American Idol Season 10: The Remix
When the production staff of American Idol held a press conference, the spotlight was on the new judges. After gaining and losing judges last season, everyone was eager to put the rumors to rest and know who the new panel would be. Along with announcing the trio of judges (Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez) the panel also spoke about a number of changes to the show. Here are five of the changes, in case you missed them:
1. Online Auditions
This season, the talent pool is going to be HUGE. Not only will aspiring stars be lining up, they will be logging on as well. The auditions are now available on various websites including MySpace.
2. More Movement
Producer Nigel Lythgoe admitted being bored several times during last season. Stars need to have stage presence, not hide behind a guitar. The show will encourage singers to move around more and connect with the audience, and help them avoid becoming what Steven Tyler calls “shoe gazers.”
3. No Celebrity Mentors, Sort Of.
Replacing the various guest celebrity mentors will be two in house music producers. The first is Timbaland, a Grammy award winning producer who has worked with everyone in the industry from Missy Elliot to Madonna. Marco “Polo” Bruno is the second producer. The ambitious Polo moved from his native Toronto to NYC in the early 2000’s and has since become one of the most in demand underground hip hop producers in the area.
4. Theme shows?
Nigel commented that he wants Idol to “not just be a karaoke show”. Contestants will no longer be expected to sing outside of their genre. They will not be encouraged to simply perform a selection, but to make it their own.
5. Coaching
Another new member to the staff is Jimmy Iovine. Jummy is a music producer who has had a long career in the industry. During the 70’s Jimmy worked with legends such as Lennon, U2, and Tom Petty. He has been the driving force behind the careers of some of today’s hottest stars. Jimmy is credited for giving Eminem’s demo tape to Dr. Dre. Since the start of his career, he has branched out from music into the world of film and has co produced on projects such as 8 Mile. Jimmy will be coaching the singers, honing their skills and helping them to develop as artists. Viewers will be able to watch these coaching sessions on the show, and will be given back stage access to the contestant’s journey like never before.
When asked what kind of changes to expect, Randy replied “Season 10 is like the remix” Viewers and critics will be eagerly awaiting the new and remixed American Idol.