'American Idol': Would ya like to take a survey?
Enjoy a little catharsis at the expense of Randy, Kara and Ellen
Go to town on all that's been wrong with this season of "American Idol."
My friends over at A List of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago pointed out that the official "American Idol" website has a link to a survey about what people might like to see next season - and about what they are and are not enjoying about this one.
I doubt it will actually have much impact - I vaguely recall them doing something similar 2-3 years ago, and the only changes we got were for the worse (the hiring of Kara and all the headaches that came from having four judges instead of three) - but the fact that all these questions are being asked, and that viewers are being invited to pretty openly bash Randy, Kara, Ellen, Seacrest, etc., suggests that someone associated with the show is aware of all the creative problems with this season.
As I've said before, most of the problems with the show come more from arrogance than incompetence. I'm sure they could easily end the show on time each week if they wanted, but they don't care: the attitude being, Why would anyone ever want to watch anything other than "American Idol"? But with the ratings slipping notably this year, sooner or later even these people are going to realize they need to make more than cosmetic changes if they want to survive post-Simon Cowell.
Anyway, if this season has been annoying you as much as it has me, go take the survey. Whether or not it accomplishes anything, it's quite cathartic. And if by some providence, everyone winds up bashing the number of judges (and the uselessness of most of them), the mentors, the lame themes, etc.? Well... do you believe in miracles?
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupAdam B.
May 10, 2010 at 10:47AM EST Reply to CommentThanks for the HT. Yes, it felt good to express my strong disagreement with any alleged entertainment value provided by Randy Jackson and to slam most of the theme weeks.
This season has failed to present us with someone who is a credible Next Music Superstar -- partly on the talent pool, and partly with such lame themes.
sepinwall I took advantage of the open field in which they invited people to suggest other mentors to write, simply, "Fewer mentors, more songs by contestants, please."
May 10, 2010 at 10:54AM ESTAdam B. I suggested Madonna and David Lee Roth.
May 10, 2010 at 11:08AM ESTRyan
May 10, 2010 at 10:50AM EST Reply to CommentI don't think this is that newsworthy. I get similar surveys about AI sent to me about five times a season and have been getting them for years.
I guess the only difference is that anybody can go take these?
sepinwall Yup. Plus, it's fun.
May 10, 2010 at 10:54AM ESTJonathan
May 10, 2010 at 11:03AM EST Reply to CommentHonestly, apart from Crystal, this has been my favorite part of this American Idol season, even if it probably won't affect next season
jack
May 10, 2010 at 11:33AM EST Reply to CommentAny chance we get Bruce as a guest mentor? I suggested it twice. Doesn't really seem like the kind of thing he'd be up for.
May 10, 2010 at 12:56PM ESTI probably should have suggested No Mentors, though, as they really drag down an episode. I just want to see the contestants sing.
noone Stevie Wonder and Courtney Love
May 13, 2010 at 12:43AM ESTbybrandy
May 10, 2010 at 11:43AM EST Reply to CommentWish I'd read the hijacking the mentor write in to complain about the number of songs before I'd done the survey. Grr.
I did say the mentors were of no value. Gah this has been a terrible season.
Answering the Ellen section was harder because she has had some quips that I've enjoyed but she doesn't realaly add value... except in a lackluster season it's nice to have SOMETHING entertaining. I cuold deal withe her if their were only two other judges... but she needs to go if it's her plus three... And one of the remaining two has to be seriously critical.
If not? Then no Ellen.
Shitegeist
May 10, 2010 at 11:48AM EST Reply to CommentI disliked Kara at first (and I still see the four judge system as a hinderance) but she's fast become a favourite of mine. Simon is reliably honest and entertaining, but Randy and Ellen just make insipid statements to all the contestants. Kara can be constructive and insightful, and at least she has pedigree and a valid right to be on the panel (unlike Ellen).
sepinwall I was conflicted on the Kara ratings. I do think she has some very valid things to say about the contestants - at times offering better advice than Simon does - but she comes across as such an unpleasant, defensive personality (perhaps because of the beating she took last year?), that I really dislike her even as she's making good points.
May 10, 2010 at 11:54AM ESTKIKI
May 10, 2010 at 12:21PM EST Reply to CommentI DONT LIKE ELLEN DEGENERED
rachelmed
May 10, 2010 at 12:26PM EST Reply to CommentI took this last week and if felt SO good! I got to complain about Ryan and his dancing in the aisles. I got to tell them how annoying 4 judges is and I got to tell them that I am not watching next year without Simon unless they get their act together.
Even if nothing changes at least I got the chance to let all my frustrations out!
UnHoly Diver
May 10, 2010 at 12:43PM EST Reply to CommentWhat do I want to see next season? No more American Idol.
la piquante
May 10, 2010 at 1:12PM EST Reply to CommentWhy was there no place to comment or express opinion about Ryan Seacrest? That guy is the problem with the show. THAT guy is why I will never watch it live ever again. Where can I submit THAT info???
Lane74
May 10, 2010 at 1:28PM EST Reply to CommentI listed Weird Al has the guest mentor I want to see.
sepinwall That? I would watch that.
May 10, 2010 at 1:34PM ESTNeeek
May 11, 2010 at 3:16AM EST Reply to CommentHow's about the mentors a)cannot be plugging anything, b) get airtime based on how much mentoring/entertainment value they actually provide, and c) not be less experienced musicians than several of the contestants.
How about letting Randy go last instead of first? Let's see what he has to say when he doesn't have to shout over the crowd. How about no more crappy theme nights? Stones and Lennon/McCarthy? Fine, they've got both the expansive body of work and are old enough that a new take can work. Shania Twain? I don't dislike the woman or her music, but there just isn't that much there, and it really isn't old enough that a new take will likely be all that different.
As a side note, was it just me or was Crystal's voice heavily amplified compared to the other contestants during the group sing to try to balance her being the only woman?
chalmers
May 11, 2010 at 5:23PM EST Reply to CommentHere’s what I’d do with American Idol:
1. Flop Ryan and Ellen.
2. Dump Randy and Kara.
3. Bring in Shania Twain as the artist judge
4. Bring in Jimmy Iovine as the industry guy judge.
What does this accomplish?
1. It revamps the show that’s getting stale and could fall off a cliff without Simon Cowell.
2. Puts RS, who seems increasingly bored and sarcastic, in the lead judge role. He’s been around the show for 10 years and is a DJ, so he has enough cred to be a judge and his new-found sarcasm will help fill the Simon void.
3. While revamping the show, you maintain some continuity by keeping Ryan and Ellen.
4. You go back to three judges.
5. Ellen goes to her natural hosting role, where she can happily interact with the singers without having to be critical, plus you keep the exposure on her show.
6. Randy was part of the show’s tremendous success, but his act and catch-phrases have gotten very tired. There might be some negative reaction to dumping him, but they can treat it along the lines of “We had a great run with him, but it was time for a different direction,†and maybe bring him back as an occasional mentor.
7. Whether it’s her fault or not, Kara just never caught on. I don’t think there would be much negative reaction.
8. Shania Twain was good as both mentor and judge. She can hold onto the country audience, but her music actually had very little country in it, so she’s fine with other styles. Plus, she was married to, and worked with, one of the top rock producers.
9. The exact person for the industry judge probably isn’t that important, but Iovine’s a decent personality who can be tough like Simon and has strong credentials in both rock and rap. I have no idea how his record company relates to 19 Records or whatever, but it’s been several years since any AI artist moved a lot of product, so I’m sure something could be worked out.
May 12, 2010 at 1:26PM EST Reply to CommentIt’s undeniable that this season of American Idol has been off – and it’s not just the ratings. The performances, the judging, it’s all seemed somehow a bit wrong. It’s no shock that the show is distributing a survey to improve things for next year. I think that by fixing the judges (a new one to replace Simon will be the biggest and most important choice), screening the contestants, and reworking the early rounds, they can hopefully bring the show back to what it was…http://thesmogger.com/2010/05/12/an-american-idol-revolution/