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American Idol Makes Instrumental Changes
Paula Abdul courtesy Fox
What if William Hung played the harpsichord? When American Idol debuts its seventh season, a new element will be added: "We're going to let the contestants play instruments if they can," executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told TV Guide at the Nov. 8 Discovery Awards.
The hit Fox series will also feature "mentors" less often. "We realized that we took our eye off the ball and didn't concentrate on the true talent on the show, and that's the [wannabes]," says Lythgoe. As such, this season "we've got [mentors] just every other week."
Idol judge Paula Abdul is enthusiastic about what's ahead. "It's going to be one of the best seasons we've ever had, no joke. We have incredible talent, great backstories, unique voices, adorable, good-looking kids.... You're going to be pleasantly surprised. And you're going to be laughing your butt off at some of the rarities. I will say this — someone is probably going to be bigger than William Hung." — Reporting by Carita Rizzo
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Nov 9, 2007 11:34 AM
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One of the many reasons I liked Rockstar on CBS better than Idol was that the artists were allowed and even encouraged to play instruments. I might even be tempted to watch again.
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Nov 9, 2007 11:37 AM
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It sounds like it might be good, but I will wait and see. Last year was sooo boring!!!!!
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Nov 9, 2007 11:57 AM
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Although I think the contestants ultimately benefited from having mentors, it was clear last year that some were just worthless. Hopefully the ones they do pick this year will all be as helpful and enthusiastic as Jennifer Lopez was, for example.
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Nov 9, 2007 12:04 PM
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>>>When American Idol debuts its eighth
>>>season, a new element will be added
Eighth season? The upcoming season is AI's seventh.
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Nov 9, 2007 12:31 PM
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It's about time they let them play instruments since every other Idol series around the world has been doing for a long time now.
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Nov 9, 2007 12:46 PM
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Boy, Vote for the Worst is going to have a field day with this! (playing instruments that is). The possibilities for extreme awfulness are that much greater. I just can't wait!!!
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Nov 9, 2007 1:35 PM
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Best Season Ever....yeah right. They say that every year.
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Nov 9, 2007 2:10 PM
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They did this on Canadian Idol this year. The instruments were used heavily in the audition rounds but once it got to the TV rounds most of them dropped their instruments. Only some of the serious players kept their instuments into the finals. The instruments did make for better performances though
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Nov 9, 2007 2:19 PM
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I wouldn't want an overuse of instruments, but with the right song, a nice piano could make a performance a classic.
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Nov 9, 2007 5:18 PM
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It's good to see that talent in instruments is being addressed. The schools of America really need to embrace the arts, music, dance. There is so much out there for these young people if they were just given the right tools to move up a few levels!
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Nov 11, 2007 7:49 AM
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