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Nigel Lythgoe Examines American Idol's Flaws

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Nigel Lythgoe answers questions at 2007 Fox Summer TCA courtesy Fox
What was wrong with American Idol last season? Nigel Lythgoe, president of Idol's production company 19 Television, thinks it was too much Peter Noone and not enough Melinda Doolittle. In other words, "We didn't really show the personalities of the people," he told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour on Sunday. "We were so engrossed with the mentors who were particularly good last season, and not really on the Melindas. And we didn't know them as much as we knew the Kellie Picklers from the season before."

What happened on Idol led Lythgoe to make adjustments to this summer's So You Think You Can Dance. "We've really gone out of our way to focus on the competitors' thoughts, their feelings, their emotions," he said, "so that we're all attached to them a little more than if they were just dance competitors." —Reporting by Stephen Battaglio


Posted by TV Guide News
Jul 23, 2007 10:21 AM
I have to agree with this, and I'm glad the producers figured it out. Remember Elliot's mother in the audience? Fantasia the single mom? Learning where Checotah, Oklahoma is? We missed that this year. We knew very little about the contestants outside of Idol, and quite honestly, that made it hard to care.
Posted by Lizzie H.
Jul 23, 2007 11:30 AM
I only begin to enjoy the show when all of the segments showing the untalented and emotionally vulnerable are completed. It's very clear that many of these people, no matter what they've been told beforehand, truly believe they have talent and end up being traumatized. Why is it necessary to laugh at people who are fat, goofy looking, have zero talent,etc. I know that many viewers enjoy seeing these pathetic performances but it's mean-spirited to publicly degrade those who have nothing to warrant their 15 minutes except the fact that the audience and judges are eager to ridicule them.

This show should truly be about bringing great talent to the forefront and not about cheap shots.
Posted by jdale
Jul 23, 2007 12:38 PM
Peter Noone was GREAT!!! I can't think of anyone who can't sing a Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) tune!!! As for Melinda Noone, I LOVED HER THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH!!!! It was so hard to make the choice between Melinda, Jordan and the Boogie guy (I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME!!!HELP!!!!!!!!!!)
Posted by mom8times
Jul 24, 2007 3:31 PM
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