NEW YORK -- American Idol is much more likely to be the highest-rated TV show next season than Simon Cowell's new Fox singing competition show X Factor, according to bookies.
If there was any doubt whether NBC's new show The Voice and American Idol would be at each other's proverbial throats,Voice coach Adam Levine made sure of it on this week's episode. That's when the Maroon 5 frontman remarked, "The people that we're not turning our chairs around for could win American Idol," after he and fellow celebrities Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton opted not to press the buttons on their Trek-like seats, clearly unimpressed with the talent rollout. It was the dis heard 'round the singing competition world.
We put it out there: was Pia Toscano's outfit to blame for her elimination? And is Gwen Stefani, who styled the girls this week in her L.A.M.B. line, partly responsible? You'd be surprised at how many times Gwen and her band No Doubt have been affiliated with some of Idol's least flattering outfits -- we certainly were (though it should be noted that show stylist Soyon is an Emmy winner). So how much does clothing really matter when it comes to an American Idol performance? Idol Worship counts down the show's 10 worst looks.
So much about Constantine Maroulis’ season 4 audition was prophetic: not only did it open the doors for rockers to enter the competition, inspiring the likes of David Cook, Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert, it foreshadowed the arrival of a certain American Idol judge. So it’s only fitting that one of Idol’s first rockers will return to that very stage tonight, as Season 10’s Top 9 pay tribute to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
While some American Idol viewers no doubt miss the presence of Simon Cowell, it’s unlikely that many of season 10’s contestants are lamenting the loss of his biting criticisms and harsh words, usually preceded by “I don’t mean to be rude, but…” So we wondered: what was the vibe behind the scenes this year? Is working on Idol a nicer, gentler experience?
American Idol season 10 just started, but if you think Nashville auditioner Lauren Alaina has the contest in the bag, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says just you wait. “You haven’t really seen how strong the talent is yet,” he cautions. “We can afford to lose 10 great ones this year because they’re that good!”
The tenth season premiere of aging juggernaut American Idol fell 13 percent among total viewers and 18 percent in the ad-coveted demographic of 18-49-year olds, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. The much-hyped two-hour opener, featuring new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, was watched by 26.1 million viewers with a 9.7 in the demo.
To quote Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler: “Well, hellfire, save matches, f--k a duck and see what hatches!” Never did I imagine such an absurd construct of the English language making its way into the national conversation, but it must be said: my thoughts, exactly.
It's a good thing Jennifer Lopez isn't getting in front of Randy Jackson for an assessment of her talent anytime soon. On Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (Jan. 18), American Idol's veteran judge was asked to rate Lopez's singing ability on a scale of one to 10. His answer? "She would definitely get a strong, solid 7," he said to host Jimmy Kimmel's surprise. After all, a 7 pretty much amounts to a C-.
An exclusive THR/Penn Schoen Berland poll in the new Hollywood Reporter magazine (now on stands in LA/NYC) surveyed 750 current and lapsed Idol viewers nationwide from Dec. 21-23.
The U.K. version of The X-Factor just wrapped its seventh season, crowning Essex native Matt Cardle its latest winner, and now eyes officially turn to its next go-round: a U.S. premiere in September 2011.
