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« The Great American Idol Blog
Idol May Sing a Different Tune Next Season
American Idol is still a big deal, with massive numbers of people tuning in each week. But, as TV Guide's Stephen Battaglio wrote last week, the numbers simply aren't as staggering as they used to be.
Fox, though, isn't just going to sit idle as they watch their success slowly erode. According to Broadcasting & Cable, Fox scheduling chief Preston Beckman acknowledges the slide, saying, "We're not in denial. It's still the biggest show on TV, but that doesn't mean there are things we can't do. The feedback from this year, you'll probably see on the show next year."
Just what kind of feedback does Fox want? A market research survey that surfaced last week (linked to by B&C) courts a broad range of information, but fundamentally tries to discover what's working, what's not and who or what audiences want more (or less) of in future seasons. Some of the aspects in play include how the audition process should be presented, which judges should pipe up (and which should pipe down), and how exactly Ryan Seacrest should fit into the show's fabric.
Questions that focus on the judges ask respondents to say how much each panelist contributes to their "overall enjoyment of American Idol," on a scale from "very important" to "not important at all." Another section invited respondents to agree or disagree with such statements as "I watch American Idol mostly to hear what Paula has to say" and "I like the interaction between the judges and Ryan."
Perhaps the most telling of the questions, however, is an agreement-rating statement that has nothing to do with the judges, Ryan or auditions. It reads: "I care who wins American Idol."
How would you rate the statement? While Fox is asking, what would you suggest to keep or ditch for next year and beyond? — Anna Dimond
Use our Online Video Guide to watch Idol.
Related:
• The Biz: Idol Still a Force, Even as Ratings Decline
• Idol Boss Talks Shocking Exits, Sliding Ratings
• Top 5 Power Rankings: Will Anyone Challenge the Davids?
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Apr 29, 2008 1:05 AM
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How much have the ratings slipped since Michael Johns was eliminated?
And does anyone over 14 really think Ryan Seacrest adds any value to this show?
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Apr 29, 2008 3:52 AM
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The judge who adds the most - Simon. I agree with him 90% of the time. Paula trys so hard to be nice and say something complimentary that she is just plain annoying and full of crap now. Her kiss of death is when she starts by saying how nice you look. Randy goes back and forth. Even the singers know it - no matter what Randy or Paula say, they judge themselves by what Simon says.
I hate some of the themes they use. It's like an artificial obstacle course they set up. Who cares if David Cook can sign a show tune or sing country? If they were auditioning for broadway or for the Grand Ole Opry, then it makes sense, but not when they are in a pop idol competition.
I would like to know the voting results top to bottom every week instead of just the bottom 2 or 3.
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Apr 29, 2008 3:57 AM
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i dont care wat the hell they do 4 next season.............I CANT STAND DAVID COOK AT ALL 
he is such a wannabe ............oh ma gosh!!!!
he shud not be in this show at all.......i dont care if he ll be making a record or not..............i wud NEVA buy it.
I LOVE ARCHULETA!!!!
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Apr 29, 2008 4:40 AM
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I have a foolproof formula for improving American Idol:
(1) Fire Ryan, Paula, Randy and Simon.
(2) Get rid of the amateur talent, the singing competition and the audience participation components.
(3) Hire professional script writers.
(4) Create a series that adults in the 18-49 demographic actually want to watch.
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Apr 29, 2008 7:31 AM
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Idol should do voting the way Dancing With the Stars does-- online and phone. It makes it easier to participate. I stopped voting a few seasons ago bc it just takes too much time to get one vote in
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Apr 29, 2008 8:25 AM
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* Fewer auditions
* Less Ryan
* Don't mess with the judges
* 30 minute results shows (which is still too long, but better than an hour)
* More themes that allow the contestants to sing something contemporary
* A change in the voting that negates all the teenage power voters. I care who wins American Idol, but not enough to spend my Tuesday evening dialing my phone for two hours. I have a life!
I think this year they tried to fix something that wasn't broken.
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Apr 29, 2008 8:31 AM
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I think the teenybopper votes and the VFTW people ruin the voting process. They need to make it a pay to vote so people will really MEAN what they are voting and they should change it to vote for who they want OFF, then vote the winner at final 2.
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Apr 29, 2008 8:36 AM
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Get rid of Randy and Paula and get 2 new judges who we can understand. What is the use of having judges if they don't have any say so in who gets voted off? Give them a vote of some kind. Better themes for the contestants instead of singing showtunes and two weeks of Beatles.
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Apr 29, 2008 8:57 AM
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"Who cares if David Cook can sign a show tune or sing country?"
Actually, I do. I like to see the contestants have to push their limits of comfort. Good or bad, it shows a lot about their character and versatility.
While the ratings may be "down", it's still the #1 show on television. I appreciate that the producers are looking into what the viewers want, but overall, I still enjoy the show for what it is. I do, however, detest the auditions. They could do a one-hour highlight, if they even felt that was necessary, and it would be just fine with me.
I think the biggest thing that I'd like to see changed is the overblown shows. I want to see the songs and the judges' remarks. On results day, I want to see the results. I don't want to see call-in questions, album promotions or performances by the mentors, or banter between Ryan and the judges. I don't even care about seeing past Idols. Make every results show one-half hour. Lose the filler!!
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Apr 29, 2008 9:14 AM
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Its time now to get rid of the judges. Simon is usually right but his acerbic epigrams should be stifled. Perhaps he could give some real constructive criticism for a change?!
Ryan & Simon's private jokes should be kept private. Or just get rid of Ryan too.
There's way too much talky talky on this show wasting precious time. Let the contestants perform songs they can RELATE to for longer than 1 min. 30 sec.
Drop the theme shows. If someone wants to sing country then o.k. let them sing it country. People who watch AI are familiar with songstyles & should recognize kareoke when we hear it. Judges should dispense with their opinions on how someone dresses or how good they look. It adds to the beliefs that what we look like is more important than being able to sing. Which is what this show is supposed to be all about , right?
Lastly we don't need weeks of auditions in every single city they hold them in. If we want comedy we can easily turn the Comedy Channel on instead of watching dismoes make prime time asses of themselves because they think they can sing. This is some sad sad stuff.
not funny only Boring.
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Apr 29, 2008 9:16 AM
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Definitely, the show needs to change the voting process. It should be the way Dancing With the Stars does it, or possibly even the way So You Think You Can Dance does it. A final sing-off? That could be cool! By changing the system, a person would feel like their vote counts that way. And people REALLY want to know the numbers! Who got the most? Who got the least? How close was the last to next to last? Was it just a matter of a few votes, or was it a blow-out?
Also, I think next year they need to drop the Idol Gives Back show. I remember reading that statistically, it had the lowest number of viewers the show had in it's history. Not saying that it's not a good thing, but with the economy as bad as it is, I think most people don't want to feel so pressured to give and give and give.
I believe they should certainly keep Paula, Randy and Simon as well as Ryan. The interaction between the four of them is half the entertainment of the show. Lot's of people say of one or the other, "I hate this...I hate that..." but I feel it's a love to hate kind of feeling. If any one of the four were taken off the show, (I think) they would hear volumes of criticism.
Stop asking people to sing just after they've been eliminated. It's heart breaking. I like it better the way they've done it a few times this season...haveing them sing before hand.
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Apr 29, 2008 9:38 AM
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It's true that one should always be concerned if ratings go down, but one thing that no one seems to be saying in all the handwringing over Idol's decline in ratings--ALL network TV shows are declining in ratings. Relatively speaking, Idol is still exactly where it has always been. And for a show in its seventh season, that's pretty amazing.
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Apr 29, 2008 9:52 AM
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They should stop letting America decide who goes home. They should do what I heard someone suggest - let America pick bottom 2, but judges pick who should leave out of those 2 this, way it may keep the good singers (like Michael Johns and Carly) and get rid of not so good singers (Brooke and Jason).
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Apr 29, 2008 9:54 AM
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. Stop the bickering between Ryan & Simon; make it fun. Afterall, AI made Ryan into a wealthy man.
. Get rid of Paula Abdul, she has nothing to contribute. Find a replacement who can express herself (speak in whole sentences) and is respected in music.
. Cut the result shows to 1/2 hr.
. Get rid of the weeks & weeks of auditions.
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Apr 29, 2008 10:06 AM
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