep regular and new fans of he competition waiting to see more. It’s still the same old Idol…but maybe that’s not a bad thing.
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