Will AI make big changes next year?

[jgrv]

This year seems to have had more controversy than any other year I remember on AI.

Antonella and the pictures... Antonella/Sundance with VFTW... the whole Sanjaya phenomenon... Sligh and Gina prematurely eliminated... the "Idol Gives Back" show and lack of an elimination... the Melinda controversy... Paula and her odd behavior... a lackluster finale broadcast (I mean Tuesday night)... now the craziness about Jordin's weight...

Do you think AI will make some changes next year? What would you like to see changed, if anything?

Here's one thing I'd like to see changed:

Just one vote per caller, please!

[TaylorHicksRocks]

This year seems to have had more controversy than any other year I remember on AI.

Antonella and the pictures... Antonella/Sundance with VFTW... the whole Sanjaya phenomenon... Sligh and Gina prematurely eliminated... the "Idol Gives Back" show and lack of an elimination... the Melinda controversy... Paula and her odd behavior... a lackluster finale broadcast (I mean Tuesday night)... now the craziness about Jordin's weight...

Do you think AI will make some changes next year? What would you like to see changed, if anything?

Here's one thing I'd like to see changed:

Just one vote per caller, please!

I agree 1 vote per telephone number....even if it's a cell phone and no text messaging..

[RushDog]

I don't see them doing that. I think that's how alot of the money is generated.

[jgrv]

How about the judges make all the decisions up until the top 10?

[LukkiStar]

How about the judges make all the decisions up until the top 10?

No, that wouldn't work because it's supposed to be "American" Idol and America is supposed to choose. The results would have been a lot different if the judges decided the top 10. Sanjaya would have been gone, and that would have thrown the whole show off differently.
It's a nice idea, but also sorta defeats the purpose of the show.

What Melinda "controversy" are you referring to?

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Well how about the judges get 50% of the vote and we get the other 50% that way someone with Melinda's caliber would have a better chance at winning because she so deserved the title.....

[LukkiStar]

Well how about the judges get 50% of the vote and we get the other 50% that way someone with Melinda's caliber would have a better chance at winning because she so deserved the title.....

The ratings are already dropping.
I doubt they're going to do anything drastic like that that woudl make people mad becuase they have less control over who wins and what not.

But they probably will do some things differently to try and get more veiwers...
I guess we'll have to wait until January to find out.

[jgrv]

What Melinda "controversy" are you referring to?

Melinda not making the top 2--the boards really heated up over that one!

And THR, you have a good idea about the judging. I think SOMETHING needs to change next year, as I'm not so sure people were all that thrilled with AI this year.

Yes, it's still top-rated, but lots of shows have been--only to fall from the rankings. It could happen to AI.

I'm kind of tired of feeling like my votes don't count. I feel like there's no way to beat the teenybopper voting phenomenon. (No offense, LukkiStar--you seem like an unusually bright 14-year-old.)

[TaylorHicksRocks]

The ratings are already dropping.
I doubt they're going to do anything drastic like that that woudl make people mad becuase they have less control over who wins and what not.

But they probably will do some things differently to try and get more veiwers...
I guess we'll have to wait until January to find out.

It's no wonder the ratings are dropping just take a look at the farce of this season....The judges should have more oof a say in the competition that way we would have a better chance of having the best actually win......

[LukkiStar]

It's no wonder the ratings are dropping just take a look at the farce of this season....The judges should have more oof a say in the competition that way we would have a better chance of having the best actually win......

I agree that this season was a bit dull.
But I'm not unhappy with the results.

To each his own though ;)

[TaylorHicksRocks]

I agree that this season was a bit dull.
But I'm not unhappy with the results.

To each his own though ;)

If you were older I think you would appreciate Melinda's vocal acrobatics so much more and realize that she should have been crowned the winner of AI6...Blake would have been given the boot long before KiKi...

[LukkiStar]

If you were older I think you would appreciate Melinda's vocal acrobatics so much more and realize that she should have been crowned the winner of AI6...Blake would have been given the boot long before KiKi...

I probably would.
I agree that Melinda's voice was probably the best, but she just didn't have what it took to be a true American Idol.
I liked LaKisha too, but I honestly found her kinda boring to watch.
I like everyone in the top 4, but I just thought that Blake was the most unique and intersting to watch.
We could probably debate this all day, so I'm just gonna stop now.

[edgeover17]

Folks, I'd advise we be careful of something here. When a contest doesn't produce the desried outcome, it's easy to fall into the trap of placing fault on the rules of the game. The natural reaction is to start thinking how the rules might be changed so as to produce the desired outcome.

I say no set of rules could be fairer than giving the vote totally to the viewers. I don't see the voting process as the problem. The problem this year, IMO, began with the available talent pool. I think most of us here agreed that this year's crop seemed especially weak. Think back to last year. There were three or four on that show with whom I'd have had no problem had they won. This year, I saw only two that I thought had the pure vocal ability of an American Idol. Unfortunately, it seems their ability could not make up for what they lacked in the other areas in the eyes of the voters.

My concern takes on a larger scale. Could it be that the show has simply run its course ? Could it be that through the seven seasons, and how many millions that have now gone through the gruelling audition process that there are simply not enough budding stars left out there who are willing to tackle it ?

What are your thoughts ?

[RushDog]

Folks, I'd advise we be careful of something here. When a contest doesn't produce the desried outcome, it's easy to fall into the trap of placing fault on the rules of the game. The natural reaction is to start thinking how the rules might be changed so as to produce the desired outcome.

I say no set of rules could be fairer than giving the vote totally to the viewers. I don't see the voting process as the problem. The problem this year, IMO, began with the available talent pool. I think most of us here agreed that this year's crop seemed especially weak. Think back to last year. There were three or four on that show with whom I'd have had no problem had they won. This year, I saw only two that I thought had the pure vocal ability of an American Idol. Unfortunately, it seems their ability could not make up for what they lacked in the other areas in the eyes of the voters.

My concern takes on a larger scale. Could it be that the show has simply run its course ? Could it be that through the seven seasons, and how many millions that have now gone through the gruelling audition process that there are simply not enough budding stars left out there who are willing to tackle it ?

What are your thoughts ?

I really don't think they should change anything. No matter what they do, they're not going to please everybody. You're never going to have everyone happy with the results. Last year, not everyone was happy that Taylor won. It's like that every year. There's people that wanted Clay, Bo, Latoya, Daughtery, Katherine, and Diana Degarmo to win in their respective competitions. If the judges were to be the ones to decide, then people would get mad at the judges, plus I think the show would be boring. I like it where the responsibility relies on the fans.

I agree that the show is played out, and run it's course. You can only hear different people sing Aretha Franklin or Stevie Wonder, for so long, without getting a little bored.

The talent pool has been depleted a little bit, I think. At least as far as the guys go. I can't really complain about the women this year, because most of them were really good. The guys on the other hand, left alot to be desired. You also had a few retreads. People who didn't make it last year, who went farther this year, such as Jordin, Gina, and Chris Richardson.

[edgeover17]

I really don't think they should change anything. No matter what they do, they're not going to please everybody. You're never going to have everyone happy with the results. Last year, not everyone was happy that Taylor won. It's like that every year. There's people that wanted Clay, Bo, Latoya, Daughtery, Katherine, and Diana Degarmo to win in their respective competitions. If the judges were to be the ones to decide, then people would get mad at the judges, plus I think the show would be boring. I like it where the responsibility relies on the fans.

I agree that the show is played out, and run it's course. You can only hear different people sing Aretha Franklin or Stevie Wonder, for so long, without getting a little bored.

The talent pool has been depleted a little bit, I think. At least as far as the guys go. I can't really complain about the women this year, because most of them were really good. The guys on the other hand, left alot to be desired. You also had a few retreads. People who didn't make it last year, who went farther this year, such as Jordin, Gina, and Chris Richardson.

I think you're dead on, Rushdog. The only way I see the show being tweaked in any major way would be if the ratings fell far enough to dictate that something change or the plug would have to be pulled, in which case, I'm not sure it wouldn't be the former.

Yeah, I really don't have a problem so much with the fact that Jordin won as the fact that Blake was her competition. There were only a small handfull of the girls at the outset over whom I would have favored Blake. Jordin, Melinda and Lakisha were not among them.

As far as changes other than the voting, I can't say. I don't see where Paula really contributes anything as far as judging the performers, and I suspect the fans are getting tired of playing the Is-she-drunk-or-just-scatterbrained thing every week. But she is one of the triumverate with which the viewers have come to identify the show itself. and I really don't feel she's responsible for the sagging ratings, so I guess she's safe.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Folks, I'd advise we be careful of something here. When a contest doesn't produce the desried outcome, it's easy to fall into the trap of placing fault on the rules of the game. The natural reaction is to start thinking how the rules might be changed so as to produce the desired outcome.

I say no set of rules could be fairer than giving the vote totally to the viewers. I don't see the voting process as the problem. The problem this year, IMO, began with the available talent pool. I think most of us here agreed that this year's crop seemed especially weak. Think back to last year. There were three or four on that show with whom I'd have had no problem had they won. This year, I saw only two that I thought had the pure vocal ability of an American Idol. Unfortunately, it seems their ability could not make up for what they lacked in the other areas in the eyes of the voters.

My concern takes on a larger scale. Could it be that the show has simply run its course ? Could it be that through the seven seasons, and how many millions that have now gone through the gruelling audition process that there are simply not enough budding stars left out there who are willing to tackle it ?

What are your thoughts ?

You may be correct I know of several amazing vocalists that will not try out for the show....They consider it to be a black mark on their dignity....

[edgeover17]

You may be correct I know of several amazing vocalists that will not try out for the show....They consider it to be a black mark on their dignity....

My son would kill me if he knew I'd come on an AI forum and bragged on him ! You wouldn't find him trying out, no ! AI isn't about what he aspires to, and he's not mainstream enough for them, so it's just not a good fit. I'm sure he's not the only one out there, either.

[LouLou]

I think they definitely will tweak the rules next year. They've tweaked them along the way through out their 6 year run, and they'll continue to do so.

They raised the entrance age from 26 originally. They got the viewers to vote for the final song this year, which was new, and originally it wasn't 6 girls and 6 guys, it was whoever made it.

There's no reason to think they'll stop now. Personally, I'd like to see them limit the number of votes. The do that with Dancing with the Stars, and it probably makes for a better balance of what all of America votes for, rather than who the persistant folks, with nothing but time on there hands, want. If everyone has the same number of votes, everyone's voice is equal. If you have two, three, four phone numbers, you'll get extra votes, but how many people does that really apply to? and, with millions of votes, will those extra calls really skew the results?

I'd also like to see that lower the age again. I wanted Taylor to win, and I wanted Melinda to win, but I think that the higher the age, the harder for the producers/handlers to find them the right kind of music that people will buy. I really didn't like the slam Clive gave to Taylor the other night, and I truly, truly believe that the show hand picked Jordin because of her age, to offset last year's result. I think that they were worried that if Melinda made the finals, she'd win, and would it be another year like Taylor's year???

I don't think there's any doubt that they will make changes next year. Not only did we the viewers complain a lot this year, but Simon already threatened to quit, and he never really seemed terribly enthusiatic this year.

I only hope that they don't change it to much. For me, the formula still works. If they are going to change it, I just want it to be fair to all contestants. And fun for the viewers.

[RushDog]

My son would kill me if he knew I'd come on an AI forum and bragged on him ! You wouldn't find him trying out, no ! AI isn't about what he aspires to, and he's not mainstream enough for them, so it's just not a good fit. I'm sure he's not the only one out there, either.

Actually, my youngest daughter has aspirations of going on Idol someday. She's actually very good. She's only 10 years old. She was in a talent show the other day, and sang "Jesus Take The Wheel". She did a pretty good job.

[edgeover17]

Actually, my youngest daughter has aspirations of going on Idol someday. She's actually very good. She's only 10 years old. She was in a talent show the other day, and sang "Jesus Take The Wheel". She did a pretty good job.

Please wish her the best of luck from me, and promise her my vote if she makes it ! :)

[RushDog]

Please wish her the best of luck from me, and promise her my vote if she makes it ! :)

Thanks! I'll let her know.

[jgrv]

I almost forgot one of my biggest pet peeves: theme nights!

While I'd love to see them eliminated altogether, I'd even be happy if they could just have a few of them--not every show.

[RushDog]

Yeah, the Tony Bennett week was definately a snoozefest.

[Skylarke]

Actually, my youngest daughter has aspirations of going on Idol someday. She's actually very good. She's only 10 years old. She was in a talent show the other day, and sang "Jesus Take The Wheel". She did a pretty good job.

Maybe she could try out for "America's got Talent." Then again I would let her take her time and mature a bit. It's tough following the schedule for the top 10 on AI.

:love: MELINDA IS SIMPLY THE BEST:love:

[carlwilson2]

I don't see anything changing next year...everyone has to remember this is American(the ones who vote) Idol...and whoever has the largest fan base will be the one that wins every year.

[RushDog]

I don't see anything changing next year...everyone has to remember this is American(the ones who vote) Idol...and whoever has the largest fan base will be the one that wins every year.

Good point.

[idolmandan]

50 % would be too much from the judges. Maybe 25% from the judges.

Or - here's one. The judges can vote to bring back 2 people who they feel got a raw deal, (were voted off). Of course it may be that they bring back the people who were just voted off. So this year for example, Gina got voted off, then later Sanjaya. So, they could vote that Gina come back after Sanjaya was voted off to make things right again.

Or, maybe the judges can grant immunity (3 times for the whole season) to someone. The only problem with some of these is that they would have to factor the show going 3 weeks longer as a result. A person with the second to least votes would get off the show (maybe Sanjaya instead of Gina goes home even though Sanjaya had more votes...) So, Ryan would say Gina is going home tonight. Then the judges could immediately say. We are using the immunity vote on Gina making her safe. Then the next least voted person goes home or maybe nobody goes home. It may not seem fair to the next to least person, but it would add some spice to the show for sure.

Dan

[TaylorHicksRocks]

I think that would make the show very interesting.....I like your ideas.:)

[melindadoolittlefan]

Way to go Idolmandan, great ideas ! I really like them. At least the fate of the contestants won't be in the viewers hands only. That will give a bit of power to the judges which is good. And the best singer wouldn't have to get the boot too soon (we witness that too often). I hope the producers take your ideas and hopefully they will apply them next season.

[idolmandan]

My concern takes on a larger scale. Could it be that the show has simply run its course ? Could it be that through the seven seasons, and how many millions that have now gone through the gruelling audition process that there are simply not enough budding stars left out there who are willing to tackle it ?

What are your thoughts ?

This is why they need to change it. The show pretty much jumped the shark this year. A lot had to do with the Sanjaya farce. The controversy of Sanjaya kept the show interesting, but also corrupted the show somewhat. Everyone pointing fingers. The audience clapped when Sanjaya was voted off. Millions of people were hacked off when Melinda was voted off. I have a feeling that the majority of votes are coming from teeny boppers. Jordin winning has a lot to do with that. Jordin can come out with some great hit albums with the right record company and producers, but others might have won if the judges had their say.

Dan

[jgrv]

I don't see anything changing next year...everyone has to remember this is American(the ones who vote) Idol...and whoever has the largest fan base will be the one that wins every year.

Maybe, but I'm not totally convinced. Is it possible that a contestant could actually have more individual voters rooting for them, but...

another less-popular contant could win, because their voters make more repeated phone votes?

Besides voting, I think AI has some thinking to do, before it finds itself fading in popularity. I don't think this year was such a success for the show, overall. AI became a joke to quite a lot of people.

[X1TX]

Antonella and the pictures... Antonella/Sundance with VFTW... the whole Sanjaya phenomenon...
Do you think AI will make some changes next year? What would you like to see changed, if anything?

Here's one thing I'd like to see changed:

Just one vote per caller, please!

One thing I'd like to see changed is better talent on the show. They focused so much on the 'freak show' that they forgot they needed people who could actually sing to make a decent season. Ergo we got Sanjambalaya.

I'd like to see a limit on how many times one phone line can vote. But given the fact the show makes money off the text votes I can't see that happening.

For the finale' the contestants should be given a pool of songs from which to choose rather than both sing the same lame tune. That song killed any chance Blake had of winning as it was so foreign to his style.

Eliminate any Aretha or Stevie Wonder songs from the top 24.

I do think giving the judges one 'save' apiece could work. Then the show drags on for 3 more weeks and they get more ad revenue.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

One thing I'd like to see changed is better talent on the show. They focused so much on the 'freak show' that they forgot they needed people who could actually sing to make a decent season. Ergo we got Sanjambalaya.

I'd like to see a limit on how many times one phone line can vote. But given the fact the show makes money off the text votes I can't see that happening.

For the finale' the contestants should be given a pool of songs from which to choose rather than both sing the same lame tune. That song killed any chance Blake had of winning as it was so foreign to his style.

Eliminate any Aretha or Stevie Wonder songs from the top 24.

I do think giving the judges one 'save' apiece could work. Then the show drags on for 3 more weeks and they get more ad revenue.


Exactly well thought out......I wish they could change the voting system but as long as texting garners income that won't happen...